Patent ID: 7792942
Filing Date: 2010-09-07
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A computer-implemented method of managing network resources, comprising: receiving at an intermediary node other than a subscriber host or a resource allocating node an indication that a resource assigned to the subscriber host by the resource allocating node will no longer be used by the subscriber host; wherein the resource allocating node comprises a DHCP server; wherein the subscriber host comprises a DHCP client; wherein the intermediary node comprises a provider equipment associated with a provider network; and the subscriber host uses the resource to access a network service via the intermediary node; wherein the intermediary node manages indications from the subscriber host regarding resource usage on behalf of the subscriber host such that actual resource usage is synchronized between subscribers and the resource allocating node by tracking resource usage in the intermediary node; and if the DHCP lease term associated with the resource is determined by the intermediary node to have not expired or will not expire within a period prescribed by the resource allocating node, sending to the resource allocating node from said intermediary node a resource release communication that is not originated from the subscriber host, but appears to the resource allocating node to originate from the subscriber host, by spoofing the source address of the subscriber node in the resource release communication and which indicates to the resource allocating node that the resource is no longer to be used by the subscriber host; wherein the resource allocating node will not release the resource assigned to the subscriber host by the resource allocating node from the subscriber host for use by other subscriber hosts prior to the expiration of the DHCP lease term, unless a DHCP resource release communication is received by the resource allocating node for the resource from the subscriber host; wherein the resource is available for re-allocation by the resource allocating node when the resource allocating node receives the resource release communication from the subscriber host.