Single address prefix allocation within computer networks
First Claim
1. A method of address allocation within a computer network, the method comprising:
- receiving, with a network device of the computer network, a message from a subscriber network,in response to determining that the message includes a request that a network address be allocated to the subscriber network in accordance with a stateful address allocation mechanism without the message including any other requests that a single network address prefix be allocated to the subscriber network, allocating a network address of a single network address prefix associated with the subscriber network to the subscriber network with the network device;
in response to determining that the message includes the request that the single network address prefix be allocated to the subscriber network in accordance with the stateful address allocation mechanism without the message including any other requests that the network address be allocated to the subscriber network, allocating the entire single network address prefix with the network device to the subscriber network; and
in response to determining that the message includes the request that the network address be allocated to the subscriber network in accordance with the stateful address allocation mechanism and the message includes the request that the single network address prefix be allocated to the subscriber network in accordance with the stateful address allocation mechanism, allocating, with the network device, the entire single network address prefix to the subscriber network in response to the request that the single network address prefix be allocated to the subscriber network so as to avoid allocating one or more addresses from another network address prefix different from the single network address prefix.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
In general, techniques are described for single prefix address allocation within computer networks. Typically, a network device that allocates addresses within a computer network implements the techniques. The network device comprises an interface and a control unit. The interface receives first and second messages from a subscriber network. The first message requests at least one address be allocated to the subscriber network according to a first address allocation mechanism. The second message requests at least one address be allocated to the subscriber network in accordance with a second address allocation mechanism. The control unit automatically determines a topology of the subscriber network based on the second message. Based on the determined topology, the control unit selectively allocates either a single network address prefix or one or more addresses of the network address prefix in response to the second message without allocating an address in response to the first message.
35 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of address allocation within a computer network, the method comprising:
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receiving, with a network device of the computer network, a message from a subscriber network, in response to determining that the message includes a request that a network address be allocated to the subscriber network in accordance with a stateful address allocation mechanism without the message including any other requests that a single network address prefix be allocated to the subscriber network, allocating a network address of a single network address prefix associated with the subscriber network to the subscriber network with the network device; in response to determining that the message includes the request that the single network address prefix be allocated to the subscriber network in accordance with the stateful address allocation mechanism without the message including any other requests that the network address be allocated to the subscriber network, allocating the entire single network address prefix with the network device to the subscriber network; and in response to determining that the message includes the request that the network address be allocated to the subscriber network in accordance with the stateful address allocation mechanism and the message includes the request that the single network address prefix be allocated to the subscriber network in accordance with the stateful address allocation mechanism, allocating, with the network device, the entire single network address prefix to the subscriber network in response to the request that the single network address prefix be allocated to the subscriber network so as to avoid allocating one or more addresses from another network address prefix different from the single network address prefix. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A network device that allocates addresses within a computer network, the network device comprising:
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at least one interface that receives a message from a subscriber network connected to the computer network; and a control unit comprising a processor configured to; in response to determining that the message includes a request that a network address be allocated to the subscriber network in accordance with a stateful address allocation mechanism without including any other requests that a single network address prefix be allocated to the subscriber network, allocate a network address of a single network address prefix associated with the subscriber network to the subscriber network with the network device; in response to determining that the message includes the request that the single network address prefix be allocated to the subscriber network in accordance with the stateful address allocation mechanism without including any other requests that the network address be allocated to the subscriber network, allocate the entire single network address prefix with the network device to the subscriber network; and in response to determining that the message includes both the request that the network address be allocated to the subscriber network in accordance with the stateful address allocation mechanism and the request that the single network address prefix be allocated to the subscriber network in accordance with the stateful address allocation mechanism, allocate, with the network device, the entire single network address prefix to the subscriber network the request that the single network address prefix be allocated to the subscriber network so as to avoid allocating one or more addresses from another network address prefix different from the single network address prefix. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions for causing a programmable processor to:
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receive a message from a subscriber network; in response to determining that the message includes a request that a network address be allocated to the subscriber network in accordance with a stateful address allocation mechanism without including any other requests that a single network address prefix be allocated to the subscriber network, allocate a network address of a single network address prefix associated with the subscriber network to the subscriber network; in response to determining that the message includes the request that the single network address prefix be allocated to the subscriber network in accordance with the stateful address allocation mechanism without including any other requests that the network address be allocated to the subscriber network, allocate the entire single network address prefix to the subscriber network; and in response to determining that the message includes both the request that the network address be allocated to the subscriber network in accordance with the stateful address allocation mechanism and the request that the single network address prefix be allocated to the subscriber network in accordance with the stateful address allocation mechanism, allocate, with the network device, the entire single network address prefix to the subscriber network the request that the single network address prefix be allocated to the subscriber network so as to avoid allocating one or more addresses from another network address prefix different from the single network address prefix.
