3com Corporation

3 Com Corporation

Kenneth Araujo

Peter Si-Sheng Wang

Ismail Dalgic

Paul William Sherer

Cheng T Chen

Cyndi Jung

A dynamic network address registration system and method. In one embodiment, the present invention is comprised of a first device which is adapted to communicate over a communications network. The present invention is a also comprised of a second device which is adapted to communicate via a communications network, and, more specifically, is adapted to communicate with the first device via the communications network. The present invention is further comprised of a controller which is adapted to be coupled to the communications network. The controller of the present invention is adapted to store address information for the first device, and to store address information for the second device therein. The controller is further adapted to provide the address information of the second device to the first device such that a communication path can be efficiently established between the first device and the second device via the communications network. In so doing, the present embodiment provides for the efficient establishment of a communications path between the first device and the second device via the communications network without requiring that the first device and the second device have a static address.

Dynamic network address configuration system and method

A communications network operating in a data cable system that transmits a data over cable media access control (MAC) frame with an Ethernet/ISO8802-3 type packet protocol data unit payload. Time frames for transmission of data over the network are allocated to cable modems and time frames originally allocated to a cable modem for transmission of lower priority data can be utilized to transfer high priority data while aborting the transmission of lower priority data. A high level data link control (HDLC) section is coupled immediately before a cyclical redundancy check (CRC) to indicate that all data packet protocol data units (PDU) that are encapsulated by HDLC flags is high priority data that is not to be discarded and other data is to be abandoned.

Method and system to communicate prioritized traffic via fixed length data communication frames

A communications network system that transmits and receives communication frames that include a transmission status section that indicates a communication frame transmission is aborted. In one embodiment, a transmission status section includes a cyclical redundancy check value that is non-matching with the information in the communication frame. For example, a non-matching cyclical redundancy check value is created by generating a one's compliment of a CRC calculated based upon the information within a communication frame. The communication network includes a wireless network, a wired network (e.g., an Ethernet network) and a data cable system that transmits a data over cable media access control (MAC) frame with an Ethernet/&lsqb;ISO8802-3&rsqb; type packet protocol data unit payload.

Method and system to abort data communication traffic in a communication network

A method and system for resolving network address translator (NAT) based internet protocol (IP) subnet address conflicts. In one embodiment of the present invention, a first NAT is used to assign an address to a first device which is coupled to the first NAT. Next, the present embodiment using a second NAT to assign an address to a second device coupled to the second NAT. Additionally, in the present embodiment, the second NAT automatically assigns an address to a link coupling the first NAT and the second NAT. The second NAT then assigns a second address to the second device. The second address is related to the address of the link coupling the first NAT and the second NAT. In so doing, the present invention insures that the second device has a second address associated therewith wherein the second address is different from the address of the first device. As a result, the present embodiment is able to resolve NAT-based subnet address conflicts. The present embodiment also eliminates the need for tedious user examination of all NAT-assigned IP addresses for each of the various NATs. Furthermore, the present embodiment is compatible with existing network address translator devices.

System and method for supporting internet protocol subnets with network address translators

A method and system for providing security during use of an intermediate device which represents clients to a central site. In one embodiment of the invention, an intermediate device includes memory. The memory of the intermediate device is adapted to a store a deliverable security applet. Additionally, the intermediate device is configured to download the deliverable security applet to a desired location. The present embodiment also includes a client which is coupled to the intermediate device. The client is adapted to receive the deliverable security applet from the intermediate device when the intermediate device downloads the deliverable security applet to the client. In so doing, the client can be prompted to respond to requests for authentication of the client when the requests for authentication of the client are received by the intermediate device.

Security through the use of tokens and automatically downloaded applets

A network intermediate device interacts with a remote network element and performs the control plane interactions for a communication protocol used on a network segment between the network intermediate device and the destination, and interacts with customer premises equipment CPE to offload data plane transactions according to the protocol normally performed by the network intermediate device to the CPE, without the CPE needing to be aware of the complexities of the protocol involved. By distributing certain recurring packet data processing functions, like appending headers and removing headers, to the endpoints, the packet processing at the network intermediate devices is streamlined and processing bottlenecks are alleviated.

