DHCP server synchronization with DHCP proxy

• US 7,792,942 B1
• Filed: 02/27/2007
• Issued: 09/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: WSOU Investments, LLC (WSOU Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Regan, Joseph M., Haberman, Ron E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Najjar, Saleh
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHAW, ROBERT A
• Application Number:
  US11/712,576
• Time in Patent Office: 1,288 Days
• Field of Search: 709/226
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5014 using dynamic host configuration protocol [DHCP] or bootstrap protocol [BOOTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5053 Lease time; Renewal aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/59 Providing operational support to end devices by off-loading in the network or by emulation, e.g. when they are unavailable

Abstract

Managing a network resource is disclosed. An indication that a resource assigned to a subscriber host by a resource allocating node is no longer to be used by the subscriber host is received at a node other than the subscriber host or the resource allocating node. A resource release communication is sent to the resource allocating node from said node other than the subscriber host or the resource allocating node. The resource release communication appears to the resource allocating node to originate from the subscriber host and indicates to the resource allocating node that the resource is no longer to be used by the subscriber host.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of managing network resources, comprising:

receiving at an intermediary node other than a subscriber host or a resource allocating node an indication that a resource assigned to the subscriber host by the resource allocating node will no longer be used by the subscriber host;

wherein the resource allocating node comprises a DHCP server;

wherein the subscriber host comprises a DHCP client;

wherein the intermediary node comprises a provider equipment associated with a provider network; and

the subscriber host uses the resource to access a network service via the intermediary node;

wherein the intermediary node manages indications from the subscriber host regarding resource usage on behalf of the subscriber host such that actual resource usage is synchronized between subscribers and the resource allocating node by tracking resource usage in the intermediary node; and

if the DHCP lease term associated with the resource is determined by the intermediary node to have not expired or will not expire within a period prescribed by the resource allocating node, sending to the resource allocating node from said intermediary node a resource release communication that is not originated from the subscriber host, but appears to the resource allocating node to originate from the subscriber host, by spoofing the source address of the subscriber node in the resource release communication and which indicates to the resource allocating node that the resource is no longer to be used by the subscriber host;

wherein the resource allocating node will not release the resource assigned to the subscriber host by the resource allocating node from the subscriber host for use by other subscriber hosts prior to the expiration of the DHCP lease term, unless a DHCP resource release communication is received by the resource allocating node for the resource from the subscriber host;

wherein the resource is available for re-allocation by the resource allocating node when the resource allocating node receives the resource release communication from the subscriber host.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the resource comprises an IP address associated with the subscriber host.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the address associated with the subscriber host comprises an IP address associated with the subscriber host.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the address associated with the subscriber host comprises the resource.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising receiving an indication that the resource has been assigned to the subscriber host by the resource allocating node.

6. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein receiving an indication that the resource has been assigned to the subscriber host by the resource allocating node comprises monitoring a communication between the subscriber host and the resource allocating node.

7. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein receiving an indication that the resource has been assigned to the subscriber host by the resource allocating node comprises extracting from a communication between the subscriber host and the resource allocating node data indicating that the resource has been assigned to the subscriber host.

8. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein the data includes a DHCP lease term for which the resource has been assigned.

9. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein receiving said indication that the resource is no longer to be used by the subscriber host includes determining that a term for which the resource was assigned to the subscriber host has not expired.

10. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein receiving said indication that the resource is no longer to be used by the subscriber host comprises an indication that a change of authorization has occurred with respect to the subscriber host such that the subscriber host will no longer be using the resource to access a network service.

11. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising updating a subscriber host data store accessed only by the intermediary node to reflect that the subscriber host will no longer be using the resource.

12. A system for providing network access, comprising:

a subscriber host, wherein the subscriber host comprises a DHCP client;

a resource allocating node, wherein the resource allocating node comprises a DHCP server;

an intermediary node other than the subscriber host or the resource allocating node further comprising a communication interface and a processor coupled to the communication interface and operable to;

receive via the communication interface at the intermediary node, an indication that a resource assigned to the subscriber host by the resource allocating node will no longer to be used by the subscriber host;

wherein the intermediary node comprises a provider equipment associated with a provider network;

wherein the subscriber host uses the resource to access a network service via the intermediary node; and

wherein the intermediary node manages indications from the subscriber host regarding resource usage on behalf of the subscriber host such that actual resource usage is synchronized between subscribers and the resource allocating node by tracking resource usage in the intermediary node;

if the DHCP lease term associated with the resource is determined to have not expired or will not expire within a period prescribed by the resource allocating node, send to the resource allocating node from the intermediary node, via the communication interface, a resource release communication that is not originated from the subscriber host, but appears to the resource allocating node to originate from the subscriber host and which indicates to the resource allocating node that the resource is no longer to be used by the subscriber host;

wherein the resource allocating node will not release the resource assigned to the subscriber host by the resource allocating node from the subscriber host for use by other subscriber hosts prior to the expiration of the DHCP lease term unless a DHCP resource release communication is received by the resource allocating node for the resource from the subscriber host;

wherein the resource is available for re-allocation by the resource allocating node when the resource allocating node receives the resource release communication from the subscriber host.

13. A system as recited in claim 12, further comprising a subscriber host data store accessed only by the intermediary node to store data associating the resource with the subscriber host.

14. A computer program product for managing a network resource, the computer program product being embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium encoded with computer executable instructions for:

receiving at an intermediary node other than a subscriber host or a resource allocating node an indication that a resource assigned to the subscriber host by the resource allocating node will no longer to be used by the subscriber host;

wherein the resource allocating node comprises a DHCP server;

wherein the subscriber host comprises a DHCP client;

wherein the intermediary node comprises a provider equipment associated with a provider network via which the subscriber host uses the resource to access a network service; and

wherein the intermediary node manages indications from the subscriber host regarding resource usage on behalf of the subscriber host such that actual resource usage is synchronized between subscribers and the resource allocating node by tracking resource usage in the intermediary node; and

if the DHCP lease term associated with the resource is determined to have not expired or will not expire within a period prescribed by the resource allocating node, sending to the resource allocating node from said intermediary node a resource release communication that is not originated from the subscriber host, but appears to the resource allocating node to originate from the subscriber host and indicates to the resource allocating node that the resource is no longer to be used by the subscriber host;

wherein the resource allocating node will not release the resource assigned to the subscriber host by the resource allocating node from the subscriber host for use by other subscriber hosts prior to the expiration the DHCP lease term unless a DHCP resource release communication is received by the resource allocating node for the resource from the subscriber host;

wherein the resource is available for re-allocation by the resource allocating node when the resource allocating node receives the resource release communication from the subscriber host.