System and method for automatic routing of dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) traffic

• US 9,300,627 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 03/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: Danforth, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Serrao, Ranodhi
• Assistant Examiner(s): FIORILLO, JAMES N
• Application Number:
  US13/831,049
• Publication Number:
  US 20140281029A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,111 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/16 Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs coordinating program control therefor G06F9/52; in regulating and control system G05B
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/395 Internet protocol multimedia private identity [IMPI]; Internet protocol multimedia public identity [IMPU]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0893 Assignment of logical groups to network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0894 Policy-based network configuration management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/74 Address processing for routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5014 using dynamic host configuration protocol [DHCP] or bootstrap protocol [BOOTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5061 Pools of addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5076 Update or notification mechanisms, e.g. DynDNS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 Routing a service request depending on the request content or context

Abstract

At an intermediary dynamic host configuration protocol relay device, over a network, a dynamic host configuration protocol message is obtained from one of a plurality of remote dynamic host configuration protocol relay devices in communication with the intermediary dynamic host configuration protocol relay device over the network. The intermediary dynamic host configuration protocol relay device accesses data pertaining to a plurality of dynamic host configuration protocol back-end servers logically fronted by the intermediary dynamic host configuration protocol relay device. Based on information in the dynamic host configuration protocol message and the data pertaining to the plurality of dynamic host configuration protocol back-end servers, the dynamic host configuration protocol message is routed to an appropriate one of the plurality of back-end dynamic host configuration protocol servers.

Claims

1. A method comprising the steps of:

obtaining, at an intermediary dynamic host configuration protocol relay device connected between a plurality of remote dynamic host configuration protocol relay devices and a plurality of dynamic host configuration protocol back-end servers, over a network, a dynamic host configuration protocol message from one of said plurality of remote dynamic host configuration protocol relay devices in communication with said intermediary dynamic host configuration protocol relay device over said network wherein;

the dynamic host configuration protocol message comprises a request for at least one of the plurality of dynamic host configuration protocol back-end servers to provide client configuration information; and

the dynamic host configuration protocol message further comprises information which includes at least an identifier of said one of a plurality of remote dynamic host configuration protocol relay devices and at least one data item;

accessing, by said intermediary dynamic host configuration protocol relay device, from a mapping database, configuration data pertaining to said plurality of dynamic host configuration protocol back-end servers logically fronted by said intermediary dynamic host configuration protocol relay device wherein;

said configuration data maps given ones of said plurality of remote dynamic host configuration protocol relay devices to corresponding ones of said plurality of dynamic host configuration protocol backend servers; and

said configuration data was obtained at least in part from the plurality of dynamic host configuration protocol back-end servers and aggregated in said mapping database;

based on said information in said dynamic host configuration protocol message and said configuration data pertaining to said plurality of dynamic host configuration protocol back-end servers, routing said dynamic host configuration protocol message to an appropriate one of said plurality of back-end dynamic host configuration protocol servers; and

updating the mapping database by an aggregation server when the aggregation server receives an updated configuration file from at least one of the plurality of dynamic host configuration protocol back-end servers.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, in said obtaining step, said remote dynamic host configuration protocol relay devices comprise cable modem termination systems and said network comprises a cable network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein, in said obtaining step, said network comprises a municipal wireless network and said remote dynamic host configuration protocol relay devices each comprise remote dynamic host configuration protocol relay devices located at one of a network address translation router, a policy enforcer, a tunnel terminator, and a wireless access point of said municipal wireless network.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting at least one conflict in said map data between at least two of said plurality of dynamic host configuration protocol back-end servers; and

resolving said conflict by giving priority to one of said at least two of said plurality of dynamic host configuration protocol back-end servers associated with an earliest time stamp.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein, in said routing step, said information in said dynamic host configuration protocol message comprises information other than an identifier of said one of said plurality of remote dynamic host configuration protocol relay devices.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein, in said obtaining and routing steps, said dynamic host configuration protocol message comprises a DHCPv4 lease request, further comprising:

obtaining, at said intermediary dynamic host configuration protocol relay device, over a network, a DHCPv6 lease request from another one of said plurality of remote dynamic host configuration protocol relay devices;

