# US 12,192,163 B2 · Systems and methods for advertising internet protocol (IP) version 4 network layer routing information with an IP version 6 next Hop address > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,192,163 B2 - Document ID: US12192163B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/311,433 - Filed: 2023-05-03 - Published: 2023-08-31 - Granted: 2025-01-07 - Earliest claimed: 2021-04-26 - Assignees: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc. - Applicants: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc. - Inventors: Gyan S Mishra - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12192163B2 ## CPC - H04L 61/251: between different IP versions - H04L 45/50: using label swapping, e.g. multi-protocol label switch [MPLS] - H04L 47/17: Interaction among intermediate nodes, e.g. hop by hop - H04L 61/5069: for group communication, multicast communication or broadcast communication - H04L 69/325: in the network layer [OSI layer 3], e.g. X.25 (H04L69/16 takes precedence) - H04L 2101/659: Internet protocol version 6 [IPv6] addresses - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract A first network device associated with a network may establish an Internet protocol version 6 Multiprotocol BGP session with a second network device associated with the network. The first network device and second network device are both capable of forwarding both IPv4 and IPv6 packets with only an IPv6 address configured on the interface of both the first network device and second network device. The first network device may exchange Multiprotocol Reachability capability with second network device for corresponding 2-tuple Address Family Identifier/Subsequent Address Family Identifier. The first network device may advertise Internet protocol version 4 network layer reachability information and may advertise Internet protocol version 6 network layer reachability information with IPv6 extended next hop encoding using Internet Assigned Numbering Authority assigned capability code value 5 to second network device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method, comprising: encoding, by a network device, Internet protocol version 4 network layer reachability information with Internet protocol version 6 network layer reachability information in an Internet protocol version 6 address and via Internet protocol version 6 encoding; and advertising, by the network device and over an Internet protocol version 6 Core network, the Internet protocol version 6 address via a border gateway protocol and via an Internet protocol version 6 session. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: establishing a single Internet protocol version 6 session acting as a pure transport mechanism with a second network device associated with the Internet protocol version 6 Core network. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: utilizing the Internet protocol version 6 address to advertise a multiprotocol label switching-labeled virtual private network address and multicast for a border gateway protocol-multiprotocol label switching Internet protocol virtual private network. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the Internet protocol version 4 network layer reachability information includes an Internet protocol version 4 unicast identifier, a virtual private network Internet protocol version 4 identifier, or a multicast virtual private network Internet protocol version 4 identifier. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the Internet protocol version 6 network layer reachability information includes an Internet protocol version 6 unicast identifier, a virtual private network Internet protocol version 6 identifier, or a multicast virtual private network Internet protocol version 6 identifier. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the Internet protocol version 6 Core network includes a route reflector network device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein Internet protocol version 4 network layer reachability information and Internet protocol version 6 network layer reachability information are advertised over an Internet protocol version 6 next hop. ### Claim 8 A network device, comprising: one or more processors configured to: encode Internet protocol version 4 network layer reachability information with Internet protocol version 6 network layer reachability information in an Internet protocol version 6 address and via Internet protocol version 6 encoding; and advertise, over an Internet protocol version 6 Core network, the Internet protocol version 6 address via an Internet protocol version 6 session, wherein Internet protocol version 4 network layer reachability information and Internet protocol version 6 network layer reachability information are advertised over an IPv6 next hop. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The network device of claim 8, wherein the Internet protocol version 6 Core network includes a provider edge network device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The network device of claim 8, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: establish the Internet protocol version 6 session with a second network device to provide traffic to a server device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The network device of claim 8, wherein the Internet protocol version 6 address eliminates Internet protocol version 4 network devices and Internet protocol version 4 interfaces associated with the Internet protocol version 6 Core network. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The network device of claim 8, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: utilize the Internet protocol version 6 address to advertise network layer reachability information. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The network device of claim 8, utilize the Internet protocol version 6 address to advertise a multiprotocol label switching-labeled virtual private network address and multicast for a border gateway protocol-multiprotocol label switching Internet protocol virtual private network. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The network device of claim 8, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: utilize the Internet protocol version 6 address to advertise: a multiprotocol label switching-labeled virtual private network address, and multicast for a border gateway protocol-multiprotocol label switching Internet protocol virtual private network. ### Claim 15 A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a set of instructions, the set of instructions comprising: one or more instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a first network device, cause the first network device to: encode Internet protocol version 4 network layer reachability information with Internet protocol version 6 network layer reachability information in an Internet protocol version 6 address and via Internet protocol version 6 encoding, advertise, over an Internet protocol version 6 Core network, the Internet protocol version 6 address to a second network device, wherein Internet protocol version 4 network layer reachability information and Internet protocol version 6 network layer reachability information are advertised over an Internet protocol version 6 next hop. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the Internet protocol version 6 Core network further includes one or more of: a first service provider network associated with the first network device and a second service provider network associated with the second network device, or another network with a first autonomous system and a second autonomous system. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the Internet protocol version 4 network layer reachability information includes an Internet protocol version 4 unicast identifier, a virtual private network Internet protocol version 4 identifier, or a multicast virtual private network Internet protocol version 4 identifier, and wherein the Internet protocol version 6 network layer reachability information includes an Internet protocol version 6 unicast identifier, a virtual private network Internet protocol version 6 identifier, or a multicast virtual private network Internet protocol version 6 identifier. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the second network device is a route reflector network device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the one or more instructions further cause the first network device to: utilize the Internet protocol version 6 address to advertise a multiprotocol label switching-labeled virtual private network address and multicast for a border gateway protocol-multiprotocol label switching Internet protocol virtual private network. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the one or more instructions further cause the first network device to: establish a single Internet protocol version 6 session acting as a pure transport mechanism with the second network device associated with the Internet protocol version 6 Core network.