Patent ID: 7337224
Filing Date: 2008-02-26
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of policy-based determination of a network address for a client in a network that includes a gateway, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of: receiving, from the client, a request to assign a network address to the client; sending to a policy server a policy decision request comprising a MAC address of the client and information requesting the policy server to determine a network address scope applicable to the client; receiving a policy response that identifies the address scope of network addresses for the client; modifying a request source address value in the client request based on the policy response; sending the modified client request to a server that can assign network addresses within the identified scope; receiving a network address for the client that has been assigned by the server within the identified scope; in response to receiving the policy response, caching, at the gateway, the scope of network addresses for the client from the policy response in association with a media access control (MAC) address of the client; providing the network address to the client; and modifying a second request source address value in a second request for a network address from the client without requesting a policy response.