Patent ID: 8769057

Claim:
A computer system for resolving fractional IP addresses using domain name system (DNS)-enabled devices interconnected within a network, the system comprising: a local DNS server that accesses a first correlation table, wherein the first correlation table maintains a mapping between a plurality of the fractional IP addresses and a plurality of domain names, and wherein the plurality of fractional IP addresses include IPv4 addresses paired with respective values of IP version fields; and a client device that transmits a request message to the local DNS server, wherein the request message includes a destination name of a device targeted by the client device, and wherein, upon receiving the request message, the local DNS server compares the destination name against the first correlation table and, when a match is discovered within the plurality of domain names therein, the local DNS server conveys to the client device a fractional IP address mapped to the matching domain name, wherein the mapped fractional IP address includes a particular IPv4 address paired with a first value of an IP version field, and wherein another fractional IP address that includes the particular IPv4 address and a second value of an IP version field is mapped to an non-matching domain name.