System and method for automated network address cloning for routers

• US 7,209,481 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2002
• Issued: 04/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mazo, Joel S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ferris; Derrick W.
• Application Number:
  US10/128,063
• Publication Number:
  US 20030147404A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,827 Days
• Field of Search: 370/389, 370/400, 370/352, 370/463, 370/419, 370/216, 709/245, 709/250
• US Class Current: 370/389
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/28 characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks] wireless communication networks H04W ; arrangements for dividing the transmission path H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/622 Layer-2 addresses, e.g. medium access control [MAC] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5069 for group communication, multicast communication or broadcast communication

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a system and method for automated network address cloning. A method for cloning a network address for access of content by a router may include determining whether the router may access a service provider. A network address of a network connection device is obtained if the router is unable to access the service provider, the network connection device included in a client information handling system communicatively coupled to the router. The obtained network address of the information handling system is cloned to a router address automatically and without user intervention.

Claims

1. A method for cloning a network address for access of content by a router, comprising:

determining whether the router may access a service provider;

obtaining a network address of a network connection device included in a client information handling system communicatively coupled to the router if the router is unable to access the service provider; and

cloning the obtained network address of the information handling system to a router address automatically and without user intervention;

wherein the obtained network address is a media access control address.

2. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the router is suitable for passing electronic data to an indicated destination of a plurality of information handling systems.

3. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the network address is included in a network connection device of the information handling system.

4. The method as described in claim 3, wherein the network connection device is a network card.

5. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the service provider is an Internet service provider and the router is coupled to a service provider access device including at least one of a broadband modem, cable mode and digital subscriber line router for accessing the Internet service provider.

6. The method as described in claim 1, further comprising a log suitable for logging at least one of success and failure of a network address when accessing the service provider.

7. The method as described in claim 1, wherein cloning includes utilizing the obtained network address of the client information handling system by the router as the network of the router.

8. The method as described in claim 1, wherein cloning includes assuming the obtained network address of the client information handling system by the router.

9. A method for cloning a network address for access of content by a router, comprising:

determining whether the router may access a service provider;

obtaining a network address of a network connection device included in a client information handling system communicatively coupled to the router if the router is unable to access the service provider;

cloning the obtained network address of the information handling system to a router address automatically and without user intervention; and

wherein determining includes attempting to initiate a network connection to the service provider by the router, wherein in response to a failed attempt, the network address of the client information handling system is obtained.

10. A method for cloning a network address for access of content by a router, comprising:

determining whether the router may access a service provider;

obtaining a network address of a network connection device included in a client information handling system communicatively coupled to the router if the router is unable to access the service provider;

cloning the obtained network address of the information handling system to a router address automatically and without user intervention; and

wherein the network address is a MAC address.

11. A method for cloning a network address for access of content by a router, comprising:

determining whether the router may access a service provider;

obtaining a network address of a network connection device included in a client information handling system communicatively coupled to the router if the router is unable to access the service provider;

cloning the obtained network address of the information handling system to a router address automatically and without user intervention; and

wherein the cloned network address is unsuccessful in use for accessing the service provider, a second network address is obtained from a second client information handling system.

12. A system, comprising:

a router suitable for passing electronic data to an indicated destination, the router coupled over a network to a content service provider, the content service provider suitable for providing content over the network; and

at least one client information handling system communicatively coupled to the router, the information handling system including a network connection device having a network address;

wherein accessing the content service provider requires a network address not included on the router, the network address of the at least one client information handling system is obtained automatically and without user intervention, the network address of the at least one client information handling system cloned by the router;

wherein the cloned network address of the at least one client information handling system becomes the network address of the router.

13. The system as described in claim 12, wherein the network address is obtained by a utility operating on the router.

14. The system as described in claim 12, wherein the network address is obtained by a utility operating on the client information handling system.

15. The system as described in claim 12, wherein the router is suitable for passing electronic data to an indicated destination of a plurality of information handling systems.

16. The system as described in claim 12, wherein the network connection device is a network card.

17. The system as described in claim 12, wherein the router is coupled to a service provider access device including at least one of a broadband modem, cable mode and digital subscriber line router for accessing the service provider.

18. The system as described in claim 12, wherein a log is maintained suitable for logging at least one of success and failure of a network address when accessing the service provider.

19. A system comprising

a router suitable for passing electronic data to an indicated destination, the router coupled over a network to a content service provider, the content service provider suitable for providing content over the network;

at least one client information handling system communicatively coupled to the router, the information handling system including a network connection device having a network address;

wherein accessing the content service provider requires a network address not included on the router, the network address of the at least one client information handling system is obtained automatically and without user intervention, the network address of the at least one client information handling system cloned by the router; and

wherein the network address is a MAC address.

20. A system comprising

a router suitable for passing electronic data to an indicated destination, the router coupled over a network to a content service provider, the content service provider suitable for providing content over the network;

and

at least one client information handling system communicatively coupled to the router, the information handling system including a network connection device having a network address;

wherein accessing the content service provider requires a network address not included on the router, the network address of the at least one client information handling system is obtained automatically and without user intervention, the network address of the at least one client information handling system cloned by the router;

wherein the cloned network address is unsuccessful in use for accessing the service provider, a second network address is obtained from a second client information handling system.

21. A system, comprising:

a router suitable for passing electronic data to an indicated destination, the router coupled over a first network to a content service provider, the content service provider suitable for providing content over the network; and

at least one client information handling system communicatively coupled to the router over a second network, the router providing access by the at least one client information handling system to the content service provider over the first network, the information handling system including a network connection device having a network address;

wherein accessing the content service provider requires a network address not included on the router, the network address of the at least one client information handling system is obtained automatically and without user intervention, the network address of the at least one client information handling system cloned by the router;

wherein the cloned network address of the at least one client information handling system becomes the network address of the router.

22. The system as described in claim 21, wherein the network address is obtained by a utility operating on the router.

23. The system as described in claim 21, wherein the network address is obtained by a utility operating on the client information handling system.

24. The system as described in claim 21, wherein the router is suitable for passing electronic data to an indicated destination of a plurality of information handling systems.

25. The system as described in claim 21, wherein the network connection device is a network card.

26. The system as described in claim 21, wherein the router is coupled to a service provider access device including at least one of a broadband modem, cable mode and digital subscriber line router for accessing the service provider.

27. The system as described in claim 21, wherein a log is maintained suitable for logging at least one of success and failure of a network address when accessing the service provider.

28. A system comprising:

a router suitable for passing electronic data to an indicated destination, the router coupled over a first network to a content service provider, the content service provider suitable for providing content over the network;

at least one client information handling system communicatively coupled to the router over a second network, the router providing access by the at least one client information handling system to the content service provider over the first network, the information handling system including a network connection device having a network address;

wherein accessing the content service provider requires a network address not included on the router, the network address of the at least one client information handling system is obtained automatically and without user intervention, the network address of the at least one client information handling system cloned by the router; and

wherein the network address is a MAC address.

29. A system comprising:

a router suitable for passing electronic data to an indicated destination, the router coupled over a first network to a content service provider, the content service provider suitable for providing content over the network;

at least one client information handling system communicatively coupled to the router over a second network, the router providing access by the at least one client information handling system to the content service provider over the first network, the information handling system including a network connection device having a network address;

wherein accessing the content service provider requires a network address not included on the router, the network address of the at least one client information handling system is obtained automatically and without user intervention, the network address of the at least one client information handling system cloned by the router; and

wherein the cloned network address is unsuccessful in use for accessing the service provider, a second network address is obtained from a second client information handling system.