Arrangement for reaching IPv4 public network nodes by a node in a IPv4 private network via an IPv6 access network

A method in a gateway coupled to an IPv6 network and an IPv4 network, the method comprising:

• receiving from an IPv6 node via the IPv6 network air IPv6 packet having a source address field specifying a first IPv6 address, a destination address field specifying a second IPv6 address, and a payload, the first IPv6 address specifying a first address prefix assigned to the IPv6 node, the first IPv6 address further specifying a first IPv4 address, the second IPv6 address specifying a second address prefix assigned to the gateway and a globally-unique IPv4 address;
• translating the IPv6 packet into a new IPv4 packet that includes an IPv4 source address field, an IPv4 destination address field, and the payload, including inserting within the IPv4 source address field a prescribed IPv4 address assigned to the gateway, and inserting within the IPv4 destination address field the globally-unique IPv4 address based on retrieval thereof from the second IPv6 address;
• storing the first IPv6 address, and the globally-unique IPv4 address, in a Network Address Translation (NAT) table entry;
• and
• outputting the new IPv4 packet for delivery via the IPv4 network according to the globally-unique IPv4 address.

A method in an IPv6 network including first and second gateways, the method comprising:

• in the first gateway, coupled to a private IPv4 network and the IPv6 network:
• (1) receiving from an IPv4 node in the private IPv4 network an IPv4 packet having a source address field specifying an IPv4 address of the IPv4 node, and a destination address field specifying a globally-unique IPv4 address of an IPv4 node reachable via a public IPv4 network, and an IPv4 payload,
• (2) translating the IPv4 packet into a new IPv6 packet that includes an IPv6 source address field, an IPv6 destination field, and the IPv4 payload, the IPv6 source address field specifying a first prescribed address prefix assigned to the first gateway and the IPv4 address of the IPv4 node, the IPv6 destination address field specifying a second address prefix assigned to the second gateway and the globally-unique IPv4 address, and
• (3) outputting the new IPv6 packet to the second gateway via the IPv6 network;
• and in the second gateway, coupled to the IPv6 network and the public IPv4 network:
• (1) receiving from the first gateway via the IPv6 network the new IPv6 packet,
• (2) translating the new IPv6 packet into a new IPv4 packet based on inserting within the corresponding IPv4 source address field a prescribed IPv4 address assigned to the second gateway, and inserting within the corresponding IPv4 destination address field the globally-unique IPv4 address based on retrieval thereof from the second IPv6 address,
• (3) storing the first IPv6 address, and the globally-unique IPv4 address, in a Network Address Translation (NAT) table entry, and
• (4) outputting the new IPv4 packet, having the IPv4 payload, for delivery via the public IPv4 network according to the globally-unique IPv4 address.

A gateway coupled to an IPv6 network, the gateway comprising:

• an IPv4 interface configured for receiving from an IPv4 node an IPv4 packet having a source address field specifying an IPv4 address of the IPv4 node, and a destination address field specifying a globally-unique IPv4 address of an IPv4 node reachable via a remote IPv4 network, and an IPv4 payload;
• a translator configured for translating the IPv4 packet into a new IPv6 packet that includes an IPv6 source address field, an IPv6 destination field, and the IPv4 payload, the IPv6 source address field specifying a first prescribed address prefix assigned to the gateway and the IPv4 address of the IPv4 node, the IPv6 destination address field specifying a second address prefix of a remote gateway and the globally-unique IPv4 address, the remote gateway reachable via an IPv6 network and providing connectivity to a remote IPv4 network;
• and
• an IPv6 interface configured for outputting the new IPv6 packet to the remote gateway via the IPv6 network.

