Method and apparatus for performing internet network address translation
US6457061B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 24, 1998 |
| Grant date | Sep 24, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 24, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L61/2557
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus for performing network address translation is disclosed. The method generates statistically unique port number for each outgoing connection. The statistically unique port numbers are formed from a subset of bits from the source node's IP address and a subset of bits from the port number assigned by the source node. The statistically unique port number is used as an index into a table containing connection information. When a statistically unique port number fails to be absolutely unique, the method uses a secondary fallback system that generates a unique port number by using sequential numbering system. The information about the connections using unique port numbers that were generated sequentially is stored in a secondary connection table. The secondary connection table is organized as a Patricia tree.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.