Relay Server Automatic Overlap Detection and Virtual Address Assignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing relay servers require manual user intervention to resolve overlapping IP addresses in different LANs, leading to inefficient communication setup and increased labor when establishing VPN connections.

Innovation Solution

A relay server configuration that includes an address filter information storage unit, virtual address assignment information storage unit, and control unit, which automatically detects address overlaps and assigns virtual addresses to prevent conflicts, allowing seamless communication without manual user intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual user intervention is used to resolve overlapping IP addresses, then address conflict resolution is achieved, but communication setup efficiency deteriorates and labor increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaddress conflict resolutionVSAvoidcommunication setup efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The relay server automatically detects overlapping IP addresses between different LANs and performs self-service by assigning virtual addresses to resolve the conflicts without requiring manual user intervention. The control unit compares routing target addresses, detects overlaps, and automatically configures address translation rules, making the system self-resolving for address conflicts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary detection of address overlaps during the VPN connection establishment phase, before actual communication occurs. By proactively identifying and resolving address conflicts in advance, the system prevents communication setup failures and eliminates the need for manual intervention during or after connection establishment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If manual user intervention is used to resolve overlapping IP addresses, then address conflict resolution is achieved, but labor increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaddress conflict resolutionVSAvoiduser labor
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The relay server performs self-service by automatically detecting overlapping IP addresses and resolving them through virtual address assignment. The control unit autonomously compares routing target addresses from different LANs, identifies overlaps, and configures address translation without requiring users to manually intervene, thereby eliminating user labor for this task.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The virtual address acts as an intermediary between conflicting IP addresses in different LANs. When an overlap is detected, the control unit introduces a virtual address as a mediator that translates between the conflicting addresses, allowing communication to proceed without manual reconfiguration of the original IP addressing schemes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If virtual addresses are always assigned to prevent address overlaps, then communication reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidaddress management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies virtual address assignment partially - only when and where address overlaps are detected. The control unit compares routing target addresses and assigns virtual addresses selectively to the specific conflicting addresses rather than universally to all addresses, thereby maintaining communication reliability while minimizing the complexity introduced by virtual address management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The virtual address assignment is applied locally to specific conflicting address pairs rather than globally to all addressings. The control unit identifies local overlaps between specific routing target addresses from different LANs and applies virtual address translation only to those specific cases, keeping the overall address management system simple while ensuring reliability where needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2787692B1Relay server with control unit adapted to set an overlap detection condition
Publication Date: 2019.02.27 MURATA MASCH LTD
  • EP2787692B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2787692B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2787692B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The relay server 3 stores a first routing target address and a second routing target address. The relay server 3 stores the second routing target address in association with a virtual address assigned to the second routing target address. The relay server 3 exchanges address filter information with a relay server 1 belonging to a selected VPN group, and establishes a routing session with the relay server 1. The relay server 3 determines whether or not there is an overlap between the routing target addresses. Upon determination that there is an overlap, the relay server 3 assigns a virtual address to the second routing target address. The relay server 3 uses the virtual address to perform communication between the relay server 3 itself and a first routing target device.