3com Corporation

Steven W Sangston

Nurettin B Beser

John G Fijolek

Ali Akgun

A method and system for provisioning network addresses in a data-over-cable system. Provisioning of network addresses allows multiple &ldquo;always-on&rdquo; network devices with multiple associated devices to be used on a data-over-cable system with a limited public network address pool. The &ldquo;always-on&rdquo; network devices provide services, such as, Voice over Internet Protocol (&ldquo;VoIP&rdquo;), that typically require instant access to data-over-cable system. Network devices such as &ldquo;always-on&rdquo; cable modems may allocated private network addresses (e.g., Internet Protocol addresses) on the data-over-cable system. The private network addresses are not addressable outside the data-over-cable system. Other network devices associated with the cable modems, such as customer premise equipment, may be allocated public network addresses (e.g., Internet Protocol Addresses) on the data-over-cable system. The public network addresses are addressable outside the data-over-cable system. The network address provisioning is accomplished by selecting a private network address marker and a public network address marker for selected network devices and using an extended Address Resolution Protocol table to determine a device type. The private network address marker or public network address marker is added to a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol message field by a cable modem termination system. A Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol server uses the private or public address marker to allocate a private network address or a public network address on the data-over-cable system. The provisioning of network addresses allows two or more virtual networks to be created on the data-over-cable system, and may reduce a number of public network addresses required for a data-over-cable system.

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Bartlett, IL, United States of America

Steven W Sangston