NAT Translator for External Network Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Network management tools external to a network face challenges in communicating with internal components due to Network Address Translation (NAT) obscuring private IP addresses, making it difficult to provide management, protection, and configuration services to resources without known public IP addresses.

Innovation Solution

A system that requests and translates private IP addresses to public IP addresses using NAT configuration information, allowing external entities to communicate with network components by using public IP addresses for communication and management services.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If Network Address Translation (NAT) is used to translate private IP addresses to public IP addresses, then external network management tools can access internal network resources, but the private IP address space becomes obscured and inaccessible to external entities

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccessibility of network resourcesVSAvoidvisibility of private IP addresses

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a NAT translator as an intermediary component that mediates between external network management tools and internal network resources. The translator maintains mapping information between private and public IP addresses, allowing external entities to access internal resources through public addresses while preserving the private address space. This resolves the contradiction by enabling accessibility without complete obscuration of private addresses.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the address space into private IP address space for internal network resources and public IP address space for external access. The NAT translator operates as a separate entity that manages the mapping between these segmented address spaces, allowing external tools to access internal resources through the public address interface while maintaining private address visibility for internal communications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If network management tools are hosted externally in the cloud, then centralized management and protection services can be provided, but communication with internal network components becomes difficult due to NAT

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecloud-based management capabilityVSAvoidcommunication with network components

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The NAT translator serves as a mediator between cloud-hosted network management tools and internal network components. It translates communication addresses so that external management tools can reach internal resources through the translator, enabling cloud-based management while maintaining effective communication with network components despite NAT obstacles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the NAT translator provides mapping information to external management tools about the relationship between public and private IP addresses. This feedback enables external tools to properly address internal resources through the translator, resolving the communication difficulty introduced by NAT.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If private IP addresses are used within the network, then internal network communications can be efficient and secure, but external entities cannot directly access internal resources without known public IP addresses

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinternal network communication efficiencyVSAvoidexternal access to internal resources

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The NAT translator acts as an intermediary that preserves private IP address efficiency for internal communications while providing public IP address access points for external entities. Internal network resources continue using private addresses for efficient internal communication, while the translator enables external access through corresponding public addresses.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the network addressing into private IP space for internal efficient communication and public IP space for external access. The NAT translator manages the boundary between these segments, allowing internal resources to maintain private address efficiency while providing external accessibility through public addresses.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11909713B2Address translation for external network appliance

Publication Date: 2024.02.20 CISCO TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media relate to providing a network management service. A system is configured to request first network information from a first component of a network using a public IP address for the first component, wherein the first network information includes private IP addresses for a second component in the network and translate, based on a mapping information for a private IP address space to a public IP address space, the private IP address for a second component to a public IP address for the second component. The system is further configured to request second network information from the second component using the public IP address and provide a network management service for the network based on the second network information.