Methods and Apparatus for Reliable Entry and Enhanced Presentation of IPv6 Addresses

A computer readable medium storing instructions, that when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform functions of:

• storing a list of IPv6 address prefixes that respectively specify a plurality of networks and storing a list of interface identifiers that specify devices on at least one network;
• controlling a display device to display a prefix field for accessing the list of IPv6 address prefixes, an interface identifier field for accessing the list of interface identifiers, and a fillable address field for entering an IPv6 address;
• controlling the display device to display an IPv6 address prefix in the address field in response to selection of an IPv6 prefix from the prefix field;
• controlling the display device to display an interface identifier in the address field in response to at least one of:
• selection of an interface identifier from the interface identifier field;
• and entry of characters from a user interface, wherein the IPv6 address prefix and the interface identifier displayed in the address field form an IPv6 address;
• and
• storing the IPv6 address displayed in the address field as the IPv6 address for the network device.

An apparatus for establishing an IPv6 address for a network device, comprising:

• a storage device configured to store a list of IPv6 address prefixes that respectively specify a plurality of networks and to store a list of interface identifiers that specify devices on at least one network;
• a user interface including a display device;
• a processor configured to control the display device to display a prefix field for accessing the list of IPv6 address prefixes, an interface identifier field for accessing the list of interface identifiers, and a fillable address field for entering an IPv6 address, wherein:
• the display device is configured to display an IPv6 address prefix in the address field in response to selection of an IPv6 prefix from the prefix field;
• the display device is configured to display an interface identifier in the address field in response to at least one of:
• selection of an interface identifier from the interface identifier field;
• and entry of characters from a user interface, wherein the IPv6 address prefix and the interface identifier displayed in the address field form an IPv6 address;
• and
• the storage device stores the IPv6 address displayed in the address field as the IPv6 address for the network device.

A method of presenting IPv6 addresses assigned to network devices, the method comprising:

• storing a list of IPv6 address prefixes and associated mnemonics that correspond to the address prefixes;
• for an IPv6 address whose address prefix is associated with a mnemonic, displaying the IPv6 address as a combination of:
• the mnemonic substituted for the IPv6 address prefix;
• and digits of an interface identifier of the IPv6 address;
• and
• for an IPv6 address whose address prefix is not associated with a mnemonic, displaying the IPv6 address as digits of the IPv6 address prefix and digits of the interface identifier of the IPv6 address.

A computer readable medium storing instructions, that when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform functions of:

• storing a list of IPv6 address prefixes and associated mnemonics that correspond to the address prefixes;
• for an IPv6 address whose address prefix is associated with a mnemonic, controlling a display device to display the IPv6 address as a combination of:
• the mnemonic substituted for the IPv6 address prefix;
• and digits of an interface identifier of the IPv6 address;
• and
• for an IPv6 address whose address prefix is not associated with a mnemonic, controlling the display device to display the IPv6 address as digits of the IPv6 address prefix and digits of the interface identifier of the IPv6 address.

An apparatus for presenting IPv6 addresses assigned to network devices, comprising:

• a storage device configured to store a list of IPv6 address prefixes and associated mnemonics that correspond to the address prefixes;
• a user interface including a display device;
• and
• a processor configured to control the display device to display an IPv6 address as a combination of:
• the mnemonic substituted for the IPv6 address prefix;
• and digits of an interface identifier of the IPv6 address, for IPv6 addresses whose address prefix is associated with a mnemonic, wherein the processor is further configured to display an IPv6 address as digits of the IPv6 address prefix and digits of the interface identifier of the IPv6 address, for IPv6 addresses whose address prefix is not associated with a mnemonic.