Patent ID: 8166538

Claim:
In a system comprising a client device, a gateway system and a network resource which are in communication via a network, the client being capable of accessing the network resource via communication over the network with the gateway system, the network resource being identified on the network by a first network address, the first network address having a first format, the first format being one of a plurality of formats, at least one storage device having instructions recorded thereon, which instructions, when executed by the gateway system, perform a method comprising acts of: (A) receiving a first request from the client device to access the network resource, the first request specifying either a name which is used by the client device to identify the network resource or a network address; (B) determining whether the first request specifies a name or a network address; (C) upon determining in (B) that the first request specifies a name: (C1) processing the first request to determine the first network address for the network resource based on the name; (C2) dynamically generating a second network address specifically for use by the client device in accessing the network resource, the second network address not being provisioned for use in accessing the network resource before the act (B) is performed, the second network address not being restricted to complying with the first format; (C3) providing the second network address to the client device for use in accessing the network resource; (C4) receiving a second request from the client device to access the network resource, the second request being directed to the second network address; (C5) terminating the second access request received from the client device; (C6) establishing a direct connection to the network resource; and (C7) facilitating communication between the client device and the network resource via the direct connection; and (D) upon determining in (B) that the first request specifies a network address: (D1) determining whether sufficient bandwidth is allocated on the gateway to support transmission of the first request; and (D2) upon determining that sufficient bandwidth is allocated, forwarding the first request to the network resource at the first network address.