accessing, by said intermediary dynamic host configuration protocol relay device, said data pertaining to said plurality of dynamic host configuration protocol back-end servers logically fronted by said intermediary dynamic host configuration protocol relay device; and

based on information in said DHCPv6 lease request and said data pertaining to said plurality of dynamic host configuration protocol back-end servers, routing said DHCPv6 lease request to another appropriate one of said plurality of back-end dynamic host configuration protocol servers.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising said intermediary dynamic host configuration protocol relay device modifying said dynamic host configuration protocol message to affect how said appropriate one of said plurality of back-end dynamic host configuration protocol servers processes said dynamic host configuration protocol message.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising periodically re-assigning at least one of said plurality of dynamic host configuration protocol back-end servers from one of said plurality of remote dynamic host configuration protocol relay devices to another one of said plurality of remote dynamic host configuration protocol relay devices.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said request for at least one of the plurality of dynamic host configuration protocol back-end servers to provide client configuration information comprises a dynamic host configuration protocol lease request.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said request for at least one of the plurality of dynamic host configuration protocol back-end servers to provide client configuration information comprises at least one of:

a DHCPv4 DHCPDISCOVER packet, a DHCPv4 DHCPREQUEST packet, a DHCPv6 SOLICIT message, and a DHCPv6 REQUEST message.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said request for at least one of the plurality of dynamic host configuration protocol back-end servers to provide client configuration information comprises at least one of:

a DHCPv6 RENEW message, a DHCPv6 REBIND message, a DHCPv6 INFORMATION-REQUEST message, a DHCPv6 CONFIRM message, a DHCPv6 RELEASE message, or a DHCPv6 DECLINE message.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein a single physical server comprises said intermediary dynamic host configuration protocol relay device and at least one of said mapping database and said aggregation server.

13. An intermediary dynamic host configuration protocol relay device connected between a plurality of remote dynamic host configuration protocol relay devices and a plurality of dynamic host configuration protocol back-end servers over a network, the intermediary dynamic host configuration protocol relay device comprising:

a memory; and

at least one processor, coupled to said memory and operative to;

obtain, over said network, a dynamic host configuration protocol message from one of said plurality of remote dynamic host configuration protocol relay devices in communication with said intermediary dynamic host configuration protocol relay device over said network wherein;

the dynamic host configuration protocol message comprises a request for at least one of the plurality of dynamic host configuration protocol back-end servers to provide client configuration information; and

the dynamic host configuration protocol message further comprises information which includes at least an identifier of said one of a plurality of remote dynamic host configuration protocol relay devices and at least one data item;

access from a mapping database, configuration data pertaining to said plurality of dynamic host configuration protocol back-end servers logically fronted by said intermediary dynamic host configuration protocol relay device wherein;

said configuration data maps given ones of said plurality of remote dynamic host configuration protocol relay devices to corresponding ones of said plurality of dynamic host configuration protocol backend servers; and

said configuration data was obtained at least in part from the plurality of dynamic host configuration protocol back-end servers and aggregated in said mapping database;

based on said information in said dynamic host configuration protocol message and said configuration data pertaining to said plurality of dynamic host configuration protocol back-end servers, route said dynamic host configuration protocol message to an appropriate one of said plurality of back-end dynamic host configuration protocol servers; and

update the mapping database by an aggregation server when the aggregation server receives an updated configuration file from at least one of the plurality of dynamic host configuration protocol back-end servers.

14. The intermediary dynamic host configuration protocol relay device of claim 13, wherein said dynamic host configuration protocol message comprises a DHCPv4 lease request, and wherein said at least one processor is further operative to:

obtain a DHCPv6 lease request from another one of said plurality of remote dynamic host configuration protocol relay devices;

access said data pertaining to said plurality of dynamic host configuration protocol back-end servers logically fronted by said intermediary dynamic host configuration protocol relay device; and

based on information in said DHCPv6 lease request and said data pertaining to said plurality of dynamic host configuration protocol back-end servers, route said DHCPv6 lease request to another appropriate one of said plurality of back-end dynamic host configuration protocol servers.

