Patent ID: 7693163
Filing Date: 2010-04-06
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of operating an Internet protocol (IP) address, the method comprising the steps of: (a) in an IP address including a subnet prefix area and an Interface ID area, allocating certain bits of the Interface ID area as an index area of a lowest subnet gateway; (b) allocating a first combination comprising a first portion of the certain bits and the subnet prefix area as a first subnet ID area for a lower subnet gateway, and allocating a second combination comprising the first portion, a second portion of the certain bits, and the subnet prefix area as a second subnet ID area for a next lower subnet gateway; (c) recreating an Interface ID using the certain bits, and allocating the Interface ID to terminating equipment having access to an IP network based on a format of the IP address in the lowest subnet gateway; (d) at a first subnet gateway, allocating the first portion of the certain bits as an index area of the lower subnet gateway; (e) at the lower subnet gateway, allocating the first portion and the second portion of the certain bits as an index area of the next lower subnet gateway; and wherein the lower subnet gateway processes input packets using the second combination, determines the next lower subnet gateway according to the second subnet ID area, and transmits the input packets to the next lower subnet gateway.