Patent ID: 6952428

Claim:
In a data-over-cable system, a method for proxying first protocol network services, the method comprising: creating a database record comprising identification data of a second network device and identification data of a first protocol network server selected by the second network device; intercepting at a first network device a first protocol offer message from the first protocol network server to the second network device; wherein the first protocol offer message comprises a routable network address for the second network device and a lease time interval for the routable network address; modifying the lease time interval in the first protocol offer message intercepted on the first network device; sending the modified first protocol offer message from the first network device to the second network device; receiving a first protocol request message on the first network device from the second network device prior to an end of the modified lease time interval provided to the second network device, the first protocol request message defining a lease renewal request for the routable network address associated with the second network device; intercepting the first protocol request message on the first network device prior to the first protocol network server receiving the first protocol request message; generating a first protocol response message on the first network device using the identification data of the first protocol network server, the lease time interval provided in the first protocol offer message and the modified lease time interval; and sending the first protocol response message to the second network device.