System and method for traffic routing

Abstract

The present invention provides a system and method for traffic routing. An embodiment includes an engine for identifying groupings of subscriber stations within a particular ISP. The engine can also obtain a block of contiguous addresses for assignment to the subscriber stations. The addresses are assigned from the block to each of the subscriber stations in substantially contiguous sub-blocks based on the groupings. The groupings can be geographic or based on other desired criteria.

1 . An apparatus for associating network addresses with a plurality of subscriber stations in a network; said apparatus comprising an engine for receiving a block of contiguous network addresses; said engine operable to identify a grouping of said subscriber stations from said plurality of subscriber stations; said engine operable to associate said block of contiguous network addresses with said at least one grouping.  
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said network addresses are IP addresses.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said engine is connected to a base station and said grouping is identified by including all of said subscriber stations that are connected to said base station in said grouping; said apparatus further operable to provide said block to said base station; said base station farther operable to assign said addresses to said subscriber stations.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein said base station is selected from the group consisting of a BAS and a wireless base station in a wireless local loop.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said engine is further operable to assign said IP addresses directly to said subscriber stations.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein said engine is further operable to forward an identification of said block to a junction, such that traffic for said grouping of subscriber stations is routed through said junction.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein said apparatus is further operable to forward an identification of said block to one of a plurality of junctions, such that traffic for said grouping of subscriber stations is routed through said junction; said apparatus operable to make a selection of which one of said junctions presents a desired routing for said traffic.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein said desired routing is based on at least one of cost, latency, bit error rate and geographic distance.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said grouping is based on subscriber stations belonging to a single enterprise.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said grouping is based on subscriber stations having a common location.  
   
   
       11 . A method of associating network addresses with a plurality of subscriber stations in a network comprising: 
 receiving a block of contiguous network addresses;    identifying a grouping of said subscriber stations from said plurality of subscriber stations;    associating said block of contiguous network addresses with said at least one grouping.    
   
   
       11 . A method of associating network addresses with a plurality of subscriber stations in a network comprising: 
 receiving subscriber station information;    determining address needs for said subscriber stations;    receiving blocks of network addresses for assignment to said subscriber stations; and,    assigning network addresses to said subscriber stations according to groupings thereof.    
   
   
       12 . A computer readable media storing a set of programming instructions according to the method in  claim 10.