Home Gateway IPv4 to IPv6 Multicast Conversion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current Dual Stack Lite (DS-Lite) network architectures do not enable users connected to home gateways to realize multicast services effectively.

Innovation Solution

A method and device for a home gateway that converts IPv4 multicast protocol messages to IPv6 multicast messages and vice versa using a DS-Lite tunnel module, allowing for the processing and forwarding of multicast data messages within a DS-Lite network architecture by adding and deleting multicast routing items and regrouping fragmented messages.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If DS-Lite tunnel technology is used for IPv4 to IPv6 transition, then IPv6 deployment is facilitated and IPv4 service compatibility is maintained, but multicast services cannot be realized for users connected to home gateway

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemulticast service capabilityVSAvoidmulticast service availability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The home gateway acts as an intermediary device between the IPv4 user network and the IPv6 network. It receives IPv4 multicast join requests from users, performs address mapping to convert IPv4 multicast addresses to IPv6 multicast addresses, and forwards the converted requests to the IPv6 network. This intermediary function enables multicast service availability in DS-Lite architecture while maintaining protocol compatibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements parameter changes by transforming the address family parameter from IPv4 to IPv6. The home gateway maintains an address mapping table that stores correspondence between IPv4 multicast addresses and IPv6 multicast addresses. When processing multicast requests, it changes the address parameter from IPv4 format to IPv6 format, enabling users to access IPv6 multicast services through the DS-Lite tunnel while perceiving IPv4 compatibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If IPv4 multicast messages are directly transmitted over IPv6 tunnel, then protocol compatibility is maintained, but message fragmentation occurs and requires regrouping

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemessage transmission simplicityVSAvoidmessage processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The home gateway performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing an address mapping table that contains correspondence relationships between IPv4 multicast addresses and IPv6 multicast addresses. Before actual multicast message transmission, the gateway has already prepared the mapping relationships, so when IPv4 multicast join requests arrive, it can quickly perform address substitution and forwarding without complex real-time conversion operations, reducing message processing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If multicast address mapping is implemented at home gateway, then user multicast access is enabled, but gateway processing load increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemulticast service supportVSAvoidgateway processing power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The home gateway creates a copied mapping table that replicates the address correspondence relationships. Instead of performing complex real-time address conversion for each multicast message, the gateway uses the pre-copied mapping relationships to quickly substitute addresses. This copying approach enables multicast service support while significantly reducing the processing power consumption compared to real-time conversion methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP3133770B1Home gateway DS-lite multicast method and device
Publication Date: 2018.11.14 ZTE CORP
  • EP3133770B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3133770B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3133770B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The present invention provides a home gateway DS-Lite multicast method and device, where the method includes: adding, when receiving an IPv4 multicast protocol request message sent from a user, the IPv4 multicast protocol request message to a home gateway; converting the IPv4 multicast protocol request message into an IPv6 multicast protocol message and sending the IPv6 multicast protocol message to a router; converting, when receiving an IPv6 multicast data message sent from the router, the IPv6 multicast data message into an IPv4 multicast data message; and forwarding the IPv4 multicast data message to the user. By adopting the technical solution in an embodiment of the present invention, a home gateway enables connected users to effectively realize multicast services in a DS-Lite network architecture.