Techniques for assigning internet protocol version six network blocks in unknown networks
First Claim
1. A method comprising the steps of:
- sending, from a gateway router apparatus, interposed between a premises network and an internet, a first multicast SOLICIT message with a prefix length hint based on a number of network segments associated with said gateway router apparatus;
receiving, at said gateway router apparatus, a plurality of second multicast SOLICIT messages, from a plurality of routers in said premises network;
recording, at said gateway router apparatus;
a prefix length hint associated with each of said plurality of second multicast SOLICIT messages; and
an interface associated with each of said plurality of second multicast SOLICIT messages;
receiving, at said gateway router apparatus, a first ADVERTISE message, over said internet;
subtracting a prefix length hint from said prefix length hints recorded at said gateway router apparatus in said recording step, wherein said prefix length hint subtracted from said prefix length hints recorded at said gateway router apparatus was received on an interface where said first ADVERTISE was received;
sending, from said gateway router apparatus, a REQUEST message, over said internet, said REQUEST message specifying a prefix length based on said number of network segments associated with said gateway router apparatus and said prefix length hints associated with said plurality of second multicast SOLICIT messages recorded at said gateway router apparatus after said subtracting step; and
sending, from said gateway router apparatus, a second ADVERTISE message advertising ability of said gateway router apparatus to delegate prefixes in accordance with said REQUEST message.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A gateway router apparatus sends a first multicast SOLICIT message with a prefix length hint based on a number of network segments associated with the apparatus. The apparatus receives a second multicast SOLICIT message with a prefix length hint, from a downstream router in a premises network. At the apparatus, the following are recorded: (i) an estimated prefix length associated with the second multicast SOLICIT message; and (ii) an interface associated with the second multicast SOLICIT message. At the apparatus, a first ADVERTISE message is received, and a REQUEST message is sent, both over the internet. The REQUEST message specifies a prefix length based on the number of network segments associated with the apparatus and the recorded estimated prefix length associated with the second multicast SOLICIT message. The apparatus sends a second ADVERTISE message advertising ability of the apparatus to delegate prefixes in accordance with the REQUEST message.
16 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method comprising the steps of:
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sending, from a gateway router apparatus, interposed between a premises network and an internet, a first multicast SOLICIT message with a prefix length hint based on a number of network segments associated with said gateway router apparatus; receiving, at said gateway router apparatus, a plurality of second multicast SOLICIT messages, from a plurality of routers in said premises network; recording, at said gateway router apparatus; a prefix length hint associated with each of said plurality of second multicast SOLICIT messages; and an interface associated with each of said plurality of second multicast SOLICIT messages; receiving, at said gateway router apparatus, a first ADVERTISE message, over said internet; subtracting a prefix length hint from said prefix length hints recorded at said gateway router apparatus in said recording step, wherein said prefix length hint subtracted from said prefix length hints recorded at said gateway router apparatus was received on an interface where said first ADVERTISE was received; sending, from said gateway router apparatus, a REQUEST message, over said internet, said REQUEST message specifying a prefix length based on said number of network segments associated with said gateway router apparatus and said prefix length hints associated with said plurality of second multicast SOLICIT messages recorded at said gateway router apparatus after said subtracting step; and sending, from said gateway router apparatus, a second ADVERTISE message advertising ability of said gateway router apparatus to delegate prefixes in accordance with said REQUEST message. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method comprising the steps of:
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sending, from a block-assigning router apparatus, a first multicast SOLICIT message with a prefix length hint based on a number of network segments associated with said block-assigning router apparatus; receiving, at said block-assigning router apparatus; a second multicast SOLICIT message from an upstream router apparatus; and a third multicast SOLICIT message with a prefix length hint, from a downstream device; recording, at said block-assigning router apparatus; a prefix length hint of said second multicast SOLICIT message; an interface associated with said second multicast SOLICIT message; said prefix length hint of said third multicast SOLICIT message; an interface associated with said third multicast SOLICIT message; and a first ADVERTISE message received from said upstream router apparatus; sending, from said block-assigning router apparatus, a REQUEST message, over said premises network, said REQUEST message specifying a prefix length based on said number of network segments associated with said block-assigning router apparatus and on said recorded prefix length hint of said third multicast SOLICIT message, but not on said recorded prefix length hint of said second multicast SOLICIT message; and sending, from said block-assigning router apparatus, a second ADVERTISE message advertising ability of said block-assigning router apparatus to delegate prefixes in accordance with said REQUEST message.
