Patent ID: 6988148
Filing Date: 2006-01-17
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for managing Internet Protocol (IP) addresses on a data communications network, comprising: allocating a plurality of local IP address pools, each of said local IP address pools associated with a different network edge device capable of accepting connection requests requiring an IP address, said network edge device having a local memory, said local memory including a local IP address pool database; requesting IP address usage data from one or more of said network edge devices; receiving said requested IP address usage data; determining whether one or more of said plurality of local IP address pools should be reallocated based upon at least said requested IP address usage data; reallocating one or more of said plurality of local IP address pools based upon said determining; and updating one or more of said local IP address pool databases and a global IP pool database based upon said reallocating, said global IP address pool database including the information maintained in each said local IP address pool; wherein said local IP address pool includes a high watermark that indicates a measurement of the maximum number of IP addresses used by said network edge device; said determining further comprises ascertaining whether said high watermark of a local address pool exceeds a high watermark limit; and said method further comprises indicating one or more IP address pools should be reallocated to give more IP addresses to the network element associated with said high watermark when said high watermark exceeds said high watermark limit.