Allocation of a server address to a terminal

• US 7,333,459 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2001
• Issued: 02/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Feyerabend, Konrad, Lohmar, Thorsten
• Primary Examiner(s): HSU, ALPUS
• Application Number:
  US10/182,100
• Publication Number:
  US 20030058855A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,588 Days
• Field of Search: 370/338, 370/349, 370/389, 709/203, 709/212, 709/217, 709/223
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5007 Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5084 Providing for device mobility network addressing or numbering for mobility support in wireless networks H04W8/26; mobile IP H04W80/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10015 Access to distributed or replicated servers, e.g. using brokers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1008 based on parameters of servers, e.g. available memory or workload monitoring of computer activity G06F11/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1019 Random or heuristic server selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1023 based on a hash applied to IP addresses or costs
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1036 Load balancing of requests to servers for services different from user content provisioning, e.g. load balancing across domain name servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for allocating an address of a data service offering server to a communication device such as a mobile services device or a SIM card. With the allocation, the server address is selected from a number of address identifiers. Each address identifier identifies a valid server independently of the current server configuration of the communication network. The server address can be combined out of a fixed and a variable portion. Moreover, the address identifiers can be updated, for example, by means of a so-called DNS server. The described server address allocation method improves the scalability of the communication system and offers an efficient measure for load distribution for both the data service offering application servers and for so-called DNS servers. Moreover, the invention relates to a corresponding communication device for allocating a server address, and to a corresponding communication system and computer program.

Claims

1. A method for allocating an address of a server to a communication device, comprising the steps of:

transparently for a user of the communication device selecting of a first address identifier of the server from a set of k address elements with k>

1, wherein the set of k address elements contains a number n of different address identifiers with 1<

n<

=k, which in each case identify a server from a set of m servers with 0>

m>

=n; and

storing said selected first address identifier of the server in the communication device.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of selecting further comprises:

reading a second address identifier from a memory; and

combining the first address identifier and the second address identifier, wherein the combined address identifier forms the selected address identifier of the server.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the address of the server is an IP address.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the first address identifier comprises a host identifier of the P address of the server, and the second address identifier comprises a network identifier of the IP address of the server.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the IP address of the server comprises an IPv4 address in class C format.

6. The method according to claim 2, comprising the additional steps of:

receiving an updated second address identifier by the communication device; and

storing the updated second address identifier in the communication device.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the selection of the first address identifier from the set of the k address elements is effected by means of a random function.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the selection of the first address identifier is effected by a calculation of a remainder of a division of a numeric identifier of the communication device by a number of the k address elements.

9. The method according to claim 1 wherein the stored selected address identifier is present in an alphanumeric plain text.

10. The method according to claim 1, comprising the additional steps of:

receiving at least one updated address element of the k address elements by the communication device; and

storing the updated address element in the communication device.

11. The method according to claim 9, comprising the additional step of:

requesting an update of an address server (DNS).

12. A communication device for allocating an address of a server, from which a data service can be requested, comprising:

a first memory for storing a set of k address elements with k>

1, wherein the set of k address elements contains a number n of different address identifiers with 1<

n<

=k, each address identifier identifying a server from a set of m servers with 0<

m<

=n;

a selection unit for selecting, transparent to a user of the communication device, a first address identifier from the k address elements; and

a second memory for storing said selected first address identifier of the server.

13. The communication device according to claim 12, further comprising:

a third memory for storing a second address identifier;

a read-out unit for reading out the second address identifier from the second memory for storing the second address identifier; and

a combination unit for combining the first address identifier and the second address identifier, wherein the combined address identifier forms the selected address identifier of the server.

14. The communication device according to claim 13, further comprising:

a reception device allowing the reception of an updated second address identifier; and

a second storing device allowing the storage of the updated second address identifiers.

15. The communication device according to claim 12, wherein the selection unit can perform a random selection of the first address identifier.

16. The communication device according to claim 12, further comprising:

a memory for storing a numeric communication device identifier of the communication device; and

a second read-out unit for reading out the numeric communication device identifier from the memory for storing the numeric communication device identifier, wherein the selection of the first address identifier is effected by the selection unit by means of a calculation of a remainder of a division of the communication device identifier by a number of the k address elements.

17. The communication device according to claim 12, further comprising:

a reception device allowing the reception of at least one updated address element of the k address elements; and

a storing device allowing the storage of the at least one updated address element.

18. The communication device according to claim 17, comprising a request device for allowing a request for an update of an address server.

19. The communication device according to claim 12, further comprising:

a user interface enabling an input of a request for the data service of the server by a single user activity; and

a data service request device requesting the data service from the server by means of the selected address identifier upon an entered request for the data service.

20. A communication system, comprising:

a number m, with m>

0, of servers offering a data service, wherein the m servers are identified by a number n, with n>

1 and n>

=m, of different address identifiers;

at least one base station being able to send and receive data packets;

a packet data network connecting the m servers and the at least one base station of the communication system; and

a plurality of communication terminals allowing a packet data communication with the at least one base station of the communication system, each communication terminal allocated an address of a server by selecting a first address identifier of the server from a set of k address elements, wherein the set of k address elements contain the n different address identifiers, with 1<

n<

=k.

21. The communication system according to claim 20, further comprising at least one address server for sending address identifiers of the m servers of the communication system to the communication terminals of the communication system for updating the first address identifier.

22. A computer readable medium storing software code that can be loaded into an internal memory of a communication device having a digital computer unit, said software code, when executed on the digital computer unit performs the steps of:

selecting a first address identifier of the server from a set of k address elements with k>

1, wherein the set of k address elements contains a number n of different address identifiers with 1<

n<

=k, which in each case identify a server from a set of m servers with 0<

m<

=n; and

storing said selected first address identifier of the server in the communication device, said selected address identifier comprising the selected first address identifier.