Relay Device for Bidirectional Home Network Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the current IPv4 environment, achieving bidirectional access between home networks and the Internet is challenging due to limitations in existing technologies, which require dedicated routers and increase costs and complexity, while IPv6 adoption is slow, making it difficult for manufacturers to create value-added client terminal devices.
Innovation Solution
A relay device is introduced within a Local Area Network (LAN) to enable bidirectional communication between client apparatuses and the Internet through a virtual network, allowing apparatuses without virtual network drivers to participate without compromising the existing LAN structure, by establishing a tunneling connection with an EL server for address management and packet bridging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If IPv6 is adopted to enable bidirectional access, then communication capability is improved, but deployment time is delayed due to slow adoption rate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a relay device as an intermediary between client terminals and the server. This relay device establishes a tunneling connection with the server, allowing bidirectional communication without requiring IPv6 protocol adoption. The relay device acts as a mediator that translates and routes packets between the IPv4-based home network and the IPv6-enabled server, resolving the contradiction by enabling the desired communication capability through a different technical path.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the network communication into two distinct parts: a home network using IPv4 for local communication, and a virtual network using IPv6 for Internet communication. The relay device creates a tunneling connection that separates these two networks, allowing each to operate independently with their own protocols while still achieving bidirectional communication. This segmentation allows IPv4 devices to access IPv6 services without requiring the entire network to adopt IPv6.
2Adaptability or versatility
If dedicated routers are used to achieve bidirectional access, then communication capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The relay device is designed to perform multiple functions within a single device. It can operate as a router, gateway, or bridge depending on the network configuration needs. The device provides both IPv4 and IPv6 addressing capabilities, establishes tunneling connections, and manages packet routing. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated routers and simplifies the overall network architecture while maintaining bidirectional communication capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The relay device serves as a flexible intermediary that can be deployed in various network configurations. Rather than requiring dedicated routers at every node, the relay device can be installed at strategic points to provide bidirectional access to multiple devices. This intermediary approach reduces the total number of complex routing devices needed while maintaining the desired communication capabilities.
3Adaptability or versatility
If virtual network drivers are installed on client devices, then communication capability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to additional installation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The relay device acts as an intermediary that handles all virtual network configuration and tunneling connection establishment. Client devices simply need to connect to the relay device through standard network interfaces without requiring installation of special virtual network drivers. The relay device manages the complex IPv4/IPv6 translation and routing, presenting a simplified interface to client devices while maintaining full virtual network connectivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The relay device automatically establishes tunneling connections with the server and manages packet routing without requiring manual configuration on client devices. The system performs self-service functions such as automatic address assignment, connection establishment, and protocol translation, eliminating the need for users to install or configure complex virtual network drivers on their devices.
4Adaptability or versatility
If existing LAN structure is modified to enable virtual network, then communication capability is improved, but loss of information increases due to potential conflicts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments network traffic into different types: local LAN traffic that remains within the existing network structure, and virtual network traffic that is routed through the relay device. By separating these traffic types, the system prevents conflicts between new virtual network connections and existing LAN operations. The relay device creates dedicated paths for different traffic types, ensuring that packet routing decisions for one type do not interfere with the other, thus preventing information loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The relay device serves as an intermediary that carefully manages packet routing between the existing LAN and the virtual network. It inspects packet headers and makes informed routing decisions to prevent conflicts. The relay device ensures that local LAN packets are forwarded appropriately while virtual network packets are routed through the tunneling connection, preventing packet loss due to routing conflicts or address conflicts in the mixed network environment.
Data Source
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AI summary
A simple means is used to realize a virtual network communication via an home network and Internet. A relay device 4 comprises bridge module 12 provided between a network protocol stack 13 and each of network devices 10, 11 for bridging for packets which are not addressed to the relay device or VLAN, or not broadcast request packets; a server address storage section 17 for storing the global address of a server; a tunneling session establishing section 20 for establishing a tunneling connection with the server based on the global address; a capsulating processing section 21 for capsulating a originating address and sending it to the server via the tunneling connection; and a virtual IP address/private IP address conversion section 22 for decapsulating a packet addressed to the relay device, converting a destination virtual network address included in this packet to a private IP address on the LAN of a client apparatus, and sending it onto the LAN via the bridge module.