Methods and apparatus for routing a content request

A data communications device comprising:

• at least one communications interface;
• a controller;
• and
• an interconnection mechanism coupling the at least one communications interface and the controller;
• wherein the controller is configured to:
• receive a packet, the packet comprising a content request and an Internet Protocol address and port number that identify a source transmitting the packet;
• perform a network address translation, based upon at least a portion of the content request, to translate the Internet Protocol address and port number of the packet to a respective communications device Internet Protocol address and communications device port number;
• select a routing policy based upon the communications device Internet Protocol address;
• and
• route the packet to a destination based upon the routing policy;
• wherein the controller, when selecting, is configured to:
• convert the communications device Internet Protocol address of the packet into a resultant Internet Protocol address, and
• select the routing policy for the content request based upon the resultant Internet Protocol address;
• wherein the controller, when converting, is configured to combine the substitute Internet Protocol address from the packet with a masking function to generate a resultant Internet Protocol address.

A computer program product having a computer-readable medium including computer program logic stored thereon that, when performed on a computer, causes the computer to:

• receive a packet, the packet comprising a content request and an Internet Protocol address and port number that identify a source transmitting the packet;
• perform a network address translation, based upon at least a portion of the content request, to translate the Internet Protocol address and port number of the packet to a respective communications device Internet Protocol address and communications device port number;
• select a routing policy based upon the communications device Internet Protocol address;
• route the packet to a destination based upon the routing policy;
• when selecting:
• convert the communications device Internet Protocol address of the packet into a resultant Internet Protocol address, and
• select the routine policy for the content request based upon the resultant Internet Protocol address;
• and
• when converting, combine the substitute Internet Protocol address from the packet with a masking function to generate a resultant Internet Protocol address.

A data communications device comprising:

• at least one communications interface;
• a controller;
• and
• an interconnection mechanism coupling the at least one communications interface and controller;
• wherein the controller includes:
• means for receiving a packet, the packet comprising a content request and an Internet Protocol address and port number that identify a source transmitting the packet,
• means for performing a network address translation, based upon at least a portion of the content request, to translate the Internet Protocol address and port number of the packet to a respective communications device Internet Protocol address and communications device port number,
• means for selecting a routing policy based upon the communications device Internet Protocol address,
• means for routing the packet to a destination based upon the routing policy,
• wherein means for selecting comprises:
• means for converting the communications device Internet Protocol address of the packet into a resultant Internet Protocol address, and
• means for selecting the routing policy for the content request based upon the resultant Internet Protocol address;
• and
• wherein means for converting comprises means for combining the substitute Internet Protocol address from the packet with a masking function to generate a resultant Internet Protocol address.

In a data communications device, a method for routing a packet, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a packet, the packet having a content request and an Internet Protocol address and port number that identify a source transmitting the packet;
• determining if the content request is subject to routing with a routing policy
• performing a network address translation, based upon at least a portion of the content request, to translate the Internet Protocol address and port number of the packet to a respective communications device Internet Protocol address and communications device port number;
• selecting the routing policy based upon the communications device Internet Protocol address;
• and
• routing the packet to a destination based upon the routing policy.

A data communications device comprising:

• at least one communications interface;
• a controller;
• and
• an interconnection mechanism coupling the at least one communications interface and the controller;
• wherein the controller is configured to:
• receive a packet, the packet comprising a content request and an Internet Protocol address and port number that identify a source transmitting the packet;
• determine if the content request is subject to routing with a routing policy;
• perform a network address translation, based upon at least a portion of the content request, to translate the Internet Protocol address and port number of the packet to a respective communications device Internet Protocol address and communications device port number;
• select the routing policy based upon the communications device Internet Protocol address;
• and
• route the packet to a destination based upon the routing policy.