IP allocation pools

• US 9,729,500 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2013
• Issued: 08/08/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Szamonek, Zoltan, Duleba, Krzysztof, Dijk, Luuk van
• Primary Examiner(s): Joo, Joshua
• Application Number:
  US13/950,612
• Publication Number:
  US 20140280902A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,475 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0813 characterised by the conditions triggering a change of settings
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5007 Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5061 Pools of addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34

Abstract

Systems, methods, and computer program products involve identifying a first IP block having a first set of IP addresses and a second IP block having a second set of IP addresses, the first set of IP addresses different from the second set of IP addresses. A first expected number of IP reassignments for the first IP block can be determined. A first number of IP reassignments between the first IP block and the second IP block can be identified. The first number of IP reassignments can be compared against the first expected number of IP reassignments. The first IP block and the second IP block can be merged into an IP allocation pool based, at least in part, on the comparison.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for identifying Internet Protocol (IP) allocation pools comprising:

updating network information for a plurality of client devices by;

identifying a first IP block having a first set of IP addresses and a second IP block having a second set of IP addresses;

determining, for a particular period of time, an expected number of IP reassignments from the first IP block to the second IP block;

determining an observed number of IP reassignments from the first IP block to the second IP block that occurred within the period of time, the determining comprising, for each client device, obtaining a sequence of IP addresses used by the client device, each sequence of IP addresses created based on IP addresses of browsing sessions that are associated with a cookie issued to the client device;

comparing, for the period of time, the observed number of IP reassignments with the expected number of IP reassignments; and

merging, after the period of time, the first IP block and the second IP block into an IP allocation pool based, at least in part, on the comparison; and

modifying services provided to one of the client devices based on the network information, the modifying comprising automatically adjusting network settings for the one of the client devices based on the allocation pool for the one of the client devices.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein merging the first IP block and the second IP block further comprises:

determining a second expected number of IP reassignments for the second IP block;

determining a second observed number of IP reassignments from the second IP block to the first IP block; and

comparing the second observed number of IP reassignments to the second expected number of IP reassignments;

wherein merging the first IP block and the second IP block is further based on the comparison of the second observed number of IP reassignments to the second expected number of IP reassignments.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first IP block and second IP block are merged if the observed number of IP reassignments are determined to be within a threshold number of the expected number of IP reassignments.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the expected number of IP reassignments from the first IP block comprises calculating one or both of a probability of IP reassignment from an IP address in the first IP block to another IP address in the first block or a probability of IP reassignment from an IP address in the first IP block to an IP address in the second IP block.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

for each IP address reassignment, determining which IP block the reassigned IP address is located in.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying services provided to one of the client devices based on the network information comprises providing a geographic-based service to one of the client devices based on the network information.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying services provided to one of the client devices based on the network information comprises modifying services provided to one of the client devices based on network metrics of other client devices in the plurality of client devices.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying services provided to one of the client devices based on the network information comprises restricting services provided to one of the client devices based on a restriction applied to another of the client devices in the plurality of client devices.

9. A system comprising:

a plurality of user devices; and

one or more computers operable to interact with the plurality of user devices and to;

update network information for a plurality of client devices by;

identify a first IP block having a first set of IP addresses and a second IP block having a second set of IP addresses, the first set of IP addresses different from the second set of IP addresses;

determine, for a particular time period, a first expected number of IP reassignments for the first IP block;

identify a first number of IP reassignments between the first IP block and the second IP block that occurred within the time period, the identifying comprising, for each client device, obtaining a sequence of IP addresses used by the client device, each sequence of IP addresses created based on IP addresses of browsing sessions that are associated with a cookie issued to the client device;

compare, for the time period, the first number of IP reassignments with the first expected number of IP reassignments; and

merge, after the time period the first IP block and the second IP block into an IP allocation pool based, at least in part, on the comparison; and

modify services provided to one of the client devices based on the network information, the modifying comprising automatically adjusting network settings for the one of the client devices based on the allocation pool for the one of the client devices.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the one or more computers are further operable to:

determine a second expected number of IP reassignments for the second IP block and identifying a second number of IP reassignments from the second IP block to the first IP block; and

compare the second number of IP reassignments to the second expected number of IP reassignments;

wherein merging the first IP block and the second IP block is further based on the comparison of the second number of IP reassignments to the second expected number of IP reassignments.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the first IP block and second IP block are merged if the observed number of IP reassignments are determined to be within a threshold number of the first expected number of IP reassignments.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein determining the expected number of IP reassignments from the first IP block comprises calculating one or both of a probability of IP reassignment from an IP address in the first IP block to another IP address in the first block or a probability of IP reassignment from an IP address in the first IP block to an IP address in the second IP block.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein determining an observed number of IP reassignments comprises:

for each IP address reassignment, determining which IP block the reassigned IP address is located in.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein modifying services provided to one of the client devices based on the network information comprises providing a geographic-based service to one of the client devices based on the network information.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein modifying services provided to one of the client devices based on the network information comprises modifying services provided to one of the client devices based on network metrics of other client devices in the plurality of client devices.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein modifying services provided to one of the client devices based on the network information comprises restricting services provided to one of the client devices based on a restriction applied to another of the client devices in the plurality of client devices.

17. A computer program product tangibly embodied on a non-transitory medium, the computer program product comprising instructions operable when executed to:

update network information for a plurality of client devices by;

identify a first IP block having a first set of IP addresses and a second IP block having a second set of IP addresses, the first set of IP addresses different from the second set of IP addresses;

determine, for a particular time period, a first expected number of IP reassignments for the first IP block;

identify a first number of IP reassignments between the first IP block and the second IP block that occurred within the time period, the identifying comprising, for each client device, obtaining a sequence IP addresses used by the client device, each sequence of IP addresses created based on IP addresses of browsing sessions that are associated with a cookie issued to the client device;

compare, for the time period, the first number of IP reassignments with the first expected number of IP reassignments; and

merge, after the time period the first IP block and the second IP block into an IP allocation pool based, at least in part, on the comparison; and

modify services provided to one of the client devices based on the network information, the modifying comprising automatically adjusting network settings for the one of the client devices based on the allocation pool for the one of the client devices.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein merging the first IP block and the second IP block further comprises:

determining a second expected number of IP reassignments for the second IP block;

determining a second observed number of IP reassignments from the second IP block to the first IP block; and

comparing the second observed number of IP reassignments to the second expected number of IP reassignments;

wherein merging the first IP block and the second IP block is further based on the comparison of the second observed number of IP reassignments to the second expected number of IP reassignments.

19. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the first IP block and second IP block are merged if the observed number of IP reassignments are determined to be within a threshold number of the expected number of IP reassignments.

20. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein determining the expected number of IP reassignments from the first IP block comprises calculating one or both of a probability of IP reassignment from an IP address in the first IP block to another IP address in the first block or a probability of IP reassignment from an IP address in the first IP block to an IP address in the second IP block.

21. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein determining an observed number of IP reassignments comprises:

for each IP address reassignment, determining which IP block the reassigned IP address is located in.

22. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein modifying services provided to one of the client devices based on the network information comprises providing a geographic-based service to one of the client devices based on the network information.

23. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein modifying services provided to one of the client devices based on the network information comprises modifying services provided to one of the client devices based on network metrics of other client devices in the plurality of client devices.

24. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein modifying services provided to one of the client devices based on the network information comprises restricting services provided to one of the client devices based on a restriction applied to another of the client devices in the plurality of client devices.