Network location signature for disambiguating multicast messages in dual-IP stack and/or multi-homed network environments
First Claim
1. A method of disambiguating device announcements in a device connectivity architecture, comprising:
- at a networked computing device operating as a controlled device in the device connectivity architecture and interfacing with at least one data network link, generating a signature value associated with a current network configuration of the networked computing device;
for plural addresses of the networked computing device, producing messages for announcing the respective addresses according to a message structure having a signature field for containing the signature value; and
multicasting the messages announcing the connected device at the respective addresses including the signature value in the signature field onto the at least one data network link.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Dual stack and/or multi-homed devices networked in a device connectivity architecture include a network location signature field in multicast device or service advertisement or announcement messages for recipients to disambiguate announcements of different addresses for the device. The network location signature is a value representing the device'"'"'s current network configuration (e.g., set of active addresses), and changes with the network configuration. A recipient control point in the device connectivity architecture can then determine whether announcements of different addresses for the device or service are in addition to a previous announced address, or supercedes any previous announced address.
108 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of disambiguating device announcements in a device connectivity architecture, comprising:
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at a networked computing device operating as a controlled device in the device connectivity architecture and interfacing with at least one data network link, generating a signature value associated with a current network configuration of the networked computing device;
for plural addresses of the networked computing device, producing messages for announcing the respective addresses according to a message structure having a signature field for containing the signature value; and
multicasting the messages announcing the connected device at the respective addresses including the signature value in the signature field onto the at least one data network link. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A computer readable medium having a software program stored thereon for executing on a dual stack and/or multi-homed computing device connected on a data network link to cause the device to perform a method comprising:
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generating a signature value associated with a current network configuration of the networked computing device;
for plural addresses of the device, producing messages for announcing respective of the addresses according to a message structure having a signature field for containing the signature value; and
multicasting the messages announcing the respective addresses including the signature value in the signature field onto the at least one data network link. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A computer readable medium having a software program stored thereon for executing on a dual stack and/or multi-homed computing device connected on a data network link to cause the device to perform a method comprising:
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receiving via the at least one data network link an initial multicast message from another device, the multicast message containing a network configuration signature value in a signature field and an address of the other device;
creating a cache entry for the other device to contain the address from the initial multicast message;
upon receiving a further multicast message from the other device containing a changed signature value in the signature field of the further multicast message, replacing the cache entry containing the address from the initial multicast message with a cache entry containing an address from the further multicast message. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A dual-stack and/or multi-homed device for operating in a network as a controlled device according to a device connectivity architecture potentially containing other dual-stack and/or multi-homed devices as control points, the device comprising:
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at least one network interface for communicating on at least one network link;
at least one networking protocol stack for communicating on the at least one network interface according to a respective networking protocol;
a memory containing device connectivity programming; and
a processor for executing the device connectivity programming, wherein executing the device connectivity programming causes the device to generate a signature value representing a network configuration of the device, and to multicast plural announcements of different addresses of the device onto the at least one network link using the at least one networking protocol stack and at least one network interface, where the multicast announcements have a signature field containing the signature value. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A dual-stack and/or multi-homed device for operating in a network as a control point according to a device connectivity architecture potentially containing other dual-stack and/or multi-homed devices as controlled devices, the device comprising:
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at least one network interface for communicating on at least one network link;
at least one networking protocol stack for communicating on the at least one network interface according to a respective networking protocol;
a memory containing device connectivity programming; and
a processor for executing the device connectivity programming, wherein executing the device connectivity programming causes the device to process announcements from controlled devices received over the at least one network link using the at least one networking protocol stack and at least one network interface, which announcements contain an address for the controlled device and a signature field with a network location signature value;
to store cache entries containing the addresses from the announcements; and
upon processing a subsequent announcement received from a same controlled device as a previous announcement, to replace the cache entry stored for the same controlled device with a cache entry containing the address from the subsequent announcement and otherwise retaining the cache entry for the same controlled device containing the address from the previous announcement.
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Specification