Differentiated handling of network traffic using network address translation
First Claim
1. A method of processing network traffic, the method implemented by a network device, the method comprising:
- receiving, by the network device, an incoming data packet to be transmitted into a network section, the incoming data packet including a source network address and a destination address; and
performing, by the network device, network address translation on the incoming data packet by replacing the source network address with a replacement source network address selected according to a traffic class of the incoming data packet,wherein said network address translation maintains the destination network address of the incoming data packet;
wherein differentiated handling of the incoming data packet on the basis of the replacement source network address is to be provided in the network section, and wherein said differentiated handling comprises handling the incoming data packet according to a packet classification rule operating on the basis of the replacement source network address; and
,wherein said packet classification rule is implemented as a packet filter for routing the incoming data packet to a bearer.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
In order to allow efficient differentiated handling of network traffic in a network section, a network address translator performs network address translation on incoming data packets to be transmitted into the network section and/or on outgoing data packets transmitted from the network section. In the incoming data packets, the network address translation replaces a source network address with a replacement network address. In the outgoing data packets, a replacement network address is included in place of a destination address, and the network address translation replaces the replacement network address with the destination network address. In each case, the replacement network address is selected according to a traffic class of the data packet. In the network section, differentiated handling of the data packets on the basis of the replacement network address is provided.
58 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of processing network traffic, the method implemented by a network device, the method comprising:
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receiving, by the network device, an incoming data packet to be transmitted into a network section, the incoming data packet including a source network address and a destination address; and performing, by the network device, network address translation on the incoming data packet by replacing the source network address with a replacement source network address selected according to a traffic class of the incoming data packet, wherein said network address translation maintains the destination network address of the incoming data packet; wherein differentiated handling of the incoming data packet on the basis of the replacement source network address is to be provided in the network section, and wherein said differentiated handling comprises handling the incoming data packet according to a packet classification rule operating on the basis of the replacement source network address; and
,wherein said packet classification rule is implemented as a packet filter for routing the incoming data packet to a bearer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 16)
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7. A method of processing data traffic, the method implemented by a network device, the method comprising:
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receiving, by the network device, an outgoing data packet transmitted from a network section, the outgoing data packet including a replacement destination network address in place of a destination network address and a source network address, the replacement destination network address selected according to a traffic class of the outgoing data packet; and performing, by the network device, network address translation on the outgoing data packet by replacing the replacement destination network address with the destination network address, wherein said network address translation maintains the source network address of the outgoing data packet; wherein differentiated handling of the outgoing data packet on the basis of the replacement destination network address was provided in the network section, and wherein said differentiated handling comprises handling the outgoing data packet according to a packet classification rule operating on the basis of the replacement destination network address; and
,wherein said packet classification rule is implemented as a packet filter for routing the outgoing data packet to a bearer. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 17)
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10. A method of processing data traffic, the method implemented by a network device, the method comprising:
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receiving, by the network device, an outgoing data packet transmitted from a network section, the outgoing data packet including a replacement destination network address in place of a destination network address and a source network address, the replacement destination network address selected according to a traffic class of the outgoing data packet; performing, by the network device, network address translation on the outgoing data packet by replacing the replacement destination network address with the destination network address, wherein said network address translation maintains the source network address of the outgoing data packet; receiving, by the network device, a message transmitted into the network section in preparation of transmitting the outgoing data packet, said message indicating the destination network address of the outgoing data packet; and modifying, by the network device, the message by replacing the destination network address with the replacement destination network address. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A network device, comprising:
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an external interface configured to receive an incoming data packet to be transmitted into a network section, the incoming data packet including a source network address and a destination network address; and
,a network address translator configured to perform network address translation on the incoming data packet by replacing the source network address with a replacement source network address selected according to a traffic class of the incoming data packet, said network address translation maintaining the destination address of the incoming data packet; wherein differentiated handling of the incoming data packet on the basis of the replacement source network address is to be provided in the network section, and wherein said differentiated handling comprises handling the incoming data packet according to a packet classification rule operating on the basis of the replacement source network address; and
,wherein said packet classification rule is implemented as a packet filter for routing the incoming data packet to a bearer. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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13. A network device, comprising:
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an internal interface configured to receive an outgoing data packet transmitted from a network section, the outgoing data packet including a replacement destination network address in place of a destination network address and a source address, the replacement destination network address selected according to a traffic class of the outgoing data packet; and a network address translator configured to perform network address translation on the outgoing data packet by replacing the replacement destination network address with the destination network address, said network address translation maintaining the source network address of the outgoing data packet; wherein differentiated handling of the outgoing data packet on the basis of the replacement destination network address was provided in the network section, and wherein said differentiated handling comprises handling the outgoing data packet according to a packet classification rule operating on the basis of the replacement destination network address; and
,wherein said packet classification rule is implemented as a packet filter for routing the outgoing data packet to a bearer. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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14. A non-transitory computer-readable medium which has an executable computer program product stored thereon, the computer program product comprising program code to be executed by a processor of a network device, thereby causing the network device to operate as follows:
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receiving an incoming data packet to be transmitted into a network section, the incoming data packet including a source network address and a destination address; and performing network address translation on the incoming data packet by replacing the source network address with a replacement source network address selected according to a traffic class of the incoming data packet, wherein said network address translation maintains the destination network address of the incoming data packet; wherein differentiated handling of the incoming data packet on the basis of the replacement source network address is to be provided in the network section, and wherein said differentiated handling comprises handling the incoming data packet according to a packet classification rule operating on the basis of the replacement source network address; and
,wherein said packet classification rule is implemented as a packet filter for routing the incoming data packet to a bearer. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium which has an executable computer program product stored thereon, the computer program product comprising program code to be executed by a processor of a network device, thereby causing the network device to operate as follows:
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receiving an outgoing data packet transmitted from a network section, the outgoing data packet including a replacement destination network address in place of a destination network address and a source network address, the replacement destination network address being selected according to a traffic class of the outgoing data packet; and performing network address translation on the outgoing data packet by replacing the replacement destination network address with the destination network address, wherein said network address translation maintains the source network address of the outgoing data packet; wherein differentiated handling of the outgoing data packet on the basis of the replacement destination network address was provided in the network section, and wherein said differentiated handling comprises handling the outgoing data packet according to a packet classification rule operating on the basis of the replacement destination network address; and
,wherein said packet classification rule is implemented as a packet filter for routing the outgoing data packet to a bearer. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification