Patent ID: 8560658

Claim:
A method for sharing a network address pool comprising: storing, with a first network device, data that defines 1) the network address pool provided for use in allocation by both the first network device servicing a first sub-network and a second network device servicing a second sub-network different from the first sub-network and 2) individual addresses of the network address pool assigned for use by the first or second network device in allocating the respective individual addresses to one or more subscriber devices coupled to the first or second network device; evaluating, with the first network device, the data that defines the network address pool to determine a block of addresses identified by the data that defines the network address pool that is not currently assigned for use by the second network device in allocating addresses from the identified particular block of addresses to the one or more subscriber devices coupled to the second network device; transmitting, with the first network device, a request to the second network device requesting that the determined block of addresses within the network address pool be assigned for use by the first network device in allocating addresses from the requested block to the one or more subscriber devices coupled to the first network device; receiving, with the first network device, a response from the second network device indicating whether one or more addresses of the requested block of addresses is available to be assigned for use by the first network device in allocating addresses from the requested block to the one or more subscriber devices coupled to the first network device; updating, with the first network device, the data that defines the network address pool to reflect that the block of addresses has been assigned for use by the first network device based on the indication in the response received from the second network device; and when the data has been updated to reflect that the block of addresses has been assigned for use by the first network device, allocating, with the first network device, one or more addresses from the assigned block of addresses with the first network device in response to a request by one of the one or more subscriber devices coupled to the first network device for one or more addresses.