US6532217B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for automatically determining a network address
Assignee: Hanger Solutions LLC
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Filing: 1999-06-28
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Granted: 2003-03-11
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Expires: 2019-06-28
Abstract
Abstract The present invention provides for a system for automatically determining a network address. A new node starting on the network will solicit addresses from other nodes on the subnet. The addresses received are stored in a database. The address stored in the database will be reviewed in order to determine a subnet mask. The new node will choose a host number, based on the subnet mask, that is unique among the addresses in the database: The chosen unique host number is combined with the subnet number to form the new node's network address. One example of a network address is an IP version 4 address.
Inventors
- 👤 Hasan S. Alkhatib
- 👤 Bruce C. Wootton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 20:51
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L69/00; H04L69/16; H04L69/161; H04L69/164; H04L69/166; H04L69/167; H04L9/00; H04L9/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 43
Claim 1
Independent Claim
63 words
A method for automatically determining an address on a network, comprising the steps of: soliciting one or more network addresses from one or more nodes on said network; determining a seemingly unique address based on said step of soliciting, wherein said seemingly unique address does not match any address obtained in response to said step of soliciting; and verifying said seemingly unique address.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
63 words
A method for automatically determining an address on a network, comprising the steps of: soliciting one or more network addresses from one or more nodes on said network; determining a seemingly unique address based on said step of soliciting, wherein said seemingly unique address does not match any address obtained in response to said step of soliciting; and verifying said seemingly unique address.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein said step of soliciting includes soliciting all nodes on a subnet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein said step of soliciting includes the step of: sending an ICMP Echo Request.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 3 , wherein: said ICMP Echo Request includes a broadcast address as its source address.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 1 , further including the step of: listening for responses from said one or more nodes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 5 , wherein said step of listening includes the step of: receiving one or more ICMP Echo Responses.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 5 , wherein said step of listening includes the step of: listening for messages other than said responses.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to claim 5 , wherein said step of listening includes the steps of: waiting for responses until a preset amount of time has elapsed; and listening for messages other than said responses if said preset time has elapsed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein said step of determining a seemingly unique address includes the step of: determining a subnet mask.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein said step of determining a seemingly unique address includes the step of: determining a subnet number and a network number.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to claim 1 , further including the step of: storing one or more network addresses received in one or more communications from said one or more nodes on said network.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
76 words
A method according to claim 11 , wherein: each of said network addresses stored during said step of storing one or more network addresses includes a host number; and said step of determining a seemingly unique address includes the steps of: determining a subnet number; and choosing a new host number that is different from any host numbers for any stored network addresses, said seemingly unique address includes said subnet number and said new host number.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 12 , wherein said step of choosing a new host number chooses a lowest possible host number that is different from any host number for any stored network address.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
92 words
A method according to claim 12 , wherein said step of verifying includes the steps of: sending an ARP message on the network, said ARP message having a destination address equal to said seemingly unique address; waiting for a response to said ARP message; storing a network address received in any response to said ARP message, if any responses to said ARP message are received; and choosing an updated host number that is different from any host number for any stored network address, if any responses to said ARP message are received.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein said step of verifying includes the step of: sending an ARP message on said network, said ARP message having a destination address equal to said seemingly unique address.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 15 , wherein said step of verifying includes the step of: determine a new seemingly unique address if a response to said ARP packet is received within a predetermined time period.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 1 , further including the step of: monitoring said network for conflicts with said seemingly unique address; and determining a new seemingly unique address if a conflict is found.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 17 , wherein said step of monitoring includes listening for a gratuitous ARP packet that includes said new seemingly unique address.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 1 , further including the steps of: polling nodes to find a domain name server; and requesting tables from said domain name server if said domain name server is found.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 19 , wherein: said step of polling includes attempting to communicate with a node on port 53 .
