US 5,856,974 A · Internetwork address mapping gateway

Abstract

The present invention is an address mapping gateway, used in an internetwork link, that associates all nodes in a domain with a single network number (referred to as a domain network address), and provides gateway-mapped node addresses that are unique within the domain. The address mapping gateway dynamically substitutes the "globally-unique" domain network address and the "domain-unique" gateway-mapped node address for a network number and node address, respectively, of a network layer address of a packet header received from a source node in the domain. Conversely, when a packet is received for a destination node in the domain, the address mapping gateway substitutes the originally-assigned network number and node address for the domain network address and gateway-mapped node address, respectively, prior to forwarding the packet to the node. Specifically, the address mapping gateway maintains an address mapping table that provides a cross-reference between (1) a source node address and the network number of the local network in which the node resides, and (2) a gateway-mapped node address generated by the address mapping gateway. Upon receipt of a packet from the source node, the address mapping gateway creates a mapping entry in the address mapping table that node and performs an address translation to a globally-unique network layer address. On the other hand, upon receipt of a packet destined for a destination node in the domain, the address mapping gateway locates the mapping entry for the packet's gateway-mapped node address and performs a reverse address translation to the originally-assigned network layer address.

Claims14

Dependent claims

An address mapping gateway for use in an internetwork link, for representing substantially all nodes in a domain as being associated with a domain network address, comprising:

means for receiving a first packet from a source node within the domain, said first packet having a network layer header including a network layer address, said network layer address comprising a node address and a network number of a local network including said source node;
means for generating a gateway-mapped node address that is unique within the domain;
an address mapping table having one or more mapping entries, each said mapping entry associated with a node within the domain and including said node address, said network number, and said gateway-mapped node address;
means for creating said mapping entries in said address mapping table;
first translation means for substituting the domain network address in place of said network number and for substituting said gateway-mapped node address in place of said node address in a packet generated by a node in the domain;
means for receiving a second packet for a destination node in the domain, said second packet having a network layer header including a network layer address, said network layer address comprising said gateway-mapped node address and said domain network address;
and
second translation means for substituting said network number and said node address in place of said domain network address and said gateway-mapped node address, respectively, of said second packet.

5 more elements

An address mapping gateway for associating substantially all nodes in a domain with a domain network address, comprising:

means for receiving a packet from a first node within the domain, said packet having a network layer header including a network layer address, said network layer address comprising a node address of said first node and a network number of a local network including said first node;
means for providing a gateway-mapped node address for said first node, wherein said gateway-mapped node address is unique within the domain, and said means for providing includes
a) means for determining whether said node address is unique within the domain;
b) means for assigning a first value to said gateway-mapped node address equal to said node address when said node address is unique within the domain, and for assigning a second value to said gateway-mapped node address that is unique within the domain when said node address is not unique within the domain;
means for substituting the domain network address for said network number and for substituting said gateway-mapped node address for said node address in said packet;
means for receiving a second packet, destined for said first node, said second packet having a second network layer header with a second network layer address, said second network layer address including said domain network address identifying said local network including said first node and said gateway-mapped node address to identify said first node;
and
means for substituting said network number and said node address in place of said domain network address and said gateway-mapped node address of said second packet, respectively.

5 more elements

In an internetwork having two or more domains interconnected by one or more internetwork links, a method for addressing nodes in an internetwork link to a domain which comprises a plurality of local networks, comprising the steps of:

(a) generating a domain network address to represent substantially all the nodes in the domain, wherein said domain network address is a unique network number within the internetwork;
(b) receiving a packet generated by a source node within said domain, said packet including a source node address header field having a source network number of a local network including said source node, and a source node address of said source node;
(c) referencing a translation exemption table containing non-translatable network numbers and performing steps (d) and (e) when said translation exemption table does not contain said source network number;
(d) generating a gateway-mapped node address for said source node, wherein said gateway-mapped node address is unique within said domain;
(e) substituting said domain network address and said gateway-mapped node address in place of said source network number and said source node address, respectively, in said source node address header field;
(f) creating a mapping entry into an address mapping table having one or more mapping entries, said mapping entry associated with said source node and including a node address field for storing said source node address, a network number field for storing said source network number, and a mapped node address field for storing said gateway-mapped node address.

3 more elements

In an internetwork link of an internetwork, a method for representing substantially all nodes in a domain as being associated with a single network number, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a packet from a first node within the domain, said packet having a network layer header with a first network layer address, said network layer address including a network number of a local network in which said first node resides, and an originally-assigned node address of said first node;
(b) translating said first network layer address to a second network layer address, wherein said second network layer address is unique within the internetwork, and wherein the step of translating further comprises the steps of:
(i) generating a domain network number of said second network layer address, wherein said domain network number is unique within the internetwork;
(ii) generating a gateway-mapped node address of said second network layer address, wherein said gateway-mapped node address is unique within the domain;
and
(iii) replacing said first network layer address with said second network layer address in said network layer header of said packet;
(c) receiving a second packet, said second packet having a second network layer header with a second network layer address, said second network layer address including a network number portion having a value equivalent to said domain network number, and a node address portion having a value equivalent to said gateway-mapped node address;
(d) substituting said first network number and said node address in place of said domain network address and said gateway-mapped node address, respectively, to translate said second network layer address to said first network layer address;
(e) referencing a translation exemption table containing non-translatable network numbers;
and
(f) performing said step (b) when said translation exemption table does not contain said network number of said local network.

8 more elements

An address mapping gateway for associating substantially all nodes in a domain with a domain network address, the address mapping gateway comprising:

(a) means for receiving a packet from a first node within the domain, said packet having a network layer header including a network layer address, said network layer address comprising a node address of said first node and a network number of a local network including said first node;
(b) means for providing a gateway-mapped node address for said first node, wherein said gateway-mapped node address is unique within the domain;
(c) means for substituting the domain network address for said network number and for substituting said gateway-mapped node address for said node address in said packet;
(d) means for receiving a second packet, destined for said first node, said second packet having a second network layer header with a second network layer address, said second network layer address including said domain network address identifying said local network including said first node and said gateway-mapped node address to identify said first node;
(e) means for substituting said network number and said node address in place of said domain network address and said gateway-mapped node address of said second packet, respectively;
and
(f) an address mapping table configured to store one or more mapping entries, each said mapping entry associated with a node within the domain, said one or more mapping entries including a first node mapping entry including:
(i) said node address of said first node,
(ii) said network number of said local network in which said first node resides, and
(iii) said gateway-mapped node address;
(g) means for creating said mapping entries in said address mapping table;
and
(h) a translation exemption table containing non-translatable network numbers,
wherein said address mapping gateway does not translate network layer addresses containing said non-translatable network numbers.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Internetwork address mapping gateway

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Internetwork address mapping gateway

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Abstract

Claims14