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12. A gateway router apparatus interposed between a premises network and an internet, said gateway router apparatus comprising:
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a memory; at least one processor coupled to said memory; and a persistent storage device, tangibly embodying in a non-transitory manner instructions which when loaded into said memory cause said at least one processor to; send, from said gateway router apparatus, a first multicast SOLICIT message with a prefix length hint based on a number of network segments associated with said gateway router apparatus; receive, at said gateway router apparatus, a plurality of second multicast SOLICIT messages, from a plurality of routers in the premises network; record, at said gateway router apparatus; a prefix length hint associated with each of said plurality of second multicast SOLICIT messages; and an interface associated with each of said plurality of second multicast SOLICIT messages; receive, at said gateway router apparatus, a first ADVERTISE message, over the internet; subtract a prefix length hint from said prefix length hints recorded at said gateway router apparatus, wherein said prefix length hint subtracted from said prefix length hints recorded at said gateway router apparatus was received on an interface where said first ADVERTISE was received; send, from said gateway router apparatus, a REQUEST message, over said internet, said REQUEST message specifying a prefix length based on said number of network segments associated with said gateway router apparatus and said prefix length hints associated with said plurality of second multicast SOLICIT messages recorded at said gateway router apparatus after subtracting said prefix length hint received on said interface where said first ADVERTISE was received; and send, from said gateway router apparatus, a second ADVERTISE message advertising ability of said gateway router apparatus to delegate prefixes in accordance with said REQUEST message. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A block-assigning router apparatus, within a premises network, interposed between an upstream router apparatus and a downstream router apparatus, said block-assigning router apparatus comprising:
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a memory; at least one processor coupled to said memory; and a persistent storage device, tangibly embodying in a non-transitory manner instructions which when loaded into said memory cause said at least one processor to; send, from said block-assigning apparatus, a first multicast SOLICIT message with a prefix length hint based on a number of network segments associated with said block-assigning router apparatus; receive, at said block-assigning router apparatus; a second multicast SOLICIT message from said upstream router; and a third multicast SOLICIT message with a prefix length hint, from said downstream router; record, at said block-assigning router apparatus; said prefix length hint of said second multicast SOLICIT message; an interface associated with said second multicast SOLICIT message; said prefix length hint of said third multicast SOLICIT message; an interface associated with said third multicast SOLICIT message; and an first ADVERTISE message received from said upstream router apparatus; send, from said block-assigning router, a REQUEST message, over said premises network, said REQUEST message specifying a prefix length based on said number of network segments associated with said block-assigning router and on said recorded prefix length hint of said third multicast SOLICIT message, but not on said recorded prefix length hint of said second multicast SOLICIT message; and send, from said block-assigning router apparatus, a second ADVERTISE message advertising ability of said block-assigning router apparatus to delegate prefixes in accordance with said REQUEST message.
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21. An article of manufacture comprising a computer program product, said computer program product comprising:
a tangible computer-readable recordable storage medium, storing in a non-transitory manner computer readable program code for execution by at least one processor of a gateway router apparatus interposed between a premises network and an internet, the computer readable program code comprising; computer readable program code configured to send, from said gateway router apparatus, a first multicast SOLICIT message with a prefix length hint based on a number of network segments associated with said gateway router apparatus; computer readable program code configured to receive, at said gateway router apparatus, a plurality of second multicast SOLICIT messages, from a plurality of routers in the premises network; computer readable program code configured to record, at said gateway router apparatus; a prefix length hint associated with each of said plurality of second multicast SOLICIT messages; and an interface associated with each of said plurality of second multicast SOLICIT messages; computer readable program code configured to receive, at said gateway router apparatus, a first ADVERTISE message, over the internet; computer readable program code configured to subtract a prefix length hint from said prefix length hints recorded at said gateway router apparatus, wherein said prefix length hint subtracted from said prefix length hints recorded at said gateway router apparatus was received on an interface where said first ADVERTISE was received; computer readable program code configured to send, from said gateway router apparatus, a REQUEST message, over said internet, said REQUEST message specifying a prefix length based on said number of network segments associated with said gateway router apparatus and said prefix length hints associated with said plurality of second multicast SOLICIT messages recorded at said gateway router apparatus after subtracting said prefix length hint received on said interface where said first ADVERTISE was received; and computer readable program code configured to send, from said gateway router apparatus, a second ADVERTISE message advertising ability of said gateway router apparatus to delegate prefixes in accordance with said REQUEST message.
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22. A gateway router apparatus interposed between a premises network and an internet, said gateway router apparatus comprising:
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means for sending, from said gateway router apparatus, a first multicast SOLICIT message with a prefix length hint based on a number of network segments associated with said gateway router apparatus; means for receiving, at said gateway router apparatus, a plurality of second multicast SOLICIT messages, from a plurality of routers in the premises network; means for recording, at said gateway router apparatus; a prefix length hint associated with each of said plurality of second multicast SOLICIT messages; and an interface associated with each of said plurality of second multicast SOLICIT messages; means for receiving, at said gateway router apparatus, a first ADVERTISE message, over the internet; means for subtracting a prefix length hint from said prefix length hints recorded at said gateway router apparatus, wherein said prefix length hint subtracted from said prefix length hints recorded at said gateway router apparatus was received on an interface where said first ADVERTISE was received; means for sending, from said gateway router apparatus, a REQUEST message, over said internet, said REQUEST message specifying a prefix length based on said number of network segments associated with said gateway router apparatus and said prefix length hints associated with said plurality of second multicast SOLICIT messages recorded at said gateway router apparatus after subtracting said prefix length hint received on said interface where said first ADVERTISE was received; and means for sending, from said gateway router apparatus, a second ADVERTISE message advertising ability of said gateway router apparatus to delegate prefixes in accordance with said REQUEST message.
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Specification