Network Packet Encapsulation for IP Conflict Resolution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Network address conflicts arise in networks with overlapping or insufficient IP addresses, requiring complex and costly carrier-grade NAT devices for address translation and synchronization, which can lead to communication interruptions and infrastructure costs.
Innovation Solution
The method involves encapsulating network packets using IP-in-IP or GRE encapsulation, routing them through a common network with globally unique IP addresses, and using edge devices to manage source network identifiers, eliminating the need for stateful NAT devices and enabling transparent failover without synchronization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If NAT devices are used for address translation, then IP address overlap is resolved, but device complexity and infrastructure cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces encapsulation packets as an intermediary mechanism to resolve IP address overlap. Instead of using complex NAT devices to translate addresses, the system wraps original packets in encapsulation packets with outer headers containing translated addresses and inner headers preserving original addresses. This intermediary approach allows address translation without requiring complex stateful NAT device internals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the address translation function into two independent parts: outer header translation for network routing and inner header preservation for original communication context. This segmentation allows simple edge devices to perform translation without needing complex state synchronization mechanisms, as each encapsulation packet carries all necessary address information independently.
2Quantity of substance
If carrier-grade NAT devices are deployed, then large amounts of address translation state can be managed, but synchronization complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the address translation state from centralized NAT devices and embeds it directly into each encapsulation packet. The outer header of each packet contains the translated address information needed for routing, while the inner header preserves the original address. This extraction eliminates the need for complex state synchronization between peer NAT devices, as each packet is self-contained with all necessary translation information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates copies of address information in two forms within each encapsulation packet: the outer header contains the translated address for network routing, and the inner header contains the original address for destination identification. This copying approach allows unlimited address translation capacity without requiring centralized state management or synchronization, as each packet independently carries both address versions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If NAT devices are used for network communication, then address conflicts are resolved, but communication reliability decreases due to potential interruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent prepares for potential communication failures by establishing multiple edge devices that can perform encapsulation independently. Since each encapsulation packet contains all necessary address information (outer translated address and inner original address), the system can tolerate edge device failures without requiring complex state recovery. This beforehand preparation with redundant edge devices and self-contained packets cushions against communication interruptions.
Solution Approach 2:
The encapsulation packets are designed to be self-service with all necessary routing information embedded in the packet headers themselves. The outer header provides translated addresses for network routing, and the inner header preserves original addresses for destination identification. This self-contained design eliminates dependency on centralized NAT device state, allowing packets to be processed independently even if specific edge devices fail, thereby improving communication reliability.
4Adaptability or versatility
If edge devices use source network identifiers different from edge device identifiers, then multiple source networks can be supported, but routing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by allowing each edge device to have its own unique edge device identifier while supporting multiple source network identifiers. The routing logic uses the outer header's destination address (which contains the source network identifier) to determine routing, rather than requiring complex differentiation between edge device and source network identities. This localized approach simplifies routing by using standard IP addressing in the outer header.
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods, systems, and apparatus are described for network encapsulation and routing. In one aspect, a method includes receiving, from source network and at an edge device a first network packet including a first inner header including i) a first source address, and ii) a first destination address; selecting a source network identifier for the source network from a plurality of routable network identifiers; encapsulating the first network packet within a first encapsulation packet; routing the first encapsulation packet to the destination server; receiving, from the destination server, a second encapsulation packet; extracting the second network packet from the second encapsulation packet; and routing the second network packet to the source network.