Inter-network address translator that is separately addressable from address alias assignment process
First Claim
1. Apparatus for providing communication between a network device in a first network and a network device in a second network, the first network operating in accordance with a first communication protocol and the second network operating in accordance with a second communication protocol, the apparatus comprising:
- (i) first means for assigning an alias to a target network device in said first network, the alias being compatible with the second communication protocol of said second network;
(ii) second means for translating said assigned alias to an address for the target network device, said translated address being compatible with the first communication protocol of said first network, said second means comprising a plurality of further devices, said further devices having respective routing identifiers such that communications are routed individually to said further devices using said respective routing identifiers; and
(iii) selecting means for selecting one of the plurality of further devices in accordance with predetermined criteria;
wherein the first means and the second means are each separately addressable in said second network, andwherein said assigned alias corresponds to an address of the second means and includes a routing identifier of a selected one of the plurality of further devices of the second means, such that, when a network device in the second network sends one or more communication(s) using an address comprising the assigned alias, each of the one or more communication(s) is routed to the selected further device of the second means, wherein upon the selected further device of the second means translates the alias into the address of the target network device in the first network and sends the one or more communication(s) into the first network.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Communication between a network device in a first network and a network device in a second network is provided, where the first network operates in accordance with a first communication protocol and the second network operates in accordance with a second communication protocol. An alias is assigned to a target network device in the first network, the alias being compatible with the communication protocol of the second network The assigned alias is translated to an address for a target network device, the translated address being compatible with the communication protocol of the first network. Apparatus, for assigning the alias and for translating it are separately addressable in one or both of the networks, and the assigned alias corresponds to an address of the translating apparatus, such that, when a network device in the second network sends one or more communication(s) using an address including the assigned alias, each communication is routed to the translator, whereupon the translator translates the alias into the address of the target network device in the first network and sends the communication(s) into the first network.
36 Citations
21 Claims
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1. Apparatus for providing communication between a network device in a first network and a network device in a second network, the first network operating in accordance with a first communication protocol and the second network operating in accordance with a second communication protocol, the apparatus comprising:
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(i) first means for assigning an alias to a target network device in said first network, the alias being compatible with the second communication protocol of said second network; (ii) second means for translating said assigned alias to an address for the target network device, said translated address being compatible with the first communication protocol of said first network, said second means comprising a plurality of further devices, said further devices having respective routing identifiers such that communications are routed individually to said further devices using said respective routing identifiers; and (iii) selecting means for selecting one of the plurality of further devices in accordance with predetermined criteria; wherein the first means and the second means are each separately addressable in said second network, and wherein said assigned alias corresponds to an address of the second means and includes a routing identifier of a selected one of the plurality of further devices of the second means, such that, when a network device in the second network sends one or more communication(s) using an address comprising the assigned alias, each of the one or more communication(s) is routed to the selected further device of the second means, wherein upon the selected further device of the second means translates the alias into the address of the target network device in the first network and sends the one or more communication(s) into the first network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. Apparatus for providing communication between a network device in a first network and a network device in a second network, the first network operating in accordance with a first communication protocol and the second network operating in accordance with a second communication protocol, the apparatus comprising:
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(i) first means for assigning an alias to a target network device in said first network, the alias being compatible with the second communication protocol of said second network; (ii) second means for translating said assigned alias to an address for the target network device, said translated address being compatible with the first communication protocol of said first network, wherein the first means and the second means are each separately addressable in said second network, and said assigned alias corresponds to an address of the second means, such that, when a network device in the second network sends one or more communication(s) using an address comprising the assigned alias, each of the one or more communications is routed to the second means, whereupon the second means translates the alias into the address of the target network device in the first network and sends the one or more communication(s) into the first network; wherein the alias comprises a network address; wherein the network address includes an identifier representative of the second means; wherein the second means comprises a plurality of further devices configured to translate an alias into an address for communication(s) with one or more target network devices; and wherein each of the plurality of further devices has access to one or more groups of aliases used for assigning to the one or more target network devices. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. Apparatus for providing communication between a network device in a first network and a network device in a second network, the first network operating in accordance with a first communication protocol and the second network operating in accordance with a second communication protocol, the apparatus comprising:
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(i) first means for assigning an alias to a target network device in said first network, the alias being compatible with the second communication protocol of said second network; (ii) second means for translating said assigned alias to an address for the target network device, said translated address being compatible with the first communication protocol of said first network, wherein the first means and the second means are each separately addressable in said second network, and said assigned alias corresponds to an address of the second means, such that, when a network device in the second network sends one or more communication(s) using an address comprising the assigned alias, each of the one or more communication(s) is routed to the second means, whereupon the second means translates the alias into the address of the target network device in the first network and sends the one or more communication(s) into the first network; wherein the alias comprises a network address; wherein the network address includes an identifier representative of the second means; wherein the second means comprises a plurality of further devices configured to translate an alias into an address for communication(s) with one or more target network devices; wherein the apparatus includes selecting means for selecting one of the plurality of further devices in accordance with predetermined criteria; and wherein the selecting means is in operative association with the first means.
