Socket IP Address Allocation for IPv4 Exhaustion
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Solution Overview
Problem
The exhaustion of IPv4 addresses in networks, due to the limited number of available addresses, poses a significant challenge as the number of client devices seeking network connections grows, leading to a shortage of unique identifiers for network devices.
Innovation Solution
The assignment of unique network identifiers, known as socket IP addresses, which combine an IPv4 address with a range of ports, allowing multiple host devices to share the same IPv4 address, effectively extending the usage of a single IPv4 address by utilizing unused ports, thereby increasing the address space without the need for significant software and hardware changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If IPv4 addresses are assigned to each network device individually, then each device has a unique identifier, but the limited number of IPv4 addresses (4,294,967,296) will be exhausted as the number of client devices grows
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the traditional single IPv4 address identifier into two components: the IPv4 address itself and a port number. This segmentation allows multiple devices to share the same IPv4 address by being distinguished through different port numbers, effectively multiplying the number of unique identifiers available from each IPv4 address.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a new dimension (port number) to the traditional IPv4 address identifier. By appending the port number to the IPv4 address to form a socket IP address, the system transforms a 32-bit address space into a much larger address space that can accommodate millions more unique identifiers.
2Quantity of substance
If socket IP addresses combining IPv4 address and port ranges are assigned to multiple host devices, then the address space is extended and IPv4 exhaustion is delayed, but the complexity of address management and resolution increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a port allocation mechanism as an intermediary layer between the IPv4 address assignment and the actual device identification. This intermediary manages the port ranges associated with each IPv4 address, handling the complexity of socket IP address management centrally rather than requiring distributed complexity across all network devices.
3Adaptability or versatility
If port ranges are dynamically allocated to host devices, then the usefulness of a single IPv4 address is extended to multiple devices, but the overhead of tracking and managing port allocations increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary allocation of port ranges to host devices. When a device is assigned an IPv4 address, a block of port numbers is pre-allocated to that device, creating a socket IP address range. This preliminary action eliminates the need for real-time port negotiation and reduces the overhead of tracking individual port assignments.
Data Source
AI summary
Computer systems, computer-readable media, and computerized methods for determining a media access (MAC) address that corresponds with a network identifier in a wireless or wired network are provided. A dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) server is employed to allocate a set of socket IP addresses that include a common IPv4 address paired with a selected group of ports, where none of the ports in the selected groups overlap. When assigned to a client device, the socket IP address uniquely identifies the client device within the network. A host device within the network is configured to broadcast an address resolution protocol (ARP) request to other devices within the network, such as the DHCP server, where the ARP request includes a socket IP address associated with recipient(s) of communications from the host device. In response to the ARP request, the appropriate device or DHCP server returns a MAC address of the recipient.