System and method for resolving an electronic address

A computer readable medium for directing traffic in a network environment, the medium comprising code operable to:

• receive a request initiated by a first network device at a second network device that is operable to communicate with a third network device, wherein the request is used to establish a communication session between the first network device and a fourth network device, and wherein the first and second network devices are coupled to a first network, the second and third network devices being coupled to a second network, the third and fourth network devices being coupled to a third network, the first and third networks being associated with a first protocol and the second network being associated with a second protocol;
• evaluate a route associated with a data flow path between the first and fourth network devices;
• determine, based on the data flow path, whether a translation of an address identifies the fourth network device from the first protocol to the second protocol should be executed;
• direct the communication session to the second network device when the translation should not be executed in order to establish the data flow path;
• and
• access a name resolution service element if the translation should be executed in order to translate the address from the first protocol to the second protocol such that information exchange in the data flow path is achieved between the first and fourth network devices.

A computer device for directing traffic in a network environment, comprising:

• one or more interface cards operable to receive a request initiated by a first network device at a second network device that is operable to communicate with a third network device, wherein the request is used to establish a communication session between the first network device and a fourth network device, and wherein the first and second network devices are coupled to a first network, the second and third network devices being coupled to a second network, the third and fourth network devices being coupled to a third network, the first and third networks being associated with a first protocol and the second network being associated with a second protocol;
• and
• a processor operable to evaluate a route associated with a data flow path between the first and second network devices and to determine, based on the data flow path, whether a translation of the address from the first protocol to the second protocol should be executed, wherein the communication session is directed to the second network device when the translation should not be executed in order to establish the data flow path, and wherein a name resolution service element is accessed if the translation should be executed in order to translate the address from the first protocol to the second protocol such that information exchange in the data flow path is achieved between the first and fourth network devices.

An apparatus for directing traffic in a network environment, comprising:

• a name resolution service element operable to provide a resolution of an address from a first protocol to a second protocol, wherein a request initiated by a first network device is received at a second network device that is operable to communicate with a third network device, the request being used to establish a communication session between the first network device and a fourth network device, the first and second network devices being coupled to a first network, the second and third network devices being coupled to a second network, the third and fourth network devices being coupled to a third network, the first and third networks being associated with a first protocol and the second network being associated with a second protocol, and wherein a route associated with a data flow path between the first and fourth network devices is evaluated and, based on the data flow path, it is determined whether a translation of an address that identifies the fourth network device from the first protocol to the second protocol should be executed, the communication session may be directed to the second network device when the translation should not be executed in order to establish the data flow path, the name resolution service element may be accessed if the translation should be executed in order to translate the address from the first protocol to the second protocol such that information exchange in the data flow path is achieved between the first and fourth network devices.