Socket-Based IP Address Assignment for Wireless Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
The exhaustion of IPv4 addresses in wireless networks poses a significant challenge as the number of devices seeking network connections grows, leading to a scarcity of unique network identifiers.
Innovation Solution
Assigning unique network identifiers by combining an IP address with one or more ports, allowing multiple devices to share the same IP address, thereby extending the usefulness of one IP address and addressing the issue of IPv4 address exhaustion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If IPv4 addresses are assigned to each wireless device, then each device has a unique network identifier, but the number of available IPv4 addresses will be exhausted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the traditional single IP address identifier into two components: a shared IP address and a device-specific port number. This segmentation allows multiple devices to share one IP address while maintaining unique identification through the combination of IP address and port, effectively extending the identifier space without requiring additional IP addresses.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the IP address universal by allowing it to be shared across multiple devices simultaneously. Instead of dedicating one IP address to one device, the same IP address can serve multiple devices by combining it with different port numbers, thus giving the IP address multi-functional capability.
2Quantity of substance
If multiple devices share one IP address, then IPv4 address exhaustion is delayed, but network identifier uniqueness must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the IP address and port number into a unified network identifier structure. By combining these two elements, the system creates a composite identifier that maintains uniqueness across multiple devices while reusing the same IP address, thus resolving the complexity issue through integration rather than separation.
3Quantity of substance
If IPv6 is adopted to solve address exhaustion, then address space is expanded, but implementation cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter used for device differentiation from the IP address itself to the port number within the existing IP address framework. Instead of adopting a new protocol with larger address space (IPv6), it modifies how the existing IP address parameter is utilized by introducing port numbers as the differentiating factor, thereby achieving address space expansion without protocol change.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for assigning unique network identifiers in a packet-switched wireless network are provided. A request for a unique network identifier for a wireless device is received. A socket-based unique network identifier, including an IP address and one or more ports, is assigned to the wireless device. The unique network identifier is created by combining an IP address and one or more ports. This allows multiple unique network identifiers to be created from a single IP address, where each unique network identifier consists of the same IP address combined with a different group of one or more ports.