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15. Apparatus for providing communication between a network device in a first network and a network device in a second network, the first network operating in accordance with a first communication protocol and the second network operating in accordance with a second communication protocol, the apparatus comprising:
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(i) first means for assigning an alias to a target network device in said first network, the alias being compatible with the second communication protocol of said second network; (ii) second means for translating said assigned alias to an address for the target network device, said translated address being compatible with the first communication protocol of said first network, wherein the first means and the second means are each separately addressable in said second network, and said assigned alias corresponds to an address of the second means, such that, when a network device in the second network sends one or more communication(s) using an address comprising the assigned alias, each of the one or more communications is routed to the second means, whereupon the second means translates the alias into the address of the target network device in the first network and sends the one or more communication(s) into the first network; wherein the alias comprises a network address; wherein the network address includes an identifier representative of the second means; wherein the second means comprises a plurality of further devices configured to translate an alias into an address for communication(s) with one or more target network devices; and wherein the first means is operable to retrieve an alias available to at least one of said further devices, the retrieved alias being the assigned alias.
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16. Apparatus for providing communication between a network device in a first network and a network device in a second network, the first network operating in accordance with a first communication protocol and the second network operating in accordance with a second communication protocol, the apparatus comprising:
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(i) first means for assigning an alias to a target network device in said first network, the alias being compatible with the second communication protocol of said second network; (ii) second means for translating said assigned alias to an address for the target network device, said translated address being compatible with the first communication protocol of said first network, wherein the first means and the second means are each separately addressable in said second network, and said assigned alias corresponds to an address of the second means, such that, when a network device in the second network sends one or more communication(s) using an address comprising the assigned alias, each of the one or more communication(s) is routed to the second means, whereupon the second means translates the alias into the address of the target network device in the first network and sends the one or more communication(s) into the first network; wherein the alias comprises a network address; wherein the network address includes an identifier representative of the second means; wherein the second means comprises a plurality of further devices configured to translate an alias into an address for communication(s) with one or more target network devices; wherein the apparatus includes a store for storing mappings between the assigned alias and the target network device assigned to the alias; and wherein the store for storing mappings is managed by the first means.
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17. Apparatus for providing communication between a network device in a first network and a network device in a second network, the first network operating in accordance with a first communication protocol and the second network operating in accordance with a second communication protocol, the apparatus comprising:
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(i) first means for assigning an alias to a target network device in said first network, the alias being compatible with the second communication protocol of said second network; (ii) second means for translating said assigned alias to an address for the target network device, said translated address being compatible with the first communication protocol of said first network, wherein the first means and the second means are each separately addressable in said second network, and said assigned alias corresponds to an address of the second means, such that, when a network device in the second network sends one or more communication(s) using an address comprising the assigned alias, each of the one or more communication(s) is routed to the second means, whereupon the second means translates the alias into the address of the target network device in the first network and sends the one or more communication(s) into the first network; wherein the alias comprises a network address; wherein the network address includes an identifier representative of the second means; wherein the second means comprises a plurality of further devices configured to translate an alias into an address for communication(s) with one or more target network devices; wherein the apparatus includes a store for storing mappings between the assigned alias and the target network device assigned to the alias; and wherein the store for storing mappings is managed by one of said plurality of the further devices.
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18. A method of providing communication between a network device in a first network and a network device in a second network, the first network operating in accordance with a first communication protocol and the second network operating in accordance with a second communication protocol, the method comprising:
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assigning, by execution of a controller, an alias to a target network device in said first network, the alias being compatible with the second communication protocol of said second network, translating said assigned alias to an address for the target network device, said translated address being compatible with the first communication protocol of said first network, selecting one of a plurality of further devices in accordance with predetermined criteria, said further devices having respective routing identifiers such that communications are routed individually to said further devices using said respective routing identifiers, wherein the controller and at least the selected further device are each separately addressable in said second network; wherein said assigned alias corresponds to the selected further device and includes a routing identifier of the selected one of the plurality of further devices, such that, when a network device in the second network sends one or more communication(s) using an address comprising the assigned alias, each of the one or more communication(s) is routed to the selected further device, whereupon the selected further device translates the alias into an address of the target network device in the first network and sends the one or more communication(s) into the first network. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification