IP address allocation in a network environment
First Claim
1. A network access server (NAS), the NAS comprising:
- an HGS identifier configured to identify a home gateway server (HGS) of an Internet service provider (ISP), the HGS associated with a home domain to which a request for an IP address is to be transmitted, the ISP and a Network Access Provider (NAP) of the NAS being separate, wherein the HGS identifier is configured to identify the HGS responsive to log-in information provided by a user;
an IP address requester configured to request an IP address from the HGS, the HGS maintaining a pool of IP addresses for allocation to authorized users, the IP address requester configured to transmit the user'"'"'s authentication information to the HGS with the request for an IP address from the HGS;
an IP address relayer configured to receive an IP address allocated to the user from the HGS and to relay the allocated IP address to the user; and
a memory coupled with the IP address requester and the IP address relayer, the memory storing an association between an identification of the user and the IP address allocated to the user, the NAS configured to provide a user with access and connection to a global data communications internetwork,further comprising;
a receiver configured to receive periodic queries from the HGS about the status of the user connection to the NAS; and
a responder responsive to the periodic queries and configured to inform the HGS that the user is still connected to the NAS.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A network access server (NAS) provides a connection to a user in a data communications network, where the NAS is capable of communicating with a home gateway server (HGS) maintaining a pool of IP addresses for allocation to authorized users associated with the NAS. The NAS includes a first memory for storing an identification of a user, a requester for asking the HGS for an IP address on behalf of the user; and a second memory associated with the first memory for storing the IP address of the user received from the HGS. The NAS may further include a detector for periodically detecting connection of the user to the NAS and a keep-alive sender for periodically informing the HGS that the user is still connected to the NAS, a receiver for receiving periodic queries from the HGS about the status of the user connection to the NAS and a responder responsive to the periodic queries for informing the HGS that the user is still connected to the NAS, and/or a receiver for receiving periodic signals from the user and a forwarder responsive to the receiver for forwarding information to the HGS that the user is still connected to the NAS. A home gateway server (HGS) provides mechanisms to assign an IP address to a user via a NAS, and to monitor the status of the IP address after assignment.
88 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A network access server (NAS), the NAS comprising:
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an HGS identifier configured to identify a home gateway server (HGS) of an Internet service provider (ISP), the HGS associated with a home domain to which a request for an IP address is to be transmitted, the ISP and a Network Access Provider (NAP) of the NAS being separate, wherein the HGS identifier is configured to identify the HGS responsive to log-in information provided by a user; an IP address requester configured to request an IP address from the HGS, the HGS maintaining a pool of IP addresses for allocation to authorized users, the IP address requester configured to transmit the user'"'"'s authentication information to the HGS with the request for an IP address from the HGS; an IP address relayer configured to receive an IP address allocated to the user from the HGS and to relay the allocated IP address to the user; and a memory coupled with the IP address requester and the IP address relayer, the memory storing an association between an identification of the user and the IP address allocated to the user, the NAS configured to provide a user with access and connection to a global data communications internetwork, further comprising; a receiver configured to receive periodic queries from the HGS about the status of the user connection to the NAS; and a responder responsive to the periodic queries and configured to inform the HGS that the user is still connected to the NAS. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method comprising:
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establishing a connection with a user; receiving authentication information from the user, the authentication information including a user identification; storing the user identification in a memory; determining a home domain for the user, wherein the determining is responsive to the receiving; transmitting the authentication information from the user with a request for an IP address from a home gateway server (HGS) of an Internet service provider (ISP), the HGS associated with the home domain, the ISP and a Network Access Provider (NAP) of the NAS being separate, the HGS maintaining a pool of IP addresses for allocation to authorized users; receiving an IP address allocated to the user from the HGS; creating and storing an association between the user identification and the allocated IP address in the memory; transmitting the allocated IP address to the user; and providing the user with access and connection to a global data communications internetwork, further comprising; receiving periodic queries from the HGS about the status of the user connection; and responding to the periodic queries that the user is still connected. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions readable by the machine to perform a method, the method comprising:
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establishing a connection with a user; receiving authentication information from the user, the authentication information including a user identification; storing the user identification in a memory; determining a home domain for the user, wherein the determining is responsive to the receiving; transmitting the authentication information from the user with a request for an IP address from a home gateway server (HGS) of an Internet service provider (ISP), the HGS associated with the home domain, the ISP and a Network Access Provider (NAP) of the NAS being separate, the HGS maintaining a pool of IP addresses for allocation to authorized users; receiving an IP address allocated to the user from the HGS; creating and storing an association between the user identification and the allocated IP address in the memory; transmitting the allocated IP address to the user; and providing the user with access and connection to a global data communications internetwork, further comprising; receiving periodic queries from the HGS about the status of the user connection; and responding to the periodic queries that the user is still connected. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. An apparatus for providing an IP address to a user in a data communications network, the apparatus comprising:
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means for establishing a connection with a user; means for receiving authentication information from the user, the authentication information including a user identification; means for storing the user identification in a memory; means for determining a home domain for the user, wherein the determining is responsive to the receiving; means for transmitting the authentication information from the user with a request for an IP address from an HGS associated with the home domain on behalf of the user, the HGS maintaining a pool of IP addresses for allocation to authorized users; means for receiving an IP address allocated to the user from the HGS; means for creating and storing an association between the user identification and the allocated IP address in the memory; means for transmitting the allocated IP address to the user; and means for providing the user with access and connection to a global data communications internetwork, further comprising; means for receiving periodic queries from the HGS about the status of the user connection; and means for responding to the periodic queries that the user is still connected. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification