Method and system for routing data traffic

Abstract

Method and media gateway ( 4 ) for providing network connectivity functionality in a combination of a first network connection formed by the media gateway ( 4 ) and a second network connection formed by a generic gateway ( 2 ). A first group of IP clients ( 5 ) is connected to the media gateway ( 4 ), and a second group of IP clients ( 3 ) is connected to the generic gateway ( 2 ). The media gateway ( 4 ) is arranged to receive from the generic gateway ( 2 ) local IP addresses associated with the first group of IP clients ( 5 ). An attachment link ( 6 ) is provided between the media gateway ( 4 ) and the generic gateway ( 2 ).

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for providing network connectivity functionality in a combination of a first network connection formed by a media gateway and a second network connection formed by a generic gateway comprising:
 connecting a first group of IP clients to the media gateway, and a second group of IP clients to the generic gateway, 
 wherein the media gateway is arranged to receive from the generic gateway local IP addresses associated with the first group of IP clients, 
 wherein an attachment link is provided between the media gateway and the generic gateway 
 wherein the media gateway comprises a router part and LAN interfaces, and the media gateway in a boot-up process is configured to:
 block all incoming and outgoing DHCP traffic on the LAN interfaces, except from the attachment link where outgoing DHCP request and incoming DHCP replies will be allowed; 
 send out a DHCP request for the router part of the media gateway over the attachment link; 
 receive from the generic gateway a DHCP response comprising an IP address over the attachment link; 
 configure the router part of the media gateway with the IP address thus obtained; 
 send out DHCP requests for a configurable number of dummy clients using locally administered private MAC-addresses over the attachment link; 
 receive from the generic gateway DHCP responses, each comprising IP address parameters, over the attachment link, such that for each privately administered MAC-address a valid set of IP address parameters is obtained by the media gateway; 
 save the sets of IP address parameters; 
 enable a DHCP server comprised in the media gateway; 
 enable DHCP in- and outgoing traffic for the DHCP server of the media gateway, except on the attachment link where only outgoing DHCP requests and incoming DHCP replies for the DHCP client are allowed. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the media gateway is further arranged to stop the boot-up process if the media gateway is unable to obtain a preconfigured minimum amount of lease sets. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein depending on specific values of the DHCP options received in a DHCP request through its LAN interfaces, the media gateway DHCP server will mark the associated client as a media oriented device or as an in-home device. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein
 if the client is a media oriented device, the media gateway DHCP server sets the default gateway equal to the LAN IP address associated with the router part of the media gateway. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 ,
 wherein if the client device is a media oriented device the media gateway DHCP server will insert specific DHCP option values in a DHCP reply, identifying the DHCP server as media gateway. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 3 , wherein
 if the client device is an in-home device, the media gateway DHCP server sets the default gateway equal to the LAN IP address associated with the router part of the media gateway or sets the default gateway equal to the generic gateway. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 ,
 wherein if the client device is a media oriented device the media gateway DHCP server will insert specific DHCP option values in a DHCP reply, identifying the DHCP server as media gateway. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein
 on receiving confirmation from a client of a DHCP offer, the media gateway DHCP server will save the set of IP address parameters. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein
 the media gateway monitors the amount of available valid sets of IP address parameters, and when the amount drops below a preconfigured value, the media gateway requests additional valid sets of IP address parameters through the attachment link from the DHCP server of the generic gateway. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the media gateway monitors one or more of the physical or logical status of the attachment link. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the media gateway DHCP client periodically refreshes the obtained valid sets of IP address parameters with the generic gateway. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , wherein, if the media gateway determines that the generic gateway configuration or topology of the first and second group of IP clients has changed, the media gateway is arranged to change to operation in an error mode, and disable the attachment link. 
     
     
       13. A media gateway for interfacing with a first network comprising:
 a router; 
 a WAN interface; and 
 at least one LAN interface connected to the route; 
 wherein the media gateway comprises:
 a memory comprising instructing; and 
 a processor configured to execute the instructing to perform: 
 providing network connectivity functionality in a combination of a first network connection formed by the media gateway and a second network connection formed by a generic gateway, 
 wherein a first group of IP clients is connected to the media gateway, and a second group of IP clients is connected to the generic gateway, 
 receive from the generic gateway local IP addresses associated with the first group of IP clients, 
 wherein an attachment link is provided between the media gateway and the generic gateway 
 wherein the media gateway comprises a router part and LAN in a boot-up process is configured to:
 block all incoming and outgoing DHCP traffic on the LAN interfaces, except from the attachment link where outgoing DHCP request and incoming DHCP replies will be allowed; 
 send out a DHCP request for the router part of the media gateway over the attachment link; 
 receive from the generic gateway a DHCP response comprising an IP address over the attachment link; 
 configure the router part of the media gateway with the IP address thus obtained; 
 send out DHCP requests for a configurable number of dummy clients using locally administered private MAC-addresses over the attachment link; 
 receive from the generic gateway DHCP responses, each comprising IP address parameters, over the attachment link, such that for each privately administered MAC-address a valid set of IP address parameters is obtained by the media gateway; 
 save the sets of IP address parameters; 
 enable a DHCP server comprised in the media gateway; 
 enable DHCP in- and outgoing traffic for the DHCP server of the media gateway, except on the attachment link where only outgoing DHCP requests and incoming DHCP replies for the DHCP client are allowed. 
 
 
 
     
     
       14. The media gateway of  claim 13 , wherein the media gateway is further arranged to stop the boot-up process if the media gateway is unable to obtain a preconfigured minimum amount of lease sets. 
     
     
       15. The media gateway of  claim 13 ,
 wherein depending on specific values of the DHCP options received in a DHCP request through its LAN interfaces, the media gateway DHCP server is further arranged to mark the associated client as a media oriented device or as an in-home device. 
 
     
     
       16. The media gateway of  claim 15 , wherein
 if the client is a media oriented device, the media gateway DHCP server is arranged to set the default gateway equal to the LAN IP address associated with the router part of the media gateway. 
 
     
     
       17. The media gateway of  claim 16 ,
 wherein if the client device is a media oriented device the media gateway DHCP server is further arranged to insert specific DHCP option values in a DHCP reply, identifying the DHCP server as media gateway. 
 
     
     
       18. The media gateway of  claim 15 , wherein
 if the client device is an in-home device, the media gateway DHCP server is further arranged to set the default gateway equal to the LAN IP address associated with the router part of the media gateway or sets the default gateway equal to the generic gateway. 
 
     
     
       19. The media gateway of  claim 18 ,
 wherein if the client device is a media oriented device the media gateway DHCP server is arranged to insert specific DHCP option values in a DHCP reply, identifying the DHCP server as media gateway. 
 
     
     
       20. The media gateway of  claim 13 , wherein
 on receiving confirmation from a client of a DHCP offer, the media gateway DHCP server is further arranged to save the set of IP address parameters. 
 
     
     
       21. The media gateway of  claim 13 , wherein
 the media gateway is further arranged to monitor the amount of available valid sets of IP address parameters, and when the amount drops below a preconfigured value, the media gateway is further arranged to request additional valid sets of IP address parameters through the attachment link from the DHCP server of the generic gateway. 
 
     
     
       22. The media gateway of  claim 13 , wherein the media gateway is further arranged to monitor the physical and/or logical status of the attachment link. 
     
     
       23. The media gateway of  claim 13 , wherein the media gateway DHCP client is further arranged to periodically refresh the obtained valid sets of IP address parameters with the generic gateway. 
     
     
       24. The media gateway of  claim 13 , wherein, if the media gateway determines that the generic gateway configuration or topology of the first and second group of IP clients has changed, the media gateway is arranged to change to operation in an error mode, and disable the attachment link.