Method and apparatus for assigning IP address using agent in zero configuration network

A method for assigning an Internet Protocol (IP) using agents in a zero configuration network provided with a home agent administrating a user computer registered to the network and a foreign agent administrating a user computer not registered to the network, the method comprising:

• (a) transmitting to the foreign agent IP address a user computer registration request message out of an advertisement message received from the foreign agent;
• (b) the foreign agent receiving the user computer registration request message and then transmitting an agent authentication request message to the home agent;
• (c) the home agent confirming the user computer ID and transmitting an agent authentication answer message to the foreign agent;
• (d) the foreign agent encoding an address answer message for the user computer and transmitting the address answer message to the user computer, the address answer message includes a home agent IP address, a default router address, and a Domain Name Server address;
• and
• (e) the user computer decoding the user computer address answer message and setting up a network environment.

An apparatus for assigning an Internet Protocol (IP) using agents in a zero configuration network, the apparatus comprising:

• a home agent, which includes:
• a message forming portion for forming a home agent advertisement message containing a home agent IP address, an address answer message for a user computer which contains a hardware address and ID of the user computer and indicates permission for user computer address registration, and an authentication answer message for receiving an authentication request from a foreign agent and performing authentication;
• a home agent encoding portion for encoding the messages formed above;
• and
• an IP address registration portion for registering the IP address of the user computer;
• and
• a foreign agent, which includes:
• an authentication request portion for receiving a registration request message of the user computer and generating an authentication request message to be transmitted to the home agent;
• and
• a foreign agent encoding portion for encoding the user computer address answer message;
• wherein the zero configuration network provided with the home agent administrating a user computer registered to the network and the foreign agent administrating a user computer not registered to the network, and the address answer message includes the home agent IP address, a default router address, and a Domain Name Server address.

A computer-readable medium containing instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to:

• receive a registration request message of a user computer which contains a home agent IP address, and an ID and password of a user computer;
• transmit to the user computer an encoded address answer message which indicates permission of an address registration, the encoded address answer message includes the home agent IP address, a default router address, and a Domain Name Server address;
• and
• set up a network environment in the user computer by decoding an encoded address answer message with a private key and registering the home agent IP address, default router address, and Domain Name Server address.

A computer-readable medium containing instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to:

• assign an Internet Protocol (IP) using agents in a zero configuration network provided with a home agent administrating a user computer registered to the network and a foreign agent administrating a user computer not registered to the network, the assign the IP further comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the machine to:
• transmit to the foreign agent IP address a user computer registration request message out of an advertisement message received from the foreign agent;
• the foreign agent to receive the user computer registration request message and then transmit an agent authentication request message to the home agent;
• the home agent to confirm the user computer ID and transmit an agent authentication answer message to the foreign agent;
• the foreign agent to encode an address answer message for the user computer and transmit the address answer message to the user computer, the address answer message includes a home agent IP address, a default router address, and a Domain Name Server address;
• and
• the user computer to decode the user computer address answer message and set up a network environment.