Patent ID: 9467372
Filing Date: 2016-10-11
CPC Classification: H04L

Claim Text:
1. A method performed by a network node used in a network system for forwarding IP packets, wherein the network node performs the steps of: (a) receiving an IP packet from a first network interface; (b) determining whether the destination address of the IP packet matches an IP address in the IP address section of a first routing rule; (c) forwarding the IP packet through a second network interface if the destination address of the IP packet matches the IP address in the IP address section of the first routing rule; (d) when the first network interface is a local area network (LAN) interface and destination address of the IP packet does not match the IP address in the IP address section of the first routing rule: (i) determining whether the destination address of the IP packet matches an IP subnet of a local area network (LAN) interface of the network node; (ii) not forwarding the IP packet if the destination address of the IP packet matches the IP subnet of the LAN interface of the network node; (iii) forwarding the IP packet through a wide area network (WAN) interface of the network node if the IP packet does not match the IP subnet of the LAN interface of the network node; (e) when the first network interface is a WAN interface and the destination address of the IP packet matches an IP address in the IP address section of the first routing rule: (i) forwarding the IP packet through a WAN interface identified in the first routing rule if the destination address is reachable through the first network interface; (ii) not forwarding the IP packet if the destination address is not reachable through the first network interface; (f) when the first network interface is a WAN interface and the destination address of the IP packet does not match an IP address in the IP address section of the first routing rule: (i) forwarding the IP packet through a LAN interface if the destination address of the IP packet matches an IP subnet of the LAN interface; (ii) not forwarding the IP packet if the destination address of the IP packet does not match an IP subnet of the LAN interface; wherein one or both of the first network interface and second network interface is not assigned with an IP address; wherein the network node comprises at least three network interfaces; wherein the first routing rule comprises at least one IP address section and at least one network interface section.