Gateway IP Address Attribution Detection via Test Messages

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Solution Overview

Problem

In communication networks, gateways struggle to determine whether an IP address is attributed to a terminal using autoconfiguration methods, as no information is transmitted to the gateway until the terminal sends traffic, making it difficult to identify assigned IP addresses.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a gateway that sends address test messages to target IP addresses and receives address-signalling messages to determine if an IP address is attributed to a terminal, using a filter and a predefined threshold to confirm attribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the terminal uses autoconfiguration method to assign itself an IP address, then the terminal can independently obtain an IP address without gateway intervention, but the gateway cannot know that the IP address is attributed to the terminal before traffic is sent

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveterminal IP address assignmentVSAvoidgateway knowledge of attributed IP address

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The gateway performs preliminary actions by sending address test messages to potential IP addresses before the terminal actually uses them. The gateway proactively checks whether an IP address is attributed to a terminal by receiving address test messages from the terminal, allowing the gateway to know about attributed addresses before any traffic is sent.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system establishes a feedback mechanism where the terminal sends address test messages back to the gateway when it receives them. This feedback loop allows the gateway to detect and record which IP addresses are attributed to which terminals, solving the information loss problem while maintaining terminal autonomy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If the gateway sends multiple address test messages to determine IP address attribution, then the gateway can accurately determine if an IP address is attributed, but the process requires time and repeated messages

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveIP address attribution detection accuracyVSAvoidtime for address test messages

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The gateway sends multiple address test messages (excessive action) to ensure accurate detection of IP address attribution. By sending more than one message and using a threshold counter, the gateway achieves reliable measurement precision while the patent acknowledges the time cost as an acceptable trade-off for accurate attribution detection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Reliability

If the terminal checks IP address availability by sending address test messages, then the terminal can ensure the IP address is not already used, but the gateway does not obtain information about the attributed IP address

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveIP address uniqueness verificationVSAvoidgateway knowledge of terminal IP assignment

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The address test message serves multiple functions: it verifies IP address availability for the terminal (original function) and simultaneously notifies the gateway about the IP address attribution (additional function). This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by making the same message serve both purposes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The address test message acts as an intermediary that carries information from the terminal to the gateway. By using this intermediary message, the terminal can maintain its autonomy in IP address selection while the gateway gains knowledge about the attribution through the same message carrier.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20220247713A1Method for determining whether an IP address is attributed to a terminal in a communication network

Publication Date: 2022.08.04 SAGEMCOM BROADBAND SAS

AI summary

A method for determining whether an IP address is attributed in a communication network including at least one gateway, said method implemented by the gateway and includes: configuring a filter to receive first address test messages, each first filtered address test message targeting an IP address and requesting any terminal to which the target IP address is attributed to send an address-signaling message; sending at least one second address test message targeting said target IP address; determining that the target IP address is attributed to a terminal if an address-signaling message having said target IP address as its source IP address is received; and determining that the target IP address is not attributed to a terminal if no address-signaling message having said target IP address as its source IP address is received when a number of second address test messages targeting said IP address sent exceeds a predefined threshold.