Distribution of protocol processes from network elements to end stations

An apparatus for converting frame-type transmissions to packet-type transmissions. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a medium access controller (MAC) coupled to a packet-based network and multiple packet assembler/disassemblers (PADs). The PADs include a data link layer (DLL) PAD coupled to the MAC, a high level data link control (HDLC) PAD coupled to the DLL PAD, a network layer (NL) PAD coupled to the DLL PAD, and a NL/frame alignment sequence-bit-rate allocation signal (NL/FAS-BAS) PAD coupled to the DLL PAD. Multiple detection units are coupled to respective PADs, wherein each of the plurality of detection units detects a frame-type transmission.

Integrated remote data access and audio/visual conference gateway

A communication protocol designed for managing the communication between peers, such as the point-to-point protocol, includes a signaling channel in frames formatted according to the communication protocol. The signaling channel is utilized by intermediate devices in the access provider network, such as central office switches or other concentration points in the network to facilitate the management of the flow of data traffic in the access providers network. The signaling channel is identified in the intermediate devices and in the end stations, such as customer premises equipment or remote access servers, by a particular value in the Protocol field of the PPP encapsulation format for example. The intermediate device is configured to monitor the protocol field, and when the particular value is recognized, to process the frame at the intermediate device. Likewise, the end station is configured to recognize the particular value in the protocol field, and to process the packet received according to the signaling channel function specified by that particular value.

Point-to-point protocol with a signaling channel

A constant access ADSL link, or an equivalent connection from a modem to a central office switch is enabled to establish sessions to individual end stations, such as individual Internet service providers. An in-band signaling channel within the Point-to-Point Protocol session employs a connection establishment and tear down protocol for session establishment and tear down to individual end stations with the end station coupled to the ADSL link. Such session establishment and tear down messages are associated with frames having an HDLC-like address of (hex)FF are terminated locally by the concentration/multiplexing equipment at the central office switch or other equipment provided by the telephone network access provider. As a result the session establishment, the access provider's concentration/multiplexing equipment returns a value other than (hex)FF to be used by the end station coupled to the ADSL link, in the HDLC address field to identify data associated with the particular PPP session. This HDLC address value will only have local significance across the ADSL link between the customer premises equipment and the access provider's concentration/multiplexing equipment. When PPP frames associated with the particular session are received from an ISP, the frames are encapsulated in HDLC-like frames with the HDLC address associated with the session by the access provider's equipment before deliver across the ADSL link.

Session establishment for static links in Point-to-Point Protocol

Method for improved configuration of a link between an end station and an intermediate device in a network. The intermediate device communicates through the link using a point-to-point protocol, and a lower layer protocol and is capable of translating between the lower layer protocol used by the link and a lower layer protocol used by a portion of the network. The intermediate device detects the lower layer protocol used by the end station and configures the link to use the point-to-point protocol, the lower layer protocol used by the end station, and an asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) protocol. A method including signaling the end station to use on the link a lower layer protocol having a particular relationship with the lower layer protocol used by the portion of the network. The particular relationship, according to an aspect of the invention, is that the protocol that the end station is signaled to use is the same as the protocol used by the portion of the network thereby creating efficiencies in transmission from the end station through the intermediate device onto the network.

Method and apparatus for detecting the protocol used by an end station

In a network having one or more intermediate devices coupled to end stations by respective links, and including a multicast source end station such as a remote access server for an Internet service provider, and a plurality of multicast receiving end stations, such as customer premises equipment CPE, coupled to an intermediate device in the network, a method for distributing multicast distribution functions to the intermediate device is described. The method comprises establishing point-to-point sessions between the source end station and the plurality of receiving end stations according to a communication protocol such as the PPP. Also, a point-to-point session is established between the multicast source end station and the intermediate device by which the source end station feeds multicast messages to the intermediate device that are directed to a set of multicast groups. The method involves transmitting from end stations in the plurality of receiving end stations to the intermediate device respective multicast join messages. The multicast join messages include information identifying one or more multicast groups for the respective receiving end stations to join. In this way, the intermediate device is enabled to forward multicast messages directed to a particular multicast group in the set of multicast groups to the receiving end stations which have joined the particular multicast group.

Growing community of inventors

Sunnyvale, CA, United States of America

Kenneth Araujo