Patent ID: 8230067
Filing Date: 2012-07-24
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method, comprising: receiving, at a network element, a request for an IP address from a subscriber; modifying the request to substitute a source IP address included in the request with a first source IP address of the network element; communicating the modified request with one or more IP address providers over a network to process the modified request; receiving a reply packet having an IP address assigned by one of the IP address providers in response to the modified request; modifying the reply packet to substitute a source IP address of the IP address provider that assigned the IP address with a second source IP address of the network element in a source IP address field of the reply packet and further substitute the source IP address of the IP address provider that assigned the IP address with the second source IP address of the network element in an option transmitting the modified reply packet to the subscriber as if the network element is the IP address provider that assigned the IP address to the subscriber.