Communication using two addresses for an entity

Abstract

The present invention provides for a system This document describes embodiments for communicating with a host using a global address and a local address. The present invention allows These embodiments allow for the communication to be initiated by an entity outside the host's network. The entity initiating the communication resolves the destination host's domain name into a global address and a local address. messages are sent to the destination host using both the global address and the local address. In one embodiment, both the global and local address are included in the message by encapsulating ip packets. Some embodiments of the present invention also use pseudo addressing.

Description

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/224,864, filed on Aug. 11, 2000, which is incorporated herein by reference.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to the following Patents/Applications:

DOMAIN NAME ROUTING, U.S. Pat. No. 6,119,171, Sep. 12, 2000;

IPNET GATEWAY, Hasan S. Alkhatib and Bruce C. Wootton, U.S. application Ser. No. 09/167,709, filed on Oct. 6, 1998; and

PSEUDO ADDRESSING, Bruce C. Wootton and Hasan S. Alkhatib, U.S. application Ser. No. 09/637,803, filed on Aug. 11, 2000.

Each of the related Patents/Applications are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts an IP packet.

FIG. 2 shows the format of a header of an IP packet.

FIG. 3 depicts a first packet encapsulated within a second packet.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of two networks connected to the Internet.

FIG. 5 depicts a portion of a DNS database.

FIG. 6 depicts a portion of a DNS name space.

FIG. 7 shows how a domain name is resolved to obtain an IP address.

FIG. 8 shows how a domain name is used to obtain a local address.

FIG. 9 depicts the format of an ICMP Echo message.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart describing the steps for using an ICMP Echo Request to obtain a local address.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart describing the steps for communicating a message from a first entity to a second entity according to one embodiment of the present inventionwith the present inventioninvention claims to the precise form disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The described embodiments were chosen in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto.

Claims

1. A method for communicating, comprising:

obtaining a first local address for a destination entity and a first global address associated with said destination entity, said destination entity is on a private network that uses said first local address to communicate with said destination entity;

creating a message that includes encapsulation within a single protocol level, said message includes said first local address as a first destination address and said first global address as a second destination address, said message includes a first ip packet, a second ip packet encapsulated in said first ip packet and a third ip packet encapsulated in said second ip packet; and

communicating said message toward said destination.

2. A method for communicating, comprising:

obtaining a first local address for a destination entity and a first global address associated with said destination entity, said destination entity is on a private network that uses said first local address to communicate with said destination entity;

creating a message that includes encapsulations within a single protocol level, said message includes said first local address as a first destination address and said first global address as a second destination address;

communicating said message toward said destination entity;

receiving said message at an intermediate entity;

removing a layer of encapsulation from said message;

forwarding said message after said step of removing, toward said destination entity;

receiving said message at said destination entity;

removing a layer of encapsulation from said message; and

accessing information in said message after said step of removing.

3. A method according to claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

providing a pseudo address to an application in said destination entity based on said message.

4. A method for communicating comprising:

receiving a message, said message includes encapsulation within a single protocol level, said message stores a first global address and a first local address as a destination address associated with a first entity, said first local address and said first global address correspond to said first entity, said first entity is on a private network, said first entity is reachable from outside the private network using said first local address and said first global address;

removing at least one level of encapsulation from said message, said message includes multiple levels of encapsulation after said step of removing; and

accessing a remaining level of encapsulation, said step of accessing includes communicating said message toward said first entity using said first global address, said message includes said first local address and said first global address.

5. A method for communicating, comprising:

using a domain name to obtain a first local address for a destination entity and a first global address associated with said destination entity, said destination entity is on a private network that uses said first local address to communicate with said destination entity;

creating a message that includes said first local address as a first destination address, said first global address as a second destination address and a first pseudo address; and

communicating said message toward said destination based on said first local address and said first global address.

6. A method according to claim 5, further comprising the step of:

receiving said first pseudo address from an application, said application uses said first pseudo address to address said destination, said step of receiving is performed prior to said step of creating a message.

7. A method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of:

receiving a second pseudo address, said step of creating a message includes adding said second pseudo address to said message, said destination uses said second pseudo address to reference a source, said step of communicating is performed by said source.

8. A method according to claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

receiving said message at said destination;

accessing said second pseudo address at said destination; and

using said second pseudo address with an application on said destination.

9. A method according to claim 5, further comprising the step of:

receiving said first pseudo address, said destination uses said first pseudo address to reference a source, said step of communicating is performed by said source.

10. A method according to claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

receiving said message at said destination;

accessing said first pseudo address at said destination; and

using said first pseudo address with an application on said destination.

11. A method according to claim 5, wherein:

said message includes encapsulation within a single protocol level.

12. A method according to claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

receiving said message at an intermediate entity, said first pseudo address is stored in an inner layer of said encapsulation;

removing an outer layer of said encapsulation at said intermediate entity without changing said inner layer of said encapsulation; and

forwarding said message toward said destination.

13. A method according to claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

receiving said message at said destination;

removing another layer of said encapsulation at said destination;

accessing said first pseudo address at said destination; and

using said first pseudo address with an application on said destination.

14. A method for communicating, comprising:

receiving a message at a destination, said message includes a local address and a global address corresponding to said local address, said destination is on a private network, said message is received from outside said private network based on a combination of said global address and said local address;

accessing a pseudo address corresponding to said local address and said global address; and

using said pseudo address with an application.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein:

said destination uses said pseudo address to refer to a source.

16. A method according to claim 14, wherein:

said destination uses said pseudo address to refer to said destination.

17. A method according to claim 14, wherein:

said message includes encapsulation within a single protocol level.

18. A method according to claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

removing a layer of encapsulation at said destination; and

accessing said pseudo address in a remaining layer of said encapsulation.

19. A method according to claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

removing a layer of encapsulation at said destination; and

accessing said pseudo address based on a remaining layer of said encapsulation.

20. One or more processor readable storage devices having processor readable code embodied on said processor readable storage devices, said processor readable code for programming one or more processors to perform a method comprising:

obtaining a first local address for a destination entity and a first global address associated with said destination entity, said destination entity is on a private network that uses said first local address to communicate with said destination entity;

creating a message that includes encapsulation within a single protocol level, said message includes said first local address as a first destination address and said first global address as a second destination address; and

communicating said message toward said destination, said message includes a first ip packet, a second ip packet encapsulated in said first ip packet and a third ip packet encapsulated in said second ip packet.

21. One or more processor readable storage devices having processor readable code embodied on said processor readable storage devices, said processor readable code for programming one or more processors to perform a method comprising:

obtaining a first local address for a destination and a first global address for said destination;

creating a message that includes encapsulation within a single protocol level, said message includes said first local address and said first global address, said message includes a first ip packet, said message includes a second ip packet encapsulated in said first ip packet, said message includes a third ip packet encapsulated in said second ip packet, said message includes a fourth ip packet encapsulated in said third ip packet, said first ip packet includes said first global address as a first destination address and said second local address as a first source address, said second local address corresponds to said source entity, said second ip packet includes said first global address as a second destination address and a second global address as a second source address, said second global address corresponds to said source entity, said third ip packet includes said first local address as a third destination address and said second global address as a third source address, said fourth ip packet includes a pseudo address; and

communicating said message toward said destination.

22. One or more processor readable storage devices having processor readable code embodied on said processor readable storage devices, said processor readable code for programming one or more processors to perform a method comprising:

receiving a message, said message includes encapsulation within a single protocol level, said message stores a first global address and a first local address as a destination address associated with a first entity, said first entity is on a private network, said first entity is reachable from outside the private network by a combination of the first local address and the first global address;

removing at least one level of encapsulation from said message; and

accessing a remaining level of encapsulation, said message includes multiple levels of encapsulation after said step of removing, said step of accessing includes communicating said message toward said first entity using said first global address, said message includes said first local address and said first global address, and said message is an ip packet.

23. One or more processor readable storage devices having processor readable code embodied on said processor readable storage devices, said processor readable code for programming one or more processors to perform a method comprising:

receiving a message, said message includes encapsulation within a single protocol level, said message stores a first global address and a first local address as a destination address associated with a first entity, said first entity is on a private network said first entity is reachable from outside the private network by a combination of the first local address and the first global address;

removing at least one level of encapsulation from said message;

accessing a remaining level of encapsulation;

identifying a pseudo address based on said message; and

providing said pseudo address to an application at said destination.

24. One or more processor readable storage devices having processor readable code embodied on said processor readable storage devices, said processor readable code for programming one or more processors to perform a method comprising:

receiving a message at a destination, said message includes a local address and a global address corresponding to said local address, said destination is on a private network, said message is received from outside the private network based on said global address and said local address;

accessing a pseudo address corresponding to said local address and said global address; and

using said pseudo address with an application.

25. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 24, wherein:

said message includes encapsulation within a single protocol level.

26. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 24, wherein said method further comprises the steps of:

removing a layer of encapsulation at said destination; and

accessing said pseudo address based on a remaining layer of said encapsulation.

27. An apparatus, comprising:

a communication interface;

a memory device; and

one or more processor, said one or more processors programmed to perform a method comprising:

using a domain name to obtain a first local address for a destination entity and a first global address associated with said destination entity, said destination entity is on a private network that uses said first local address to communicate with said destination entity,

creating a message that includes said first local address as a first destination address, said first global address as a second destination address and a first pseudo address, and

communicating said message toward said destination based on said first local address and said first global address.

28. An apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said method further comprises the steps of:

receiving said first pseudo address from an application, said application uses said first pseudo address to address said destination, said step of receiving is performed prior to said step of creating a message.

29. An apparatus according to claim 27, wherein:

said message includes encapsulation within a single protocol level.

30. An apparatus, comprising:

a communication interface;

a memory device; and

one or more processor, said one or more processors programmed to perform a method comprising:

receiving a message at a destination, said message includes a local address and a global address corresponding to said local address, said destination is on a private network, said message is received from outside the private network based on said global address and said local address,

accessing a pseudo address corresponding to said local address and said global address, and

using said pseudo address with an application.

31. An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein:

said message includes encapsulation within a single protocol level.

32. An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said method further comprises the steps of:

removing a layer of encapsulation at said destination; and

accessing said pseudo address based on a remaining layer of said encapsulation.

33. A method for communicating, comprising:

obtaining a first local address for a destination entity and a first global address associated with said destination entity, said destination entity on a private network that uses said first local address to communicate with said destination entity;

creating a message that includes encapsulation within a single protocol level, said message includes said first local address as a first destination address and said first global address as a second destination address; and

communicating said message toward said destination entity, said message encapsulated effective to enable an intermediate entity associated with said first global address to remove a layer of encapsulation from said message and forward to said destination entity based on said first local address and effective to enable said destination entity to remove another layer of encapsulation from said message to access information in said message.

34. An apparatus, comprising:

a communication interface;

a memory device; and

one or more processors, said one or more processors programmed to perform a method comprising:

obtaining a first local address for a destination entity and a first global address associated with said destination entity, said destination entity of a private network that uses said first local address to communicate with said destination entity;

creating a message that includes encapsulation within a single protocol level, said message including said first local address as a first destination address and said first global address as a second destination address, wherein said message includes a first ip packet, a second ip packet encapsulated in said first ip packet, and a third ip packet encapsulated in said second ip packet; and

communicating said message toward said destination.

35. An apparatus according to claim 34, wherein:

said first ip packet includes said first local address; and

said second ip packet includes said first global address.

36. An apparatus according to claim 34, wherein:

said message includes a fourth ip packet encapsulated in said third ip packet;

said first ip packet includes said first local address and a second local address as a first source address, said second local address corresponds to a source entity;

said second ip packet includes said first global address and a second global address as a second source address, said second global address corresponds to said source entity, said third ip packet includes said first local address as a third destination address and said second global address as a third source address, and said fourth ip packet includes a pseudo address.

37. An apparatus, comprising:

a communication interface;

a memory device; and

one or more processors, said one or more processors programmed to performed a method comprising:

obtaining a first local address for a destination entity and a first global address associated with said destination entity, said destination entity of a private network that uses said first local address to communicate with said destination entity;

creating a pseudo-address for said destination;

creating a message that includes encapsulation within a single protocol level, said message including said first local address as a first destination address, said first global address as a second destination address, and said pseudo-address for said destination; and

communicating said message toward said destination.

38. An apparatus, comprising:

a communication interface;

a memory device; and

one or more processors, said one or more processors programmed to perform a method comprising:

receiving a message, said message including encapsulation within a single protocol level, said message storing a first global address and a first local address, said first global address corresponding to a first entity, said first entity of a private network, said first entity reachable from outside the private network by a combination of the first local address and the first global address;

removing at least one level of encapsulation from said message; and

accessing any remaining level of encapsulation, wherein:

said message including multiple levels of encapsulation after said step of removing;

said step of accessing including communicating said message toward said first entity using said first global address, said message including said first local address and said first global address; and

said message being an ip packet.

39. An apparatus according to claim 38, wherein:

prior to said step of removing, said message includes a first packet, a second packet encapsulated in said first packet, a third packet encapsulated in said second packet and a fourth packet encapsulated in said third packet;

said first packet includes said first global address as a first destination and a second local address as a first source, said second local address corresponds to a source entity;

said second packet includes said first global address as a second destination and a second global address as a second source, said second global address corresponds to said source entity; and

said third packet includes said first local address as a third destination.

40. An apparatus, comprising:

a communication interface;

a memory device; and

one or more processors, said one or more processors programmed to perform a method comprising:

receiving a message, said message including encapsulation within a single protocol level, said message storing a first global address and a first local address, said first global address corresponding to a first entity, said first entity of a private network, said first entity reachable from outside the private network by a combination of the first local address and the first global address;

removing at least one level of encapsulation from said message;

accessing any remaining level of encapsulation;

identifying a pseudo address based on said message; and

providing said pseudo address to an application.