Network address assignment in a passive optical network
First Claim
1. A passive optical network comprising:
- a first group of network nodes coupled to a first optical fiber link;
a second group of network nodes coupled to a second optical fiber link;
a first DHCP server that assigns Internet Protocol (IP) addresses within a first common subnet scope to at least some of the network nodes in the first group and at least some of the network nodes in the second group; and
a second DHCP server that assigns IP addresses of a second common subnet scope to at least some of the network nodes in the first group and at least some network nodes in the second group, wherein the second common subnet scope is different from the first common subnet scope.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Assignment of network addresses, e.g., IP addresses, to network nodes in a passive optical network (PON) may involve assignment of IP addresses within a common subnet scope to network nodes coupled to different optical fiber links and different interface modules in the PON. In this manner, excessive waste of IP addresses can be avoided. Instead of assigning an entire subnet scope of addresses to the nodes coupled to a single optical fiber link, a common subnet can be allocated across a PON having multiple, independent interfaces, increasing the number of subnet IP addresses that are actually used. Accordingly, the IP address space within a subnet scope can be distributed more efficiently. In addition to conserving IP addresses, the number of subnets allocated by ISPs can be reduced, along with the significant expense incurred by ISPs in reserving and maintaining multiple class C subnets.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A passive optical network comprising:
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a first group of network nodes coupled to a first optical fiber link; a second group of network nodes coupled to a second optical fiber link; a first DHCP server that assigns Internet Protocol (IP) addresses within a first common subnet scope to at least some of the network nodes in the first group and at least some of the network nodes in the second group; and a second DHCP server that assigns IP addresses of a second common subnet scope to at least some of the network nodes in the first group and at least some network nodes in the second group, wherein the second common subnet scope is different from the first common subnet scope. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method comprising:
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assigning, with a first dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) server, Internet Protocol (IP) addresses to at least some network nodes of a first group of network nodes coupled to a first optical fiber link; assigning, with the first DHCP server, IP addresses to at least some network nodes of a second group of network nodes coupled to a second optical fiber link, wherein at least some of the IP addresses assigned to the network nodes in the first group by the first DHCP server and at least some of the IP addresses assigned to the network nodes in the second group by the first DHCP server are within a first common subnet scope; assigning, with a second DHCP server, IP addresses to at least some of the network nodes in the first group of network nodes; and assigning, with the second DHCP server, IP addresses to at least some of the network nodes of the second group, wherein at least some of the IP addresses assigned to at least some of the network nodes in the first group by the second DHCP server and at least some of the IP addresses assigned to the network nodes in the second group by the second DHCP server are within a second common subnet scope different from the first common subnet scope. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A passive optical network (PON) interface that is coupled to a group of network nodes via an optical fiber link, the PON interface comprising:
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a computer-readable medium containing a data structure that maps a first network node of the group of network nodes to a first dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) server and maps a second network node of tbe group of network nodes to a second DHCP server; and a relay agent to receive a DHCP request for an assignment of a network address from one of the first and second network nodes, map the request to the respective one of the DHCP servers that is associated with the node in accordance with the data structure, select an appropriate link for communicating the request to the respective DHCP server that is associated with the node, and communicate the request to the respective DHCP server that is associated with the node on the selected link.
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17. A method comprising:
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receiving, with a passive optical network (PON) interface that is coupled to a group of network nodes via an optical fiber link, a request for an assignment of a network address from one of the network nodes, wherein the PON interface couples to a plurality of dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) servers via a plurality of links; accessing a data structure that associates a first portion of the network nodes of the group to a first DHCP server of the plurality of DHCP servers and associates a second portion of the network nodes of the group to a second DHCP server of the plurality of DHCP servers; mapping the request to one of the plurality of DHCP servers that is associated with the node in accordance with the data structure; selecting one of the plurality of links for communicating with the one of the plurality of the DHCP servers that is associated with the node; and communicating a DHCP proxy request to the one of the plurality of the DHCP servers that is associated with the node on the selected link.
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Specification