System and method for managing networks addressed via common network addresses

A method for managing a plurality of networks, comprising the steps of:

• receiving a network packet containing a unique network address from a network data processing environment, said unique network address based on a network address corresponding to a network element within said network data processing environment;
• mapping said unique network address into a usage identifier by means of a management system, said usage identifier corresponding to a network resource addressable within said network data processing environment, wherein said unique network address is internal to said management system;
• and
• processing said network packet based on usage parameters corresponding to said usage identifier.

A method for managing a plurality of networks within a network data processing environment, comprising the steps of:

• formatting a network packet for transmission to a network element, said network packet including a usage identifier and a network address corresponding to said usage identifier;
• mapping said said network address into a unique network address;
• mapping said unique network address to a usage identifier by means of a management system, said unique network address being internal to said management system;
• inserting said unique network address into said network packet;
• and
• routing said network packet to said network element based on said unique network address via said network data processing environment.

A method for managing a plurality of networks within a network data processing environment, comprising the steps of:

• (a) routing information from each of said plurality of private networks to management system by means of each of a plurality of routers, each of said plurality of routers further comprising
• (I) an interface with a unique interface identifier for communicating a network packet having a network address;
• and
• (ii) a means to translate said network address to a unique internal address;
• (b) mapping said unique internal network address in said network packet, by said management system to a usage identifier to process said network packet and data contained therein based on said usage identifier, said usage identifier identifying a private network among said plurality of private networks being managed by said management system.