A gateway coupled to an IPv6 network and an IPv4 network, the gateway comprising:

• an IPv6 interface configured for receiving from an IPv6 node via the IPv6 network an IPv6 packet having a source address field specifying a first IPv6 address, a destination address field specifying a second IPv6 address, and a payload, the first IPv6 address specifying a first address prefix assigned to the IPv6 node, the first IPv6 address further specifying a first IPv4 address, the second IPv6 address specifying a second address prefix assigned to the gateway and a globally-unique IPv4 address;
• a Network Address Translation (NAT) table configured for storing NAT table entries;
• a translator configured for translating the IPv6 packet into a new IPv4 packet that includes an IPv4 source address field, an IPv4 destination address field, and the payload, including inserting within the IPv4 source address field a prescribed IPv4 address assigned to the gateway, and inserting within the IPv4 destination address field the globally-unique IPv4 address based on retrieval thereof from the second IPv6 address, the translator configured for storing the first IPv6 address, and the globally-unique IPv4 address, in the NAT table as a NAT table entry;
• and
• an IPv4 interface configured for outputting the new IPv4 packet for delivery via the IPv4 network according to the globally-unique IPv4 address.

An IPv6 network comprising:

• a first gateway coupled to a private IPv4 network and an IPv6 network;
• and
• a second gateway coupled to the IPv6 network and a public IPv4 network;
• wherein the first gateway comprises:
• (1) a first IPv4 interface configured for receiving from an IPv4 node in the private IPv4 network an IPv4 packet having a source address field specifying an IPv4 address of the IPv4 node, and a destination address field specifying a globally-unique IPv4 address of an IPv4 node reachable via a public IPv4 network, and an IPv4 payload,
• (2) a first translator configured for translating the IPv4 packet into a new IPv6 packet that includes an IPv6 source address field, an IPv6 destination field, and the IPv4 payload, the IPv6 source address field specifying a first prescribed address prefix assigned to the first gateway and the IPv4 address of the IPv4 node, the IPv6 destination address field specifying a second address prefix assigned to the second gateway and the globally-unique IPv4 address, and
• (3) a first IPv6 interface configured for outputting the new IPv6 packet to the second gateway via the IPv6 network;
• wherein the second gateway comprises:
• (1) a second IPv6 interface configured for receiving from the first gateway via the IPv6 network the new IPv6 packet,
• (2) a second translator configured for translating the new IPv6 packet into a new IPv4 packet based on inserting within the corresponding IPv4 source address field a prescribed IPv4 address assigned to the second gateway, and inserting within the corresponding IPv4 destination address field the globally-unique IPv4 address based on retrieval thereof from the second IPv6 address,
• (3) a Network Address Translation (NAT) table, the second translator configured for storing the first IPv6 address, and the globally-unique IPv4 address, in a NAT table entry, and
• (4) an second IPv4 interface configured for outputting the new IPv4 packet, having the IPv4 payload, for delivery via the public IPv4 network according to the globally-unique IPv4 address.

A gateway coupled to an IPv6 network, the gateway comprising:

• means for receiving from an IPv4 node an IPv4 packet having a source address field specifying an IPv4 address of the IPv4 node, and a destination address field specifying a globally-unique IPv4 address of an IPv4 node reachable via a remote IPv4 network, and an IPv4 payload;
• means for translating the IPv4 packet into a new IPv6 packet that includes an IPv6 source address field, an IPv6 destination field, and the IPv4 payload, the IPv6 source address field specifying a first prescribed address prefix assigned to the gateway and the IPv4 address of the IPv4 node, the IPv6 destination address field specifying a second address prefix of a remote gateway and the globally-unique IPv4 address, the remote gateway reachable via an IPv6 network and providing connectivity to a remote IPv4 network;
• and
• means for outputting the new IPv6 packet to the remote gateway via the IPv6 network.

A gateway coupled to an IPv6 network and an IPv4 network, the gateway comprising:

• means for receiving from an IPv6 node via the IPv6 network an IPv6 packet having a source address field specifying a first IPv6 address, a destination address field specifying a second IPv6 address, and a payload, the first IPv6 address specifying a first address prefix assigned to the IPv6 node, the first IPv6 address further specifying a first IPv4 address, the second IPv6 address specifying a second address prefix assigned to the gateway and a globally-unique IPv4 address;
• means for translating the IPv6 packet into a new IPv4 packet that includes an IPv4 source address field, an IPv4 destination address field, and the payload, including inserting within the IPv4 source address field a prescribed IPv4 address assigned to the gateway, and inserting within the IPv4 destination address field the globally-unique IPv4 address based on retrieval thereof from the second IPv6 address;
• a Network Address Translation (NAT) table, the means for translating configured for storing the first IPv6 address, and the globally-unique IPv4 address, in a NAT table entry;
• and
• means for outputting the new IPv4 packet for delivery via the IPv4 network according to the globally-unique IPv4 address.

