# US 10,375,014 B2 · System and method for minimizing broadcast communications when allocating network addresses > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,375,014 B2 - Document ID: US10375014B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/963,926 - Filed: 2015-12-09 - Published: 2017-06-15 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2015-12-09 - Assignees: Dell Products L.P. - Applicants: Dell Products, LP - Inventors: Ankit Singh; Rohit Kumar Arehalli; Shekar Babu Suryananarayana - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10375014B2 ## CPC - H04L 61/5007: Internet protocol [IP] addresses - H04W 4/025: {using location based information parameters} - H04W 4/06: Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract A network device may be configured to cause one or more network address allocation communications broadcast in a network to be communicated as directed unicast communications. More particularly, in a Local Area Network, a routing device such as a switch may be modified to receive broadcast communications for network address allocation, and instead of propagating the broadcast communications as broadcast communications, the routing device may route the network address allocation communications as directed unicast communications in the Local Area Network. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: receiving a first set of network address allocation communications at a network device of a network, the first set of network address allocation communications including a second set of network address allocation communications received from a first client device of the network and a third set of network address allocation communications received from a server device of the network, wherein the second and third sets of network address allocation communications are broadcast communications; analyzing the third set of network address allocation communications to determine a relative location of the server device in the network; receiving a fourth set of network address allocation communications at the network device, the fourth set of network address allocation communications including a fifth set of network address allocation communications received from a second client device of the network and a sixth set of network address allocation communications received from the server device, wherein the fifth and sixth sets of network address allocation communications are broadcast communications; analyzing the fifth set of network address allocation communications to determine a relative location of the second client device in the network; modifying the fifth set of network address allocation communications with a media access control (MAC) address and internet protocol (IP) address of the server and the sixth set of network address allocation communications with a MAC address of the second client device; and transmitting the fifth set of network address allocation communications to the server device as directed unicast communications and the sixth set of network address allocation communications to the second client device as directed unicast communications. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the network device is a switch device comprising a set of ports. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein determining a relative location of the server device comprises correlating a server network address with a port of the set of ports the sever device is in communication with. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the server network address is a network IP address. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the network is a Local Area Network. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein determining a relative location of the second client device comprises correlating a second client address with a port of the set of ports the second client device is in communication with. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the second client address is a MAC address. ### Claim 8 An apparatus configured to: receive a first set of network address allocation communications over a network, the first set of network address allocation communications including a second set of network address allocation communications received from a first client device of the network and a third set of network address allocation communications received from a server device of the network, wherein the second and third sets of network address allocation communications are broadcast communications; analyze the third set of network address allocation communications to determine a relative location of the server device in the network; receive a fourth set of network address allocation communications over the network, the fourth set of network address allocation communications including a fifth set of network address allocation communications received from a second client device of the network and a sixth set of network address allocation communications received from the server device, wherein the fifth and sixth sets of network address allocation communications are broadcast communications; analyze the fifth set of network address allocation communications to determine a relative location of the second client device in the network; modify the fifth set of network address allocation communications with a media access control (MAC) address and internet protocol (IP) address of the server and the sixth set of network address allocation communications with a MAC address of the second client device; and transmit the fifth set of network address allocation communications to the server device as directed unicast communications and the sixth set of network address allocation communications to the second client device as directed unicast communications. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus is a switch device located in the network, the switch device having a set of ports. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the switch device broadcasts the first set of network address allocation communications in the network. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein determining a relative location of the server device comprises correlating a server network address with a port of the set of ports the sever device is in communication with. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein determining a relative location of the second client device comprises correlating a second client address with a port of the set of ports the second client device is in communication with. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the switch device direct unicast transmits a communication of the third set of network address allocation communications in the network. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the network is a Local Area Network. ### Claim 15 A non-transitory computer readable medium containing instructions, that when executed, cause a network device to: receive a first set of network address allocation communications over a network, the first set of network address allocation communications including a second set of network address allocation communications received from a first client device of the network and a third set of network address allocation communications received from a server device of the network, wherein the second and third sets of network address allocation communications are broadcast communications; analyze the third set of network address allocation communications to determine a relative location of the server device in the network; receive a fourth set of network address allocation communications over the network, the fourth set of network address allocation communications including a fifth set of network address allocation communications received from a second client device of the network and a sixth set of network address allocation communications received from the server device, wherein the fifth and sixth sets of network address allocation communications are broadcast communications; analyze the fifth set of network address allocation communications to determine a relative location of the second client device in the network; modify the fifth set of network address allocation communications with a media access control (MAC) address and internet protocol (IP) address of the server and the sixth set of network address allocation communications with a MAC address of the second client device; AND transmit the fifth set of network address allocation communications to the server device as directed unicast communications and the sixth set of network address allocation communications to the second client device as directed unicast communications. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the network is a LAN. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein determining a relative location of the server device comprises correlating a server network address with a port the sever device is in communication with. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein determining a relative location of the second client device comprises correlating a second client address with a port the second client device is in communication with. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein the second client address is a MAC address. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the network device is a switch device supporting the LAN.