IPv4 Address Reclamation Through Verified IPv6 Migration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods fail to identify and reclaim IPv4 addresses that are in use for communication with external machines that can be switched to IPv6 without disrupting connectivity, limiting the recovery of IPv4 addresses for reuse.

Innovation Solution

A system and method to determine which external machines support IPv6 by direct communication tests, allowing local machines to switch to IPv6 and reclaim their IPv4 addresses, considering server aliases and economic value of external connections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If current IP address discovery tools are used to identify unused IPv4 addresses, then some unused addresses can be found, but addresses that are in use for communication with external machines supporting IPv6 cannot be identified as reclaimable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of identifying reclaimable IPv4 addressesVSAvoidcomplexity of address reclamation system

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by first identifying external machines that support IPv6 through direct communication tests before attempting to reclaim IPv4 addresses. This preliminary identification ensures that when IPv4 addresses are reclaimed, the external machines can seamlessly switch to IPv6 without disruption, thereby accurately identifying reclaimable addresses while maintaining system reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary testing mechanism that communicates with external machines to determine their IPv6 support capability. This intermediary test layer acts as a bridge between the IPv4 address reclamation process and the external machines, allowing the system to accurately identify which addresses can be reclaimed without directly disrupting external communications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Quantity of substance

If IPv4 addresses are reclaimed from machines communicating with external machines, then address availability increases, but connectivity may be disrupted if external machines do not support IPv6

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveavailability of IPv4 addresses for reuseVSAvoidreliability of network connectivity

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary communication tests with external machines to verify their IPv6 support capability before reclaiming IPv4 addresses. This preliminary verification ensures that connectivity reliability is maintained, as only external machines confirmed to support IPv6 are associated with reclaimable addresses, preventing any potential disruption to network connectivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where the results of external machine communication tests are used to determine whether IPv4 addresses can be safely reclaimed. The feedback from external machines regarding their IPv6 support capability directly influences the reclamation decision, ensuring that address availability increases without compromising connectivity reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If direct communication tests are performed to determine external machine IPv6 support, then accurate identification of reclaimable addresses is achieved, but additional time and resources are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of determining external machine protocol supportVSAvoidtime required for address reclamation process

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies partial action by performing communication tests only with external machines that are candidates for IPv6 migration, rather than universally testing all external machines. This selective approach maintains high measurement precision in identifying reclaimable addresses while minimizing the time and resources required, as tests are focused only on relevant targets.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS20260039624A1Reclaiming addresses used to communicate with machines over a network

Publication Date: 2026.02.05 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION

AI summary

Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for reclaiming addresses used to communicate with machines over a network. A determination is made of a first machine using the first network protocol addressing scheme to communicate with a second machine over a network. A determination is made of whether the second machine supports a second network protocol addressing scheme. The first machine is configured to communicate with the second machine using the second network protocol addressing scheme to free a network address in the first network protocol addressing scheme used by the first machine to communicate with the second machine in response to determining that the second machine supports the second network protocol addressing scheme.