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18. A network system comprising:
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a public network; a subscriber network that includes a residential gateway device; and a service provider network comprising a network device that interfaces with the residential gateway device to enable the subscriber network to access the public network, wherein the network device comprises; at least one interface that receives a message from the subscriber network connected to the service provider network; and a control unit comprising a processor that, in response to determining that the message includes a request that a network address be allocated to the subscriber network in accordance with a stateful address allocation mechanism without including any other requests that a single network address prefix be allocated to the subscriber network, allocates a network address of a single network address prefix associated with the subscriber network to the subscriber network with the network device, in response to determining that the message includes the request that the single network address prefix be allocated to the subscriber network in accordance with the stateful address allocation mechanism without including any other requests that the network address be allocated to the subscriber network, allocates the entire single network address prefix with the network device to the subscriber network, and, in response to determining that the message includes both the request that the network address be allocated to the subscriber network in accordance with the stateful address allocation mechanism and the request that the single network address prefix be allocated to the subscriber network in accordance with the stateful address allocation mechanism, allocates, with the network device, the entire single network address prefix to the subscriber network the request that the single network address prefix be allocated to the subscriber network so as to avoid allocating one or more addresses from another network address prefix different from the single network address prefix.
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19. A network system comprising:
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a public network; a subscriber network that includes a residential gateway device; a service provider network that provides access to the public network, wherein the service provider network comprises; an authentication server that authenticates the one or more subscriber networks before allowing the subscriber networks to gain access to the service provider network; and a network device that interfaces with the residential gateway device to enable the subscriber network to access the public network, wherein the network device comprises; at least one interface that receives a message from the subscriber network connected to the service provider network; a control unit comprising a processor that communicates with the authentication server to authenticate the subscriber network as permitted to interface with the service provider network to access the public network, receives a single network address prefix from the authentication server in response to successfully authenticating the subscriber network, in response to determining that the message includes a request that a network address be allocated to the subscriber network in accordance with a stateful address allocation mechanism without including any other requests that a single network address prefix be allocated to the subscriber network, allocates a network address of a single network address prefix associated with the subscriber network to the subscriber network with the network device, in response to determining that the message includes the request that the single network address prefix be allocated to the subscriber network in accordance with the stateful address allocation mechanism without including any other requests that the network address be allocated to the subscriber network, allocates the entire single network address prefix with the network device to the subscriber network, and, in response to determining that the message includes both the request that the network address be allocated to the subscriber network in accordance with the stateful address allocation mechanism and the request that the single network address prefix be allocated to the subscriber network in accordance with the stateful address allocation mechanism, allocates, with the network device, the entire single network address prefix to the subscriber network the request that the single network address prefix be allocated to the subscriber network so as to avoid allocating one or more addresses from another network address prefix different from the single network address prefix.
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20. A network system comprising:
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a public network; a subscriber network that includes a residential gateway device; a service provider network that provides access to the public network, wherein the service provider network includes; a network device that interfaces with the residential gateway device to enable the subscriber network to access the public network; a dynamic host configuration protocol version six (DHCPv6) server positioned intermediate to the network device and the authentication server that allocates network addresses in accordance with DHCPv6, wherein the network device comprises; at least one interface that receives a message from the subscriber network connected to the service provider network, wherein the message includes a first request that a network address be allocated to the subscriber network in accordance with a stateful address allocation mechanism and a second request that a network address prefix be allocated to the subscriber network in accordance with the stateful address allocation mechanism; and a control unit comprising a processor that parses the message in accordance with a single prefix allocation policy to selectively remove one or more options related to the scope of the address allocation request to generate an updated message, forwards the updated message to the DHCPv6 server, receives a response message from the DHCPv6 server allocating a single network address prefix in response to the second request of the updated message without allocating one or more network addresses in response to the first request of the message so as to avoid allocating one or more addresses from another network address prefix different from the single network address prefix.
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Specification