Patent US6421732B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6421732B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Ipnet gateway
Assignee: Longhorn Hd LLC
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Filing: 1998-10-06
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Granted: 2002-07-16
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Expires: 2018-10-06
Abstract
Abstract The IPNet Gateway (IPNGw) is a new technology that maps multiple servers on a private IP network to a single IP address on the Internet. As requests come in for DNS resolution of the server's domain name, the IPNet Gateway records the domain of the requesting client and the name of the requested server, and returns its own address as the destination address for the requested domain name. This DNS response is set as non-cacheable to prevent the association between the IPNGw IP address and the domain name of the target server beyond the anticipated following transaction from the client. As soon as the IPNGw responds to the DNS request it enters into a waiting state anticipating a connection from the client to the specific server identified in the DNS request. Subsequently, the client establishes a connection with the IPNGw, which in turn relays the connection request to the server.
Inventors
- 👤 Hasan S. Alkhatib
- 👤 Bruce C. Wootton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 04:09
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L63/00; H04L63/02; H04L63/0281; H04L61/00; H04L61/35; H04L61/45; H04L61/4505; H04L61/4511; H04L69/00; H04L69/16; H04L69/163; H04L69/164; H04L69/169
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
A method for establishing communication with a first entity inside a network, comprising the steps of: receiving a first address request originating from outside said network, said first address request includes a request for an address of said first entity, said first address request identifies said first entity with a domain name for said first entity; responding to said first address request, including providing a first address that is not unique to said first entity within said network; receiving a request for communication with said first entity, said request for communication is from a second entity; and establishing communication between said first entity and said second entity if said second entity caused said first address request.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
116 words
A method for establishing communication with a first entity inside a network, comprising the steps of: receiving a first address request originating from outside said network, said first address request includes a request for an address of said first entity, said first address request identifies said first entity with a domain name for said first entity; responding to said first address request, including providing a first address that is not unique to said first entity within said network; receiving a request for communication with said first entity, said request for communication is from a second entity; and establishing communication between said first entity and said second entity if said second entity caused said first address request.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein: said first address request is a DNS request.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein: said step of receiving a request for communication includes receiving a request for a TCP connection.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein: said step of receiving a request for communication includes receiving a UDP packet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein: said step of establishing communication includes establishing a TCP connection.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein: said step of establishing communication includes relaying a UDP packet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein: said step of establishing communication includes establishing a SMTP connection.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein: said step of establishing communication includes establishing a FTP connection.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein: said step of receiving a first address request includes receiving a DNS request from a DNS server; said first address is an IP address for a gateway; and said second entity caused said first address request if said second entity requested said first entity's address from said DNS server.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 9 , wherein: said step of establishing communication includes determining whether said second entity has said DNS server as a DNS authority.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 10 , wherein: said step of determining whether said second entity has said DNS server as a DNS authority includes sending a DNS request to determine said second entity's DNS authority.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
87 words
A method according to claim 10 wherein: said step of receiving a request for a communication includes receiving a requesting address; said step of determining whether said second entity has said DNS server as a DNS authority includes sending a DNS request for an “A” type record based on said requesting address, receiving a response to said DNS request for an “A” type record and sending a DNS request for a pointer type record based on said response to said DNS request for an “A” type record.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 9 , wherein: said request for communication originated from said second entity; and said step of establishing communication includes comparing said second entity's address to said DNS server's address.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein: said first address request is generated by a source having a source address; said request for communication is generated by said second entity, said second entity having a second address; and said step of establishing communication includes determining whether said second address equals said source address.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein: said step of establishing communication includes relaying packets between said first entity and said second entity.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein: said step of receiving a first address request includes storing a requesting address and a forwarding address in a table.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein: said step of receiving a request for communication includes storing a requested port in a table.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method according to claim 1 , further including the steps of: waiting for a client connection after said step of responding, said second entity resides in a remote network; and denying a DNS request from an entity that is residing in said remote network during said step of waiting.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
115 words
A method according to claim 1 , further including the steps of: waiting for a client connection after said step of responding, said second entity resides in a remote network, said step of receiving a first address request includes receiving a first DNS request from a DNS server; and denying a second DNS request from an entity that is residing in said remote network during said step of waiting; said step of establishing communication includes making a pointer request, receiving a pointer reply, making a authority request based on said pointer reply, receiving an authority response and making a server connection if said DNS server is on a DNS authority list of said second entity.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein: said step of establishing communication includes redirecting HTTP communication to an unused port.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein: said step of establishing communication includes responding with an HTTP redirect to an unused port number, listening for HTTP requests to said unused port number and forwarding requests for said unused port number to said first entity.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
125 words
A physical object storing processor readable code, said processor readable code for programming a processor to perform a method comprising the steps of: receiving a first address request originating from outside said network, said first address request includes a request for an address of said first entity, said first address request identifies said first entity with a domain name for said first entity; responding to said first address request, including providing a first address that is not unique to said first entity within said network; receiving a request for communication with said first entity, said request for communication is from a second entity; and establishing communication between said first entity and said second entity if said second entity is associated with said first address request.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
125 words
A physical object storing processor readable code, said processor readable code for programming a processor to perform a method comprising the steps of: receiving a first address request originating from outside said network, said first address request includes a request for an address of said first entity, said first address request identifies said first entity with a domain name for said first entity; responding to said first address request, including providing a first address that is not unique to said first entity within said network; receiving a request for communication with said first entity, said request for communication is from a second entity; and establishing communication between said first entity and said second entity if said second entity is associated with said first address request.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
60 words
A physical object according to claim 22 , wherein: said step of receiving a first address request includes receiving a DNS request from a DNS server; said first address is an IP address for a gateway; and said second entity is associated with said first address request if said second entity requested said first entity's address from said DNS server.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
40 words
A physical object according to claim 22 , wherein: said first address request is from a domain outside of said network; and said second entity is associated with said first address request if said second entity is in said domain.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
35 words
A physical object according to claim 24 , wherein said method further includes the steps of: waiting for said request for communication; and denying an address request from said domain during said step of waiting.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
116 words
A physical object according to claim 22 , wherein said method further includes the steps of: waiting for a client connection after said step of responding, said second entity resides in a remote network, said step of receiving a first address request includes receiving a first DNS request from a DNS server; and denying a second DNS request from an entity other than said second entity that is residing in said remote network; said step of establishing communication includes making a pointer request, receiving a pointer reply, making an authority request based on said pointer reply, receiving an authority response and making a server connection if said DNS server is an authority for said second entity.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
46 words
A physical object according to claim 22 , wherein: said step of establishing communication includes responding with an HTTP redirect to an unused port number, listening for HTTP requests to said unused port number and forwarding requests for said unused port number to said first entity.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
116 words
An apparatus, comprising: a server, said server being programmed to perform the method of: receiving a first address request originating from outside said network, said first address request includes a request for an address of said first entity, said first address request identifies said first entity with a domain name for said first entity; responding to said first address request, including providing a first address that is not unique to said first entity within said network; receiving a request for communication with said first entity, said request for communication is from a second entity; and establishing communication between said first entity and said second entity if said second entity is associated with said first address request.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
116 words
An apparatus, comprising: a server, said server being programmed to perform the method of: receiving a first address request originating from outside said network, said first address request includes a request for an address of said first entity, said first address request identifies said first entity with a domain name for said first entity; responding to said first address request, including providing a first address that is not unique to said first entity within said network; receiving a request for communication with said first entity, said request for communication is from a second entity; and establishing communication between said first entity and said second entity if said second entity is associated with said first address request.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
59 words
An apparatus according to claim 28 , wherein: said step of receiving a first address request includes receiving a DNS request from a DNS server; said first address is an IP address for a gateway; and said second entity is associated with said first address request if said second entity requested said first entity's address from said DNS server.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus according to claim 29 , wherein: said first address request is from a domain outside of said network; and said second entity is associated with said first address request if said second entity is in said domain.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus according to claim 30 , wherein said method further includes the steps of: waiting for said request for communication; and denying a DNS request from said domain during said step of waiting.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
115 words
An apparatus according to claim 28 , wherein said method further includes the steps of: waiting for a client connection after said step of responding, said second entity resides in a remote network, said step of receiving a first address request includes receiving a first DNS request from a DNS server; and denying a second DNS request from an entity other than said second entity that is residing in said remote network; said step of establishing communication includes making a pointer request, receiving a pointer reply, making an authority request based on said pointer reply, receiving an authority response and making a server connection if said DNS server is an authority for said second entity.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus according to claim 28 , wherein: A said step of establishing communication includes responding with an HTTP redirect to an unused port number, listening for HTTP requests to said unused port number and forwarding requests for said unused port number to said first entity.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
108 words
A method for establishing communication with a first entity inside a network, comprising the steps of: receiving a request, originating from a domain outside said network, for an address of said first entity, said request for an address identifies said first entity by a domain name for said first entity; responding to said request by providing a first address for said first entity, said first address is not unique to said first entity within said network; receiving a request to communicate with said first entity from a second entity; determining that said second entity is in said domain; facilitating communication between said second entity and said first entity.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
108 words
A method for establishing communication with a first entity inside a network, comprising the steps of: receiving a request, originating from a domain outside said network, for an address of said first entity, said request for an address identifies said first entity by a domain name for said first entity; responding to said request by providing a first address for said first entity, said first address is not unique to said first entity within said network; receiving a request to communicate with said first entity from a second entity; determining that said second entity is in said domain; facilitating communication between said second entity and said first entity.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 34 , further comprising the step of: waiting for said request to communicate; and refusing to service additional requests for said address of said first entity from said domain during said step of waiting.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 34 , wherein: said request for an address is from said second entity.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 34 , wherein: said request for an address is from a DNS server.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 34 , wherein: said step of facilitating includes acting as a packet relay.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-07-15 | 2006-01-14 | 2006-07-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-07-15 | 2010-01-14 | 2010-07-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-07-15 | 2014-01-14 | 2014-07-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |