Gateway IP Discovery Using Targeted ARP Range Scanning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for discovering IP addresses on a network, such as brute force ARP scans, are resource-intensive and inefficient, particularly in networks with larger address spaces, leading to high bandwidth and processing power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A gateway device employs a method to search a smaller subset of IP addresses centered around its own address, using Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) to determine the IP addresses of other devices on the network, reducing the search space to a fraction of the total subnet.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If brute force ARP scans are used to discover IP addresses, then complete network device discovery is achieved, but bandwidth consumption and processing power requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network discovery process into two phases: first discovering devices in the local subnet using ARP requests, then discovering devices in remote subnets through gateway-mediated queries. This segmentation allows the system to prioritize local device discovery (which consumes minimal bandwidth) before attempting remote discovery, thereby reducing overall bandwidth consumption while maintaining discovery completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial action by allowing the discovery process to stop after finding a sufficient number of devices, rather than exhaustively scanning the entire address space. The system can be configured to halt discovery when a target threshold is reached, reducing bandwidth consumption while still achieving practical device discovery goals.
2Reliability
If brute force ARP scans are used to discover IP addresses, then complete network device discovery is achieved, but processing power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the discovery process to first handle local subnet devices through efficient ARP requests, then optionally discover remote devices through gateway coordination. This segmentation reduces processing power consumption by handling the majority of device discoveries (local devices) through a low-overhead mechanism before attempting more resource-intensive remote discovery.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary action by first discovering local devices in the subnet before attempting to discover remote devices. This preliminary local discovery reduces the overall processing burden by completing the majority of discovery tasks early, before allocating additional processing resources for optional remote device discovery.
3Productivity
If a smaller subset of IP addresses is searched, then time and resources required for discovery are reduced, but discovery completeness may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments discovery into local subnet (high speed, high reliability) and remote subnet (optional, gateway-mediated) phases. The local phase guarantees discovery of all devices in the immediate network, while the remote phase can be activated to expand discovery scope if needed, thus maintaining productivity while providing a path to achieve completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the gateway as an intermediary that enables extended device discovery beyond the local subnet. The gateway mediates between the local devices and remote devices, allowing the system to maintain high discovery speed for local devices while providing a mechanism to achieve complete network-wide discovery when required through the gateway's coordination.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for Internet Protocol (IP) device discovery implemented in a control network having a gateway device, a router, and an IP device at a location. A location management system including a IP device at a location having an IP address assigned by a router at the location. A gateway device for managing a set of two or more local management devices at a location.