Method for redirecting packetized data associated with a destination address in a communication protocol layer to a different destination address in a different protocol layer

• US 7,047,313 B1
• Filed: 08/23/2000
• Issued: 05/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: InterDigital Madison Patent Holdings (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Broerman, Keith Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Eng, David Y.
• Application Number:
  US09/644,337
• Time in Patent Office: 2,092 Days
• Field of Search: 709/238, 709/218, 709/230, 709/245
• US Class Current: 709/238
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/10 of different types
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/53 using third party service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/162 involving adaptations of sockets based mechanisms secure socket layer H04L63/168
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/163 In-band adaptation of TCP data exchange; In-band control procedures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/32 Architecture of open systems interconnection [OSI] 7-layer type protocol stacks, e.g. the interfaces between the data link level and the physical level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/322 Intralayer communication protocols among peer entities or protocol data unit [PDU] definitions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A system enables a bi-directional communication device such as a modem to facilitate local communication between the modem and an attached PC as well as to enable the PC to conduct concurrent Internet and local communication. A bi-directional communication system employs a method for seamlessly communicating packetized data between different networks using hierarchical layers of communication protocols (e.g. including Internet Protocol (IP) and Media Access Control (MAC) layers). The method involves comparing a received IP packet destination address in a first protocol layer with a predetermined IP address to determine if there is an address match. Upon such an address match, a payload of the received IP packet is redirected from an Internet network to a local network (e.g. an Ethernet, HPNA or USB network) by substituting a second protocol layer address for a received second protocol layer address (e.g. a MAC address). In another feature, a second Application (e.g. peripheral control) is initiated to operate concurrently with a first Application (e.g. web surfing) in response to receiving the redirected payload data.

Claims

1. In a bi-directional communication system, a method for directing packetized data to a local network wherein said packetized data comports to hierarchical layers of communication protocols, comprising the steps of:

comparing a received IP packet destination address in a first protocol layer with a predetermined IP address to determine if there is an address match; and

redirecting a payload of said received IP packet from an Internet network to said local network in response to said address match by;

substituting a second protocol layer address, in a packet of said packetized data, for a received second protocol layer destination address corresponding to a destination accessed on said local network, where both the second protocol layer address and the received second protocol layer destination address reside in a second protocol layer different than the first protocol layer.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein if there is no address match

said payload of said received IP packet is directed to a different destination than said local network to support a first Application operating concurrently with a different second Application being performed with said local network.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein

said first Application is one of (a) a web surfing application, (b) Email, (c) internet phone/videophone, and

said second Application is one of (i) home appliance control, (ii) peripheral control and (iii) a diagnostic function.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein

including the step of

initiating an Application in response to receiving said directed payload.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein said redirecting step redirects a payload of said received IP packet to a communication buffer present in said local network to support a local application comprising one or more of, (a) home appliance control, (b) peripheral control, (c) a communication function, (d) a diagnostic function and (e) secure private internet or intranet communication functions.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said second protocol layer address is a (MAC) address.

7. In a bi-directional communication device using an internet Protocol (IP), a method for directing IP data, wherein said IP data is structured in the form of hierarchical layers of communication protocols, comprising the steps of:

comparing a received IP packet IP destination address in a first protocol layer with a predetermined IP address to determine if there is an address match, wherein upon said address match, said IP packet is assigned a as second protocol layer (MAC) destination address that resides in a second protocol layer, in response to said address match; and

redirecting a payload of said received IP packet using said second protocol layer (MAC) destination address to a device running an Application corresponding to said second protocol layer destination address.

8. A method according to claim 7, including the steps of

receiving said redirected payload using said second protocol layer (MAC) destination address, and

initiating said Application in response to receiving said redirected payload.

9. A method according to claim 7, wherein

said predetermined IP address is within a class of one or more addresses designation for private and non-public Internet usage.

10. A method according to claim 7, wherein in said redirecting step

said redirecting step comprises substituting a second protocol layer (MAC) address that was specified in said IP packet before said comparing step with said second protocol layer (MAC) destination address.

11. A method according to claim 7, wherein

said redirecting step redirects a payload of said received IP packet from a first network to a different second network on a packet by packet basis.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein

said payload of said received IP packet is redirected from a first public internet network to a second local network comprising one of (a) an Ethernet network, (b) a Universal Serial Bus (USB) network and (c) a Home Phoneline Networking Alliance (HPNA) network.

13. A method according to claim 7, wherein

said redirecting step redirects a payload of said received IP packet from a first network to a communication buffer within said bi-directional communication device.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein

said redirecting step redirects a payload of said received IP packet from a first network to a communication buffer within said bi-directional communication device to support a local application comprising one or more of:

(a) home appliance control, (b) peripheral control, (c) a communication function, (d) a diagnostic function and (e) secure private internet or intranet communication functions.

15. A method according to claim 13, wherein

for individual received IP packets said redirecting step redirects payloads of said received IP packets from a first network to a communication buffer within said bi-directional communication device by substituting a second protocol layer (MAC) address that was present in said IP packets before said comparing step for a received second protocol layer (MAC) address.

16. A method according to claim 13, wherein

said bi-directional communication device is a cable modem.

17. A method according to claim 7, wherein

said second protocol layer (MAC) destination address is determined from a database mapping said received IP packet destination address to said second protocol layer (MAC) destination address.

18. In a bi-directional communication system, a method for directing packetized data between different networks using hierarchical layers of communication protocols comprising the steps of:

intercepting a domain name resolution request if a domain name matches a predetermined entry in a domain name database;

translating said intercepted domain name to a predetermined IP address; and

redirecting a payload of a received IP packet destined for said intercepted domain name, wherein said redirecting step substitutes a different MAC layer address for a received MAC layer address.

19. A method according to claim 18 including the step of communicating said predetermined IP address to a requesting client.