SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING NETWORK ADDRESS TRANSLATION CONTROL IN A NETWORK ENVIRONMENT

• US 20090207843A1
• Filed: 02/13/2009
• Published: 08/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Andreasen, Flemming S., Vucetic, Vojislav, Brockners, Frank
• Application Number:
  US12/371,516
• Publication Number:
  US 20090207843A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/392
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1403 Architecture for metering, charging or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/20 Traffic policing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1016 IP multimedia subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/02 Traffic management, e.g. flow control or congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]

Abstract

A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes receiving packets at a network element for a communications flow from an end user, the network element receiving the packets if the flow is initiated through a wireless network and through a wireline network. A network address translation (NAT) binding occurs for the end user at the network element, the NAT binding including an Internet Protocol (IP) address for the end user, the NAT binding being controlled by policy infrastructure coupled to the network element. The network element can be provided along a routing path for the flow (e.g., the IP session), irrespective of whether mobility services are used by the end user. The policy infrastructure can also support NAT control between home and visited networks with the visited network retaining control and privacy over the actual NAT elements being used.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving packets at a network element for a communications flow from an end user, the network element receiving the packets if the flow is initiated through a wireless network and through a wireline network, wherein a network address translation (NAT) binding occurs for the end user at the network element, the NAT binding including an Internet Protocol (IP) address for the end user.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

reporting a state change associated with a border gateway function that is coupled to the network element.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

reporting resource state information associated with a border gateway function that is coupled to the network element.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a request is received for the NAT binding where information related to the NAT binding is returned to an entity that initiated the request, the information associated with a port number and an IP version associated with the flow.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a request for the NAT binding request includes media parameters for a remote source and a destination for the flow.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a request for the NAT binding request includes port latching for specific terminations for the flow.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein a request for the NAT binding request includes media transport protocol data for the flow, and wherein the media transport protocol data is used to perform dual-port reservations and statistics collection for the flow.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein a request for the NAT binding request includes whether the flow is unidirectional or bidirectional, and wherein if the flow is unidirectional a specific direction is included in the NAT binding request.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

modifying one or more media parameters for the flow once the flow is active, wherein the parameters include a new IP address and new port latching.

10. An apparatus, comprising:

a network element operable to receive packets at a network element for a communications flow from an end user, the network element receiving the packets if the flow is initiated through a wireless network and through a wireline network, wherein a network address translation (NAT) binding occurs for the end user at the network element, the NAT binding including an Internet Protocol (IP) address for the end user, the network element being provided along a routing path for the flow regardless of whether mobility services are used by the end user.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein a request is received for the NAT binding where information related to the NAT binding is returned to an entity that initiated the request, the information associated with a port number and an IP version associated with the flow.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein a request for the NAT binding request includes media parameters for a remote source and a destination for the flow.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein a request for the NAT binding request includes port latching for specific terminations for the flow.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein a request for the NAT binding request includes media transport protocol data for the flow, and wherein the media transport protocol data is used to perform dual-port reservations and statistics collection for the flow.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein a request for the NAT binding request includes whether the flow is unidirectional or bidirectional, and wherein if the flow is unidirectional a specific direction is included in the NAT biding request.

16. Logic encoded in one or more tangible media for execution and when executed by a processor operable to:

receive packets for a communications flow from an end user at a network element, the network element receiving the packets if the flow is initiated through a wireless network and through a wireline network, wherein a network address translation (NAT) binding occurs for the end user at the network element, the NAT binding including an Internet Protocol (IP) address for the end user, the network element being provided along a routing path for the flow regardless of whether mobility services are used by the end user.

17. The logic of claim 16, wherein the code is further operable to:

report a state change associated with a border gateway function element that is coupled to the network element.

18. The logic of claim 16, wherein the code is further operable to:

report resource state information associated with a border gateway function element that is coupled to the network element.

19. The logic of claim 16, wherein a request is received for the NAT binding and information related to the NAT binding is returned to an entity that initiated the request, the information associated with a port number and an IP version associated with the flow.

20. The logic of claim 16, wherein a request for the NAT binding request includes media parameters for a remote source and a destination for the flow.

21. A system, comprising:

means for receiving packets for a communications flow from an end user at an interface of a network element, the network element receiving the packets if the flow is initiated through a wireless network and through a wireline network; and

means for executing a network address translation (NAT) binding for the end user at the network element, the NAT binding including an Internet Protocol (IP) address for the end user.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein a request is received for the NAT binding and information related to the NAT binding is returned to an entity that initiated the request, the information associated with a port number and an IP version associated with the flow.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein a request for the NAT binding request includes media parameters for a remote source and a destination for the flow.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein a request for the NAT binding request includes port latching for specific terminations for the flow.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein a request for the NAT binding request includes media transport protocol data for the flow, and wherein the media transport protocol data is used to perform dual-port reservations and statistics collection for the flow.