Address Mapping for Home Network Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current address mapping methods in home networks, such as those using NAT, struggle with initiating external connections and require complex configurations like ALGs, port forwarding, and port triggering, which are cumbersome and lead to issues with encryption due to unknown port numbers and unambiguous assignments.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a configuration client and server using DHCP protocols to request and assign external port numbers directly to network services within the home network, allowing devices like VoIP phones and web cameras to be mapped into the external IP address space without conventional address conversion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If NAT address conversion is used to enable external IP address space sharing, then external IP address scarcity is resolved, but direct external addressing of internal devices becomes impossible and connection initiation must always come from internal network
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the address space by creating dedicated port number ranges for different service types (e.g., VoIP, web cameras, file sharing). Each service category receives predefined port allocations, allowing external devices to directly address specific internal services without requiring full IP address visibility or complex NAT traversal.
2Ease of operation
If port forwarding with static routes is configured to enable external initiation, then external addressing is possible, but user configuration complexity increases significantly requiring deep IP knowledge
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-configuration by automatically allocating port numbers from predefined pools based on service type and availability. The configuration server autonomously manages port assignments without requiring user intervention, eliminating the need for users to understand IP addressing, port numbers, or routing concepts while maintaining external accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
Port number pools are pre-configured and allocated to different service categories before actual service deployment. This preliminary organization of address resources enables automatic, plug-and-play configuration when services are added to the network, avoiding complex real-time configuration requirements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If port triggering with dynamic routes is used for outgoing connections, then external accessibility is improved, but unambiguous assignment cannot be maintained causing encryption problems
Solution Approach 1:
The configuration server implements feedback mechanisms to track and monitor port number assignments and service states. This feedback system ensures that port allocations remain unambiguous and consistent, maintaining reliable service identification and avoiding encryption issues by preventing conflicting or duplicate assignments while still supporting dynamic service additions.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a device for address mapping with a network service (NS), a configuration client (KC) for determining port numbers required for the network service (NS), a network address conversion unit (AU), for the conversion of external network addresses into internal network addresses and vice versa and a configuration server (KS) for requesting the required port numbers from the network address conversion unit (AU) which directly provides the network service (NS) with an external network address with the required port number. A device located in an internal address domain can thus be allocated a unique external network address.