Dynamic DNS Record Update via DHCP Notification

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Solution Overview

Problem

When a server hosting a website is rebooted or its IP address changes, the Domain Name System (DNS) may take several hours to update, leading to incorrect or 'stale' IP addresses being resolved, causing connectivity issues until the update is completed.

Innovation Solution

A broadband service provider access device dynamically assigns an IP address to a computing device and simultaneously sends an update message to the DNS to ensure that the DNS record is updated in real-time, preventing the use of stale IP addresses by immediately informing the DNS of the new IP address.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the DNS is updated periodically with dynamically assigned IP addresses, then the DNS record is updated automatically, but there is a time delay of several hours causing stale IP addresses to be resolved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of DNS resolutionVSAvoidupdate delay time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system sends a DNS update notification message to the Domain Name Server at the moment the DHCP server assigns a new IP address to the computing device. This preliminary action ensures the DNS record is updated immediately rather than waiting for periodic updates, eliminating the several-hour delay and preventing stale IP address resolution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the DNS waits for periodic updates to be sent, then the system operates automatically without manual intervention, but the IP address resolution becomes incorrect during the update period

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic update operationVSAvoidcorrectness of IP address resolution

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The DHCP server sends a notification message to the Domain Name Server immediately after assigning a new IP address. This feedback mechanism ensures the DNS is informed of the IP address change in real-time, maintaining both automatic operation and correct IP address resolution by linking the DNS update trigger to the actual IP assignment event.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If the DNS is updated immediately when IP address changes occur, then connectivity issues are prevented, but additional communication overhead is introduced between DHCP and DNS servers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnectivity reliabilityVSAvoidDNS update system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces a notification message as an intermediary communication between the DHCP server and Domain Name Server. This standardized message format simplifies the integration complexity by providing a clear protocol for IP address change notification, while ensuring reliable connectivity through immediate DNS updates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS8549118B2Updating a domain name server with information corresponding to dynamically assigned internet protocol addresses

Publication Date: 2013.10.01 AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I L P

AI summary

A computer implemented method includes receiving a broadband connection request from a remote computing device at a broadband service provider access device. The broadband connection request includes a broadband subscriber identifier. The computer implemented method includes dynamically assigning an Internet Protocol (IP) address to the remote computing device in response to receiving the broadband connection request. The computer implemented method also includes sending a message to a domain name server to update a record that includes a domain name associated with the broadband subscriber identifier to include the IP address assigned to the remote computing device.