Patent ID: 6377990
Filing Date: 2002-04-23
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A method for operating a local area network having a server and a plurality of computers including a first computer, said server including an Internet gateway, each computer in said local area network having a unique IP (Internet protocol) address and a unique network adapter address associated with that computer, each computer determining the network adapter address associated with a target IP address by broadcasting an address resolution packet (ARP) on said local area network, said ARP including at least said target IP address and said network adapter address and IP address of said computer broadcasting said ARP, said computer having said target IP address responding by sending a response message that includes said network adapter address of said computer having said target IP address, at least said first computer being connectable to a home network different from said local area network, said method comprising the steps of:using a first IP address by said first computer when said first computer communicates using said home network; storing information identifying IP addresses in a foreign class corresponding to computers not configured for connection to said local area network including storing said first IP address of said first computer; sending a first communication from said first computer to said server; causing said server to send a response to each ARP having a target IP address in said foreign class, said server returning said network adapter address of said server in said response message and assigning an IP address associated with said local area network to said IP address of said computer sending said ARP in said response including assigning by said server after receiving said first communication from said first computer a second IP address associated with said local area network to said first computer that is different from said first IP address of said first computer, said second IP address being assigned independently of program code provided with said first computer to obtain said second IP address; causing said server to translate each outbound message originating on said local area network for a destination address in said foreign class from an originating address for which one of said address' associated with said local area network has been assigned, including a first outbound message, different from said first communication, sent to said server by said first computer using said first IP address, by replacing said first IP address of said computer originating said message with said corresponding second IP address assigned to that computer, said first computer operating at all times independently of said second IP address when said first computer is connected to said local area network including when said first computer sends first outbound message to said server; and sending said translated outbound messages via said gateway including using said second IP address to send said first outbound message from said server via said gateway.