Patent ID: 6657991
Filing Date: 2003-12-02
Classification: H04L,H04N

Abstract:
In a data system with a plurality of network devices, a method for using network address provisioning, comprising the following steps:receiving a first message with a first configuration protocol on a second network device from a network device to request a network address for the network device on the data system; determining whether the network device is to receive a private network address on the data system with a network address table associated with the second network device, and if so, obtaining a private network address marker on the second network device, wherein the private network address marker indicates that a private network address is to be selected for the network device, and wherein the private network address is not addressable outside of the data system, and setting a first network address field in the first message with the private network address marker; and if the network device is not to receive the private network address, obtaining a public network address marker on the second network device, wherein the public network address marker indicates that a public network address is to be selected for the network device, and wherein the public network address is addressable outside of the data system, and setting the first network address field in the first message with the public network address marker; and forwarding the first message to a network address server associated with the data system, wherein the first network address field in the first message is used by the network address server to allocate a network address on the data system.