Automatic IP Address Range Detection via Flow Data Tree Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network devices require manual configuration to distinguish between IP addresses inside and outside a network, which is inefficient and needs to be repeated whenever network addresses change.
Innovation Solution
A method for automatic detection of IP address ranges using flow data to generate a tree data structure and assign weights, allowing devices to automatically configure and distinguish between internal and external IP addresses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual configuration is used to program address ranges into network devices, then the configuration can be precisely controlled, but the process is time-consuming and must be repeated whenever network addresses change
Solution Approach 1:
The network device automatically detects the address range by monitoring traffic flows and analyzing IP address patterns, eliminating the need for manual configuration. The device performs self-configuration by identifying the common initial portion of IP addresses in the network, thus serving itself rather than requiring external manual programming.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection and analysis of IP address patterns from traffic flows before actual network operations begin. By pre-analyzing the address ranges and automatically configuring the device in advance, the system avoids time-consuming manual configuration when network changes occur.
2Reliability
If manual configuration is used to update address ranges when network structure changes, then the configuration remains accurate, but the operational efficiency decreases due to repeated manual intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The network device continuously monitors traffic flows and uses feedback from observed IP address patterns to automatically detect and update address ranges. This feedback mechanism ensures configuration accuracy while enabling rapid adaptation to network structure changes without manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The configuration system transitions from static manual updates to dynamic automatic detection. The device dynamically adapts to network changes by continuously analyzing traffic flows and adjusting the address range configuration in real-time, improving both reliability and productivity.
3Extent of automation
If automatic detection methods are implemented, then the configuration process becomes faster and less manual intervention is needed, but the system complexity increases due to the need for flow data analysis and tree structure generation
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces flow data as an intermediary element that simplifies the detection process. Instead of directly analyzing complex network topology, the device uses pre-collected flow data containing IP address information as a mediator, making the automatic detection process more manageable and less complex.
Solution Approach 2:
The IP address detection process is segmented into manageable steps: collecting flow data, generating tree structures from the data, analyzing the tree to identify common initial portions, and configuring the device. This segmentation reduces the overall complexity by breaking down the automatic detection into discrete, implementable operations.
Data Source
AI summary
Mechanisms are provided for automatic address range detection for an IP network. Flow data is obtained comprising the source or destination IP addresses for the flow and one of: the other of the source or destination IP addresses; or direction data identifying the flow direction across the network boundary. A tree is generated representing IP addresses in the flow data. IP addresses with initial portions in common are represented in the tree with a node in common. Weights are assigned to nodes in the tree based on occurrences of the represented IP addresses in the flow data. The IP address range of the network is detected by identifying, based on the assigned weights, the node associated with the last initial address portion common to all IP addresses in the network. A device is automatically configured with the IP address range to differentiate IP addresses inside and outside the network.