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).

Abstract: A method (500), a system and a gateway (400) for communicating between hosts in private networks having IPv4 address spaces are disclosed. One or more DNS query messages for resolving resource records are transmitted (502) from a first private network for a remote host in a second private network. One or more DNS replies comprising a private IPv4 address for the remote host are received (504). If the one or more DNS replies comprise a synthesized IPv6 address, the IPv6 address is extracted from the replies and a peer IPv4 address in the first network is allocated for the remote host (508). The IPv6 address comprises a global IPv6 prefix and the private IPv4 address for the remote host. The peer IPv4 address is associated with an extracted IPv6 address for the remote host. The remote host is addressed using the IPv6 address for transmission of IPv4 packets from the first network addressed using the peer IPv4 address (510).

Abstract: A network (100) of machines and method (200) for allocating a unique subnet identifier to a subnet in the network (100) having multiple subnets (155,160,165,170,175,190) and a plurality of associated routers (110, 130, 140, 150, 105). The unique subnet identifier provides part of an address of the subnet that is coupled to a router interface and is allocated by firstly determining that a subnet identifier for one of said subnets (155,160,165,170,175,190) is required. A step of allocating automatically a unique subnet identifier to the router interface is then effected, wherein the unique subnet identifier is determined to be unique by said network. A configuring step then configures the subnet to be addressed by said network 100 by using an address based at least partially on said unique subnet identifier.

Abstract: Wireless sensor platforms (10), when deployed, can ascertain whether they can meaningfully participate in communications with more than one cluster (22, 23) of such devices. When true, such multi-cluster platforms can serve as bridge nodes to facilitate the passing of data collected from one cluster to or through another cluster. In a preferred embodiment, the platforms serving as bridge modes (24 and 25) utilize a communication schedule that imposes no greater work load than the load the platform would otherwise have served as an ordinary node, and preferably the workload is considerably reduced. This aids in ensuring that the portable power reserves of the bridge nodes will support bridge operations for at least as long as the clusters are otherwise functioning.

Abstract: A method (500), a system and a gateway (400) for communicating between hosts in private networks having IPv4 address spaces are disclosed. One or more DNS query messages for resolving resource records are transmitted (502) from a first private network for a remote host in a second private network. One or more DNS replies comprising a private IPv4 address for the remote host are received (504). If the one or more DNS replies comprise a synthesized IPv6 address, the IPv6 address is extracted from the replies and a peer IPv4 address in the first network is allocated for the remote host (508). The IPv6 address comprises a global IPv6 prefix and the private IPv4 address for the remote host. The peer IPv4 address is associated with an extracted IPv6 address for the remote host. The remote host is addressed using the IPv6 address for transmission of IPv4 packets from the first network addressed using the peer IPv4 address (510).

Abstract: The invention establishes broadcast channels between neighbor nodes (10) forming ad-hoc clusters of nodes (20). Broadcast channels (25) are established by transmitting (32) a channel establishing request message from the requesting node to inform neighbor nodes of a broadcast channel of said requesting node. The channel establishing request message includes broadcast timing information of the requesting node. Later, the requesting node starts receiving (33) an acknowledge decision message from a said neighbor node to inform the requesting node of a broadcast channel of said neighbor node. The channel acknowledge decision message includes broadcast timing information of the neighbor node. All timing information should have been passed between two or more nodes 10 in the network 20. Accordingly, broadcasting and receiving can be conducted between pseudo-random time intervals that are dependent on the broadcast timing information.

Abstract: A method for a wireless sensor platform (10) establishing a pair-wise communication channel with an acknowledge platform by firstly transmitting a channel establishing request message (32) and then receiving an acknowledge message (33), having at least one requirement, from the acknowledge platform. Thereafter, the platform (10) determines a request decision message (37) indicating if a channel should be established with the acknowledge platform if the requirement is acceptable to the platform (10). The platform (10) then performs transmitting the request decision message (38) to the acknowledge platform and then another acknowledge signal is received (40) from the acknowledge platform thereby confirming pair-wise communication of the platform (10) with the acknowledge platform at pseudo-random communication rendezvous times based on a shared seed communicated between the platform (10) and the acknowledge platform.

Abstract: Wireless sensor platforms (10), when deployed, can ascertain whether they can meaningfully participate in communications with more than one cluster (22, 23) of such devices. When true, such multi-cluster platforms can serve as bridge nodes to facilitate the passing of data collected from one cluster to or through another cluster. In a preferred embodiment, the platforms serving as bridge modes (24 and 25) utilize a communication schedule that imposes no greater work load than the load the platform would otherwise have served as an ordinary node, and preferably the workload is considerably reduced. This aids in ensuring that the portable power reserves of the bridge nodes will support bridge operations for at least as long as the clusters are otherwise functioning.

Abstract: A method (200) and machine for validating that an identifier is unique within an ad-hoc network (100) of machines. The method comprises obtaining the identifier (220) and then sending a claim request for the identifier to machines in the network (100). Thereafter a step validating the identifier as unique is effected only if an invalidation message is not received within a predefined time period. The invalidation message is indicative of the identifier already being allocated to one of the machines in the network (100).

Abstract: A network (100) of machines and method (200) for allocating a unique subnet identifier to a subnet in the network (100) having multiple subnets (155,160,165,170,175,190) and a plurality of associated routers (110, 130, 140, 150, 105). The unique subnet identifier provides part of an address of the subnet that is coupled to a router interface and is allocated by firstly determining that a subnet identifier for one of said subnets (155,160,165,170,175,190) is required. A step of allocating automatically a unique subnet identifier to the router interface is then effected, wherein the unique subnet identifier is determined to be unique by said network. A configuring step then configures the subnet to be addressed by said network 100 by using an address based at least partially on said unique subnet identifier.