15. The intermediary dynamic host configuration protocol relay device of claim 13, wherein said at least one processor is further operative to modify said dynamic host configuration protocol message to affect how said appropriate one of said plurality of back-end dynamic host configuration protocol servers processes said dynamic host configuration protocol message.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the intermediary dynamic host configuration protocol relay device comprises at least one of said mapping database and said aggregation server.

17. A system comprising:

an intermediary dynamic host configuration protocol relay device;

a map database in communication with said intermediary dynamic host configuration protocol relay device;

a plurality of dynamic host configuration protocol back-end servers logically fronted by said intermediary dynamic host configuration protocol relay device; and

an aggregation server in communication with the map database and the plurality of dynamic host configuration protocol backend servers;

wherein;

said intermediary dynamic host configuration protocol relay device is connected between a plurality of remote dynamic host configuration protocol relay devices and said plurality of dynamic host configuration protocol back-end servers over a network and is configured to obtain, over said network, a dynamic host configuration protocol message from one of said plurality of remote dynamic host configuration protocol relay devices in communication with said intermediary dynamic host configuration protocol relay device over said network wherein;

the dynamic host configuration protocol message comprises a request for at least one of the plurality of dynamic host configuration protocol back-end servers to provide client configuration information; and

the dynamic host configuration protocol message further comprises information which includes at least an identifier of said one of a plurality of remote dynamic host configuration protocol relay devices and at least one data item;

said intermediary dynamic host configuration protocol relay device is configured to access said map database, said map database containing configuration data pertaining to said plurality of dynamic host configuration protocol back-end servers logically fronted by said intermediary dynamic host configuration protocol relay device wherein;

said configuration data maps given ones of said plurality of remote dynamic host configuration protocol relay devices to corresponding ones of said plurality of dynamic host configuration protocol backend servers; and

said configuration data was obtained at least in part from the plurality of dynamic host configuration protocol back-end servers and aggregated in said mapping database;

said intermediary dynamic host configuration protocol relay device is configured to, based on information in said dynamic host configuration protocol message and said configuration data pertaining to said plurality of dynamic host configuration protocol back-end servers, route said dynamic host configuration protocol message to an appropriate one of said plurality of back-end dynamic host configuration protocol servers; and

said aggregation server is configured to update the mapping database when the aggregation

server receives an updated configuration file from at least one of the plurality of dynamic host configuration protocol back-end servers.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said aggregation server is configured to periodically re-assign at least one of said plurality of dynamic host configuration protocol back-end servers from one of said plurality of remote dynamic host configuration protocol relay devices to another one of said plurality of remote dynamic host configuration protocol relay devices.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein a single physical server comprises said intermediary dynamic host configuration protocol relay device and at least one of said mapping database and said aggregation server.

20. An apparatus comprising:

means for obtaining, using an intermediary dynamic host configuration protocol relay device connected between a plurality of remote dynamic host configuration protocol relay devices and a plurality of dynamic host configuration protocol back-end servers, over a network, a dynamic host configuration protocol message from one of said plurality of remote dynamic host configuration protocol relay devices in communication with said intermediary dynamic host configuration protocol relay device over said network wherein;

the dynamic host configuration protocol message comprises a request for at least one of the plurality of dynamic host configuration protocol back-end servers to provide client configuration information; and

the dynamic host configuration protocol message further comprises information which includes at least an identifier of said one of a plurality of remote dynamic host configuration protocol relay devices and at least one data item;

means for accessing, by said intermediary dynamic host configuration protocol relay device, from a mapping database, configuration data pertaining to said plurality of dynamic host configuration protocol back-end servers logically fronted by said intermediary dynamic host configuration protocol relay device wherein;

said configuration data maps given ones of said plurality of remote dynamic host configuration protocol relay devices to corresponding ones of said plurality of dynamic host configuration protocol backend servers; and

said configuration data was obtained at least in part from the plurality of dynamic host configuration protocol back-end servers and aggregated in said mapping database;

means for, based on said information in said dynamic host configuration protocol message and said configuration data pertaining to said plurality of dynamic host configuration protocol back-end servers, routing said dynamic host configuration protocol message to an appropriate one of said plurality of back-end dynamic host configuration protocol servers; and

means for updating the mapping database by an aggregation server when the aggregation server receives an updated configuration file from at least one of the plurality of dynamic host configuration protocol back-end servers.