Distributed virtual network gateways
US8374183B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 22, 2010 |
| Grant date | Feb 12, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 7, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L61/5007
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Computerized methods, systems, and computer-readable media are provided for distributing virtualized gateway functionality to multiple nodes within a physical network. Initially, drivers that carry out the gateway functionality are provisioned to cooperate with endpoints instantiated on the network nodes, while a directory service is implemented to maintain a mapping between virtual internet protocol (IP) addresses and location-dependent addresses, as well as a table enumerating transformation actions according to known pathways connecting the endpoints within a network. In operation, the directory service replies to requests from the driver (carrying source and destination IP addresses of data packets) with the appropriate location-dependent addresses (utilizing the mapping) and the appropriate transformation action(s) (utilizing the table). The transformation action(s) include rewriting headers of the data packets to include the location-dependent addresses, encapsulating the data packets as inner data packets within respective outer data packets, or configuring the data packets with a tunneling protocol.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.