IP Address Control System Whitelist Management
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing IP address management systems face conflicts and misdirection of data traffic due to multiple devices being assigned the same IP address, leading to potential malicious access and misrouting of sensitive data, especially in secure networks.
Innovation Solution
An IP address control system that pairs each IP address with a specific Media Access Control (MAC) address, requiring devices to request a new IP address through the system to ensure legitimate access and avoid conflicts, by managing whitelists and firewalls to enforce unique IP/MAC pairings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If IP addresses are dynamically assigned to devices on a network, then network flexibility and device mobility are improved, but the risk of IP address conflicts and traffic misdirection increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system (IP address control system with whitelist management) that mediates between IP address assignment and network access. This intermediary verifies and records IP-MAC address pairings, ensuring that dynamic IP assignments do not result in conflicts or misdirection, thus maintaining both flexibility and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms by monitoring and logging IP address assignments against a whitelist. When a device requests an IP address, the system checks the whitelist to ensure uniqueness and provides feedback to prevent conflicts, thereby maintaining reliable IP address management while allowing dynamic assignment.
2Productivity
If multiple devices are allowed to share the same IP address, then network resource utilization is improved, but data traffic misdirection and security risks worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network identification process into two distinct layers: IP address for logical network communication and MAC address for physical device identification. This segmentation allows the system to maintain unique IP-MAC pairings (preventing traffic misdirection) while still enabling efficient network resource utilization through proper address management.
3Reliability
If IP addresses are statically assigned to devices, then network security and address uniqueness are improved, but device mobility and network adaptability worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic whitelist management system that automatically updates IP-MAC address pairings. This allows the system to maintain the reliability of unique address assignments while adapting to device mobility, as the whitelist is updated in real-time to reflect current device locations and assignments.
4Manufacturing precision
If IP address assignments are manually managed, then assignment accuracy and conflict prevention are improved, but system complexity and administrative overhead worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service IP address management system where devices automatically request and receive IP addresses from the control system. The system autonomously manages the whitelist, verifies assignments, and prevents conflicts without requiring manual intervention, thereby maintaining high assignment accuracy while reducing administrative complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of Internet Protocol (IP) address control includes receiving a request from a computing device for a new IP address, the request including a Media Access Control (MAC) address of the computing device. A query can be sent to a storage resource for a whitelist of MAC numbers associated with IP addresses and an IP address not present on the whitelist can be selected for use in assigning the new IP address. A new IP/MAC pairing of the selected IP address and the MAC address of the computing device is sent to the storage resource for adding to the whitelist and optionally to a firewall for adding to a firewall whitelist. A confirmation can be sent to the computing device, providing the new IP address.