Remote access apparatus and method which allow dynamic internet protocol (IP) address management

A method implemented by a remote access device which provides a remote computer access to a computer network located remotely from the remote computer, said method comprising:

• receiving a username from the remote computer which is attempting to gain access through the remote access device to the computer network, the username uniquely identifying on the computer network a user of the remote computer;
• in response to receiving the username, using a rule to generate a client identifier from the username, wherein said client identifier is different from the username and uniquely identifies the remote computer on the computer network;
• sending the client identifier to a server on the computer network which dynamically assigns an Internet protocol (IP) address based on the client identifier, said IP address uniquely identifying the remote computer on the computer network and needed by the remote computer to communicate on the computer network;
• in response to sending the client identifier, receiving said IP address from the server;
• and
• providing said IP address to the remote computer which uses the IP address to communicate on the computer network.

A method for providing a remote client computer with remote access through a remote access device to a computer network that is remote from the remote client computer, said method comprising:

• transmitting a username from the remote client computer over a remote communications link to the remote access device coupled to the remote communications link and the computer network, the username uniquely identifying a user of the remote client computer;
• receiving the username at the remote access device;
• generating, at the remote access device and based on the username, a client identifier uniquely identifying the remote client computer on the computer network;
• sending the client identifier over the computer network from the remote access device to a server coupled to the computer network;
• receiving the client identifier at the server;
• dynamically assigning at the server an Internet protocol (IP) address based on the client identifier;
• sending said IP address over the computer network from the server back to the remote access device;
• receiving said IP address at the remote access device;
• and
• providing said IP address to the remote computer which uses said IP address to communicate on the computer network.

Apparatus for providing remote access, comprising:

• a remote communications link;
• a remote client computer for transmitting a username over the remote communications link, the username uniquely identifying a user at the remote client computer;
• a computer network located remote from the remote client computer;
• a remote access device, coupled to the remote communications link and the computer network, for receiving the username from the remote communications link and generating a client identifier based on the username, the client identifier uniquely identifying the remote client computer on the computer network;
• and
• a server, coupled to the computer network, for receiving the client identifier, dynamically assigning an internet protocol (IP) address based on the client identifier, and passing the IP address to the remote access device via the computer network, the IP address uniquely identifying the remote client computer on the computer network and allowing the remote client computer to communicate on the computer network via the remote access device.