An IPv6 network comprising:

• a first gateway coupled to a private IPv4 network and an IPv6 network;
• and
• a second gateway coupled to the IPv6 network and a public IPv4 network;
• wherein the first gateway comprises::
• (1) first means for receiving from an IPv4 node in the private IPv4 network an IPv4 packet having a source address field specifying an IPv4 address of the IPv4 node, and a destination address field specifying a globally-unique IPv4 address of an IPv4 node reachable via a public IPv4 network, and an IPv4 payload,
• (2) second means for translating the IPv4 packet into a new IPv6 packet that includes an IPv6 source address field, an IPv6 destination field, and the IPv4 payload, the IPv6 source address field specifying a first prescribed address prefix assigned to the first gateway and the IPv4 address of the IPv4 node, the IPv6 destination address field specifying a second address prefix assigned to the second gateway and the globally-unique IPv4 address, and
• (3) third means for outputting the new IPv6 packet to the second gateway via the IPv6 network;
• wherein the second gateway comprises:
• (1) fourth means for receiving from the first gateway via the IPv6 network the new IPv6 packet,
• (2) fifth means for translating the new IPv6 packet into a new IPv4 packet based on inserting within the corresponding IPv4 source address field a prescribed IPv4 address assigned to the second gateway, and inserting within the corresponding IPv4 destination address field the globally-unique IPv4 address based on retrieval thereof from the second IPv6 address,
• (3) a Network Address Translation (NAT) table, the fifth means configured for storing the first IPv6 address, and the globally-unique IPv4 address, in a NAT table entry, and
• (4) sixth means for outputting the new IPv4 packet, having the IPv4 payload, for delivery via the public IPv4 network according to the globally-unique IPv4 address.

A computer readable medium having stored thereon sequences of computer executable instructions for outputting an IPv6 packet by a gateway coupled to an IPv6 network, the sequences of instructions including instructions for:

• receiving from an IPv4 node an IPv4 packet having a source address field specifying an IPv4 address of the IPv4 node, and a destination address field specifying a globally-unique IPv4 address of an IPv4 node reachable via a remote IPv4 network, and an IPv4 payload;
• translating the IPv4 packet into a new IPv6 packet that includes an IPv6 source address field, an IPv6 destination field, and the IPv4 payload, the IPv6 source address field specifying a first prescribed address prefix assigned to the gateway and the IPv4 address of the IPv4 node, the IPv6 destination address field specifying a second address prefix of a remote gateway and the globally-unique IPv4 address, the remote gateway reachable via an IPv6 network and providing connectivity to a remote IPv4 network;
• and
• outputting the new IPv6 packet to the remote gateway via the IPv6 network.

A computer readable medium having stored thereon sequences of computer executable instructions for outputting an IPv4 packet by a gateway coupled to an IPv6 network and an IPv4 network, the sequences of instructions including instructions for:

• receiving from an IPv6 node via an IPv6 network an IPv6 packet having a source address field specifying a first IPv6 address, a destination address field specifying a second IPv6 address, and a payload, the first IPv6 address specifying a first address prefix assigned to the IPv6 node, the first IPv6 address further specifying a first IPv4 address, the second IPv6 address specifying a second address prefix assigned to the gateway and a globally-unique IPv4 address;
• translating the IPv6 packet into a new IPv4 packet that includes an IPv4 source address field, an IPv4 destination address field, and the payload, including inserting within the IPv4 source address field a prescribed IPv4 address assigned to the gateway, and inserting within the IPv4 destination address field the globally-unique IPv4 address based on retrieval thereof from the second IPv6 address;
• storing the first IPv6 address, and the globally-unique IPv4 address, in a Network Address Translation (NAT) table entry;
• and
• outputting the new IPv4 packet onto an IPv4 network for delivery according to the globally-unique IPv4 address.