Dynamic VPN Address Allocation for Conflict-Free Private Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing VPN technologies face challenges in coordinating the allocation of non-conflicting private address blocks for numerous simultaneous VPN connections, especially in dynamic scenarios where computers are setting up and tearing down connections to multiple computers and networks, leading to routing conflicts and ambiguity in packet addressing.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for automatically selecting non-conflicting local and remote IP addresses using a processor to generate addresses that do not conflict with reserved addresses, allowing secure communications links to be established through a public network by allocating available addresses from a block that does not overlap with existing addresses, and using a domain name service to manage address assignments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If private addresses are reserved for use within private networks and may be duplicated and used independently by any number of private networks, then the address availability and flexibility are improved, but address conflicts and routing ambiguity occur when establishing VPN connections across public networks
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary address conflict detection during the VPN connection establishment phase, before actual data transmission begins. The gateway device checks whether the selected private address conflicts with addresses of other VPN connections, and only allows the connection to proceed if no conflict exists. This preliminary verification prevents routing ambiguity from occurring in the first place.
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway device implements a feedback mechanism that continuously monitors address usage across multiple VPN connections. When a new VPN connection requests a private address, the system checks against the registry of already-assigned addresses and provides feedback to either approve or reject the address assignment. This feedback loop ensures that address conflicts are detected and resolved in real-time.
2Adaptability or versatility
If Network Address Translation (NAT) is used to translate packets using private addresses to packets using public addresses, then the ability to send data packets across the public Internet is improved, but the complexity of address management and translation overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the address conflict detection and resolution functionality from the traditional NAT translation process into a separate, dedicated mechanism. Instead of relying solely on NAT to handle address management, the system independently checks for address conflicts and maintains a registry of assigned addresses. This separation simplifies the overall address management architecture by dividing responsibilities between conflict detection and packet translation.
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway device acts as an intermediary between private networks and the public Internet, mediating address assignments to prevent conflicts. Before packets are translated by NAT, the gateway verifies that the private address being used does not conflict with addresses of other VPN connections. This intermediary role streamlines address management by centralizing the decision-making process for address allocation.
3Reliability
If computers establish connections and communicate by breaking up information into data packets transmitted across unsecure networks, then the security of information transmission is improved through encryption and protocols, but the overhead of packet creation, transmission, and reconstruction increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary address conflict detection and resolution during the VPN tunnel establishment phase, before actual data packet transmission begins. By resolving address issues upfront, the system avoids the need for retransmission or complex error handling during active communication, thereby reducing packet processing overhead and improving transmission efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and related systems are presented that relate to automatically avoiding address conflicts when establishing a secure communications link over a public network between a local computer, associated with a local network, and a remote device, located outside the local network. Local network addresses on the local network reserved for use, and a block of local network addresses that do not conflict with the reserved local network addresses, are identified. At least one local network address is selected from the block and assigned as an address of the local device for use in communicating with the remote device securely over the public network. Communication is facilitated with the remote device using the network driver based on the assigned at least one local network address.