Abstract: Methods, systems, and gateways are disclosed for attaching a private name space of a home network to a private name space of another home network. A name and an IP address of a remote home network are received via a virtual private network (VPN) tunnel coupling the remote home network and a local home network. The configuration of a DNS server of the local home network is updated to delegate the one or more names of the remote network to a remote gateway of the remote home network. A name and an IP address of the local home network are transmitted via the VPN tunnel to the remote home network. Methods, systems, and gateways are also disclosed for resolving a name request in a private name space of a home network with which a private name space of another home network is attached.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and gateways are disclosed for automatically setting up a redirector of domain name system (DNS) name requests. A DNS setup packet is transmitted to a remote gateway via a tunnel of a virtual private network (VPN). The setup packet comprises a global name of a home network and a private address of a DNS server in the home network. A DNS setup reply packet is received from the remote gateway via the tunnel. The reply packet comprises a global name of another home network and a private address of a DNS server in the other home network. An application level gateway of the DNS server (DNS-ALG) in the home network is configured dependent upon the DNS setup reply packet to redirect DNS name requests for the global name of the other network to the DNS server in the other network. Methods, systems, and gateways are also disclosed for resolving a domain name request in a DNS.

Abstract: A dual-stack host (430) is provided on a multicast network (470) using first and second protocols (450, 460). The dual-stack host (430) detects a first multicast request from a source host (410) to a destination host (420) using a first protocol. The dual-stack host (430) initiates a timer. When the timer expires, the dual-stack host (430) sends a second multicast request message to the destination host (420) using each of the first and second protocols. The dual-stack host (430) monitors whether the destination host (420) responds using one or both of the first and second protocols and determines whether protocol translation is necessary to allow the source and destination hosts to communicate. If required, the dual-stack host (430) then invokes protocol translation to provide the source host (410) with a synthesized address for communicating with the destination host (420).