Geolocation-based addressing method for IPv6 addresses

• US 20080008179A1
• Filed: 07/07/2006
• Published: 01/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Chen, Liren, Taylor, Kirk S., Steenstra, Jack
• Granted Patent: US 7,929,535 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/392
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/604 Address structures or formats
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/69 using geographic information, e.g. room number
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/35 involving non-standard use of addresses for implementing network functionalities, e.g. coding subscription information within the address or functional addressing, i.e. assigning an address to a function
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5007 Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5084 Providing for device mobility network addressing or numbering for mobility support in wireless networks H04W8/26; mobile IP H04W80/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5092 by self-assignment, e.g. picking addresses at random and testing if they are already in use
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel

Abstract

One feature provides a method for encoding geolocation information into a next-generation internet protocol (IP) address, such as IPv6, to facilitate distribution of geolocation information among networked devices. A request for an IP address assignment is received from a network device. The geographical location for the network device is obtained. An IP address is assigned or generated that includes the geographical location. The assigned IP address is then provided to the network device. By encoding the geolocation information of a first network device into the IP address assigned to the first network device, other network devices are able to readily obtain the geographical location of the first network device. This method propagates geolocation information for network devices as part of the IP address, thus avoiding the need for separate geolocation distribution messaging. As the network device moves, its IP address is changed to update its geographical location information.

Claims

1. A method operational on an infrastructure device of a communication network, comprising:

receiving a request for an IP address assignment from a network device;

obtaining a geographical location for the network device;

assigning an IP address that includes the geographical location; and

providing the assigned IP address to the network device.

2. The method of 1 wherein the IP address requested is a 128-bit IPv6 address.

3. The method of 1 wherein the geographical location is obtained by determining a distance from a network router having a known geographical location to the network device.

4. The method of 1 wherein the geographical location is obtained from one or more other infrastructure devices.

5. The method of 1 wherein the geographical location is obtained from the requesting network device.

6. The method of 1 wherein the IP address is assigned by encoding the geographical location into the IP address.

7. The method of 1 wherein the geographical location includes at least one of either a latitude, longitude, or altitude.

8. The method of 1 further comprising:

encoding a timestamp as part of the IP address, wherein the timestamp indicates the time in which the geographical location was obtained.

9. The method of 1 further comprising:

tracking a movement of the network device to obtain a new geographical location; and

updating the IP address of the network device to reflect its new geographical location.

10. The method of 1 further comprising

encoding a Media Access Control (MAC) address of the network device into the IP address.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a network interface to couple the apparatus to a communication network; and

a processing circuit coupled to the communication interface and configured to

receive a request for an IP address assignment from a network device through the network interface;

obtain a geographical location for the network device;

assign an IP address that includes the geographical location; and

provide the assigned IP address to the network device through the network interface.

12. The apparatus of 11 wherein the processing circuit is further configured to

encode a timestamp as part of the IP address, wherein the timestamp indicates the time in which the geographical location was obtained.

13. The apparatus of 11 wherein the processing circuit is further configured to

track a movement of the network device to obtain a new geographical location;

and

update the IP address of the network device to reflect its new geographical location.

14. The apparatus of 11 wherein the processing circuit is further configured to

encode a Media Access Control (MAC) address of the network device into the IP address.

15. The apparatus of 11 wherein the IP address requested is a 128-bit IPv6 address.

16. A device comprising:

means for receiving a request for an IP address assignment from a network device;

means for obtaining a geographical location for the network device;

means for assign an IP address that includes the geographical location; and

means for provide the assigned IP address to the network device.

17. The device of 16 further comprising:

means for encoding a Media Access Control (MAC) address of the network device into the IP address.

18. The device of 16 further comprising:

means for tracking a movement of the network device to obtain a new geographical location; and

means for updating the IP address of the network device to reflect its new geographical location.

19. A machine-readable medium having one or more instructions for assigning an IP address having an encoded geographical location of a network device, which when executed by a processor causes the processor to:

receive a request for an IP address assignment from a network device;

obtain a geographical location for the network device; and

assign an IP address that includes the geographical location.

20. The machine-readable medium of 19 having one or more instructions which when executed by a processor causes the processor to:

track a movement of the network device to obtain a new geographical location; and

update the IP address of the network device to reflect its new geographical location.

21. The machine-readable medium of 19 having one or more instructions which when executed by a processor causes the processor to:

encode a Media Access Control (MAC) address of the network device into the IP address.

22. A method for obtaining a geographical location for a network device comprising:

receiving an IP address of a network device;

extracting a geographical location from the IP address; and

associating the geographic location in the IP address with the network device.

23. The method of 22 wherein the IP address received is a 128-bit IPv6 address.

24. The method of 22 further comprising:

decoding a timestamp from the IP address, wherein the timestamp indicates the time in which the geographical location was obtained.

25. The method of 22 further comprising:

decoding a Media Access Control (MAC) address of the network device from the IP address; and

tracking a movement of the network device based on changes in its IP address, where the changes in IP address indicate a change in the geographical location of the network device.

26. An apparatus comprising:

a network interface to couple the apparatus to a communication network; and

a processing circuit coupled to the communication interface and configured to

receive an IP address of a network device;

extract a geographical location from the IP address; and

associate the geographic location in the IP address with the network device.

27. The apparatus of 26 wherein the IP address received is a 128-bit IPv6 address.

28. The apparatus of 26 wherein the processing circuit is further configured to

decode Media Access Control (MAC) address of the network device from the IP address;

and

track a movement of the network device based on changes in its IP address, where the changes in IP address indicate a change in the geographical location of the network device.

29. A network device configured to self-assign its own IP address comprising:

a network interface to couple the network device to a communication network;

a geolocation interface that provides a geographical location for the network device; and

a processing circuit coupled to the communication interface and geolocation interface, the processing circuit configured to

obtain the geographical location for the network device from the geolocation interface,

generate an IP address for the network device that includes the geographical location of the network device, and

propagate the IP address of the network device to other network devices via the network interface.

30. The network device of 29 wherein the processing circuit is further configured to

encode a timestamp as port o the IP address, the timestamp indicating the time in which the geographical location was obtained.

31. The network device of 29 wherein the processing circuit is further configured to

encode a media access control address for the network device into the IP address.

32. A network device configured to self-assign its own IP address, comprising:

means for obtaining the geographical location for the network device;

means for generating an IP address for the network device that includes the geographical location of the network device, and

means propagating the IP address of the network device to other network devices.

33. A method for self-assigning an IP address by a network device, comprising:

obtaining the geographical location for the network device;

generating an IP address for the network device that includes the geographical location of the network device; and

propagating the IP address of the network device to other network devices via the network interface.

34. The method of 33 further comprising:

updating the IP address of the network device to reflect a new geographical location as the network device moves.