Subnet Address Segmentation for Seamless Local-Remote Network Communication
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In networks with geographically separated local and remote locations, existing technologies face challenges in seamless communication between client stations operating on different subnet address ranges, leading to inefficient transmission of multicast or broadcast packets due to different broadcast domains.
Innovation Solution
The system subdivides a local network's subnet address range into multiple non-overlapping sub-segments, assigning each sub-segment to remote networks, using intermediate-local and intermediate-remote function devices to establish bridged and routed tunnels, allowing client stations to communicate using native IP addresses without indirect address mapping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If client stations in local and remote networks operate on different subnet address ranges, then geographic distribution and network scalability are improved, but communication efficiency and multicast/broadcast packet transmission are worsened due to different broadcast domains
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces intermediate function devices (intermediate-local function device and intermediate-remote function devices) as intermediaries between client stations in different networks. These intermediaries establish bridged and routed tunnels that enable efficient communication while maintaining the benefit of geographic distribution. The intermediaries handle address mapping and packet forwarding, allowing multicast and broadcast packets to be transmitted efficiently across different broadcast domains without requiring client stations to be aware of physical network locations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If intermediate routing devices are used for communication between different subnets, then network flexibility and geographic distribution are improved, but direct MAC address communication and broadcast domain efficiency are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network communication function into multiple components: intermediate-local function device, intermediate-remote function devices, and tunnel mechanisms. This segmentation allows each component to handle specific tasks (address mapping, packet forwarding, tunnel management) efficiently, reducing overall communication overhead while maintaining network flexibility. The segmentation enables the system to preserve Layer 2 communication characteristics over Layer 3 infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate function devices act as mediators that translate between different network layers and protocols. They enable client stations to communicate using native IP addresses while maintaining efficient multicast and broadcast capabilities, reducing the complexity of direct end-to-end routing configurations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If indirect address mapping is used for remote network communication, then network security and flexibility are improved, but communication speed and simplicity are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes bridged and routed tunnels in advance between intermediate function devices, performing address mapping and routing setup beforehand. This preliminary action allows client stations to communicate directly using native IP addresses without real-time address translation, significantly improving communication speed while maintaining the flexibility of indirect addressing for network management and security.
Data Source
AI summary
A system with a local network and a set of remote networks is described herein. A subnet address range associated with the local network is subdivided into sub-segment address ranges. Each remote network is assigned a sub-segment address range for communicating with the local network. Each sub-segment address range is a smaller part of the original subnet range and each sub-segment range does not overlap with other sub-segment address ranges. Using an intermediate-local function device of the local network and intermediate-remote function devices of the remote networks, client stations in both the local and remote networks may seamlessly communicate using their native private addresses as destination addresses and without indirect address mapping. Further, the intermediate-local and the intermediate-remote function devices allow client stations in the local and remote networks to communicate without installation of corresponding agents or knowledge of the location of the client stations in separate physical networks.