Determining the geographic location of a network device
First Claim
1. A method for use by a first node on a network in communicating with a second node on the network, said method comprising the steps of:
- the first node on the network receiving a data packet over the network from the second node on the network, the data packet including a network identifier for the second node and a Time-To-Live (TTL) field that has a value, wherein the value of the TTL field for the data packet indicates a maximum additional number of hops that could have been made by the data packet;
the first node sending a probe packet addressed to the network identifier for the second node, wherein the probe packet also includes a TTL field, and wherein an initial value for the TTL field of the probe packet is set based on the value for the TTL field of the data packet;
the first node receiving a response packet from a third node on the network, in response to the probe packet, wherein the first, second and third nodes are different nodes on the network;
the first node obtaining a geographic location for the third node based on node identification information in the response packet; and
the first node transmitting geographic-specific information over the network to the second node based on the geographic location obtained.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
Provided are techniques and apparatuses for determining the geographic location of a node on a network. In a representative embodiment, a data packet is received over the network from a second node, the data packet including a network identifier for the second node and a Time-To-Live (TTL) field that has a value, with the value of the TTL field for the data packet indicating a maximum additional number of hops that could have been made by the data packet. A probe packet addressed to the network identifier for the second node is then sent, the probe packet also including a TTL field. The initial value for the TTL field of the probe packet is set based on the value for the TTL field of the data packet.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for use by a first node on a network in communicating with a second node on the network, said method comprising the steps of:
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the first node on the network receiving a data packet over the network from the second node on the network, the data packet including a network identifier for the second node and a Time-To-Live (TTL) field that has a value, wherein the value of the TTL field for the data packet indicates a maximum additional number of hops that could have been made by the data packet; the first node sending a probe packet addressed to the network identifier for the second node, wherein the probe packet also includes a TTL field, and wherein an initial value for the TTL field of the probe packet is set based on the value for the TTL field of the data packet; the first node receiving a response packet from a third node on the network, in response to the probe packet, wherein the first, second and third nodes are different nodes on the network; the first node obtaining a geographic location for the third node based on node identification information in the response packet; and the first node transmitting geographic-specific information over the network to the second node based on the geographic location obtained. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An apparatus for use by a first node on a network in communicating with a second node on the network, comprising:
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first receiving means for receiving a data packet over the network from the second node on the network, the data packet including a network identifier for the second node and a Time-To-Live (TTL) field that has a value, wherein the value of the TTL field for the data packet indicates a maximum additional number of hops that could have been made by the data packet; sending means for sending a probe packet addressed to the network identifier for the second node, wherein the probe packet also includes a TTL field, and wherein an initial value for the TTL field of the probe packet is set based on the value for the TTL field of the data packet; second receiving means for receiving a response packet from a third node on the network, in response to the probe packet, wherein the first, second and third nodes are different nodes on the network; obtaining means for obtaining a geographic location for the third node based on node identification information in the response packet; and transmission means for transmitting geographic-specific information over the network to the second node based on the geographic location obtained.
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19. A computer-readable medium storing computer-executable process steps for use by a first node on a network in communicating with a second node on the network, said process steps comprising steps to:
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receive a data packet over the network from the second node on the network, the data packet including a network identifier for the second node and a Time-To-Live (TTL) field that has a value, wherein the value of the TTL field for the data packet indicates a maximum additional number of hops that could have been made by the data packet; send a probe packet addressed to the network identifier for the second node, wherein the probe packet also includes a TTL field, and wherein an initial value for the TTL field of the probe packet is set based on the value for the TTL field of the data packet; receive a response packet from a third node on the network, in response to the probe packet, wherein the first, second and third nodes are different nodes on the network; obtain a geographic location for the third node based on node identification information in the response packet; and transmit geographic-specific information over the network to the second node based on the geographic location obtained.
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Specification