Intelligent network address translator and methods for network address translation
First Claim
1. A network address translator device configured to provide network address translation services in a communications network, the device comprising:
- a processor;
a public network interface;
an address selector module configured to be executed on the processor;
a network access translation module configured to be executed on the processor; and
a network address port translation module configured to be executed on the processor;
the address selector module configured to receive an outgoing data packet from a host device, analyze the outgoing data packet to identify an attribute of the outgoing data packet indicative of whether the packet requires a dedicated IP address, and execute either the network access translation module if the packet requires a dedicated IP address or the network address port translation module if the packet does not require a dedicated IP address;
the network access translation module configured to select a dedicated public IP address from a pool of public IP addresses and transmit the outgoing data packet via the public network interface using connection parameters based on the selected dedicated public IP address; and
the network address port translation module configured to select a port and transmit the network packet via the public network interface using connection parameters based on a default public IP address and the port.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An intelligent network address translation system and methods for intelligent network address translation. The invention analyzes all data packets being communicated between the private address realm and the public address realm and performs a predefined mode of network address translation based on the packet type. By analyzing every packet that the network encounters and adjusting the network address translation mode based on the packet type, the system and method of the present invention is able to adjust the mode of network address translation dynamically during a network user'"'"'s ongoing network session. Additionally, by basing which mode of translation will be employed based on packet type the translation method of the present invention insures that IP addresses are distributed efficiently and distribution of the amount of addresses is minimized.
193 Citations
15 Claims
-
1. A network address translator device configured to provide network address translation services in a communications network, the device comprising:
-
a processor; a public network interface; an address selector module configured to be executed on the processor; a network access translation module configured to be executed on the processor; and a network address port translation module configured to be executed on the processor; the address selector module configured to receive an outgoing data packet from a host device, analyze the outgoing data packet to identify an attribute of the outgoing data packet indicative of whether the packet requires a dedicated IP address, and execute either the network access translation module if the packet requires a dedicated IP address or the network address port translation module if the packet does not require a dedicated IP address; the network access translation module configured to select a dedicated public IP address from a pool of public IP addresses and transmit the outgoing data packet via the public network interface using connection parameters based on the selected dedicated public IP address; and the network address port translation module configured to select a port and transmit the network packet via the public network interface using connection parameters based on a default public IP address and the port. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. A gateway device configured to perform network address translation services, comprising:
-
a processor; a public network interface; a packet type detection module configured to be executed on the processor; a network access translation module configured to be executed on the processor; and a network address port translation module configured to be executed on the processor; wherein the packet type detection module is configured to receive a network packet from a host device, identify an attribute of the network packet indicative of whether the packet requires a dedicated IP address, and execute either the network access translation module if the packet requires a dedicated IP address or the network address port translation module if the packet does not require a dedicated IP address; wherein the network access translation module is configured to select a dedicated public IP address from a pool of public IP addresses and transmit the network packet via the public network interface using connection parameters based on the dedicated public IP address; and wherein the network address port translation module is configured to select a port and transmit the network packet via the public network interface using connection parameters based on a default public IP address and the port. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method of network address translation performed at a gateway device having a default public IP address and a plurality of dedicated public IP addresses, the method comprising:
-
receiving, at the gateway device, a network packet from a host device communicatively connected to the gateway device; identifying, at the gateway device, a protocol associated with the network packet; determining, using a processor of the gateway device, whether the protocol requires a dedicated address; and transmitting the network packet from the gateway device, using communication parameters comprising either a dedicated public IP address selected from the plurality of dedicated public IP addresses if the protocol requires a dedicated address, or the default public IP address and a port number if the protocol does not require a dedicated address. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
-
Specification