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein: said network addresses and said seemingly unique address are IP version 4 addresses.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
121 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein: said step of soliciting includes soliciting all nodes on a subnet; said method further includes the steps of: listening for responses from said one or more nodes, storing network addresses received in said responses, each of said network addresses includes a host number, monitoring said network for conflicts with said seemingly unique address, and determining a new seemingly unique address if a conflict is found; and said step of determining a seemingly unique address includes the steps of determining a subnet number and choosing a new host number that is different from any host numbers for any stored network addresses, said seemingly unique address includes said subnet number and said new host number.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
62 words
A method for automatically determining an address on a subnet, comprising the steps of: soliciting one or more subnet addresses from one or more nodes on said subnet; determining a subnet number; and choosing a host number, based on said subnet number, that is unique among said one or more subnet addresses, said address includes said host number and said subnet number.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
62 words
A method for automatically determining an address on a subnet, comprising the steps of: soliciting one or more subnet addresses from one or more nodes on said subnet; determining a subnet number; and choosing a host number, based on said subnet number, that is unique among said one or more subnet addresses, said address includes said host number and said subnet number.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 23 , wherein said step of soliciting includes soliciting all nodes on said subnet.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method according to claim 23 , wherein: said one or more addresses include host numbers; and said step of choosing a host number includes the steps of: determining a subnet number; and choosing a host number that is different from any host numbers for any solicited addresses.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
81 words
A processor readable storage medium having processor readable code embodied on said processor readable storage medium, said processor readable code for programming a processor to perform a method comprising the steps of: soliciting one or more network addresses from one or more nodes on said network; determining a seemingly unique address based on said step of soliciting, wherein said seemingly unique address does not match any address obtained in response to said step of soliciting; and verifying said seemingly unique address.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
81 words
A processor readable storage medium having processor readable code embodied on said processor readable storage medium, said processor readable code for programming a processor to perform a method comprising the steps of: soliciting one or more network addresses from one or more nodes on said network; determining a seemingly unique address based on said step of soliciting, wherein said seemingly unique address does not match any address obtained in response to said step of soliciting; and verifying said seemingly unique address.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
22 words
A processor readable storage medium according to claim 26 , wherein said step of soliciting includes soliciting all nodes on a subnet.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
36 words
A processor readable storage medium according to claim 26 , wherein said step of soliciting includes the step of: sending an ICMP Echo Request, said ICMP Echo Request includes a broadcast address as its source address.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
27 words
A processor readable storage medium according to claim 26 , wherein: said step of determining a seemingly unique address includes the step of: determining a subnet mask.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
94 words
A processor readable storage medium according to claim 26 , wherein: said method further includes the step of storing network addresses received in response to said step of soliciting; each of said network addresses stored during said step of storing network addresses includes a host number; and said step of determining a seemingly unique address includes the steps of: determining a subnet number, and choosing a new host number that is different from any host numbers for any stored network addresses, said seemingly unique address includes said subnet number and said new host number.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
95 words
A processor readable storage medium according to claim 30 , wherein said step of verifying includes the steps of: sending an ARP message on the network, said ARP message having a destination address equal to said seemingly unique address; waiting for a response to said ARP message; storing a network address received in any response to said ARP message, if any responses to said ARP message are received; and choosing an updated host number that is different from any host number for any stored network address, if any responses to said ARP messages are received.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
40 words
A processor readable storage medium according to claim 26 , wherein said method further includes the steps of: monitoring said network for conflicts with said seemingly unique address; and determining a new seemingly unique address if a conflict is found.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
41 words
A processor readable storage medium according to claim 26 , wherein said method further includes the steps of: polling nodes to find a domain name server; and requesting tables from said domain name serve if said domain name server is found.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
24 words
A processor readable storage medium according to claim 26 , wherein: said network addresses and said seemingly unique address are IP version 4 addresses.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
99 words
An apparatus capable of automatically obtaining an address on a network, comprising: a network interface; a processor in communication with said network interface; and memory in communication with said processor, said memory having code embodied on said memory for programming said apparatus to perform a method comprising the steps of: soliciting one or more network addresses from one or more nodes on said network, determining a seemingly unique address based on said step of soliciting, wherein said seemingly unique address does not match any address obtained in response to said step of soliciting, and verifying said seemingly unique address.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
99 words
An apparatus capable of automatically obtaining an address on a network, comprising: a network interface; a processor in communication with said network interface; and memory in communication with said processor, said memory having code embodied on said memory for programming said apparatus to perform a method comprising the steps of: soliciting one or more network addresses from one or more nodes on said network, determining a seemingly unique address based on said step of soliciting, wherein said seemingly unique address does not match any address obtained in response to said step of soliciting, and verifying said seemingly unique address.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to claim 35 , further comprising: an input device in communication with said processor; and an output device in communication with said processor.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus according to claim 35 , wherein: said network addresses and said seemingly unique address are IP version 4 addresses.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 35 , wherein: said step of soliciting includes soliciting all nodes on a subnet.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
91 words
An apparatus according to claim 35 , wherein: said method further includes the step of storing network addresses received in response to said step of soliciting; each of said network addresses stored during said step of storing network addresses includes a host number; and said step of determining a seemingly unique address includes the steps of: determining a subnet number, and choosing a new host number that is different from any host numbers for any stored network addresses, said seemingly unique address includes said subnet number and said new host number.
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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) | 2006-03-10 | 2006-09-09 | 2007-03-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-03-10 | 2010-09-09 | 2011-03-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-03-10 | 2014-09-09 | 2015-03-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |