Process for managing resource address requests and associated gateway device
View Patent ↗The invention concerns a gateway device comprising means for connection to a first device and means for connection to a second device for obtaining a network address as a function of a network resource identifier provided by the second device, and means for providing a false network address in response to a network resource identifier provided by the first device in case a real network address cannot be provided. The means for providing a false network address are adapted to provide a distinct false network address for a distinct network resource identifier—when the real address becomes available, a request made on the distinct false address allows the first device to obtain the corresponding real network address. The invention also concerns an associated process.
1. In a gateway device connecting a first and a second network, a method of managing domain name server (DNS) requests originating from a first network device attached to the first network, the reply to the DNS request providing a network address corresponding to a network resource identifier of a second network device attached to the second network, the method, at the gateway device, comprising the steps of:
receiving, from the first network device, a DNS request,
forwarding the DNS request to a DNS device attached to the second network, for obtaining a network address corresponding to a network resource identifier specified in the DNS request,
if a valid response from the DNS is received, sending the response to the first network device that issued the request,
if a valid response from the DNS is not received generating a spoofed network address, and sending the spoofed network address to said first network device, wherein a unique spoofed network address is provided for each requested network resource identifier,
creating a reference table of spoofed network addresses that have been forwarded and storing the spoofed network address and the associated network resource identifier in the reference table,
after sending the spoofed network address to the first network device, continue trying to obtain, from the DNS, an actual network address for the network resource identifier for which the spoofed network address had been generated,
when an actual network address is obtained from the DNS for the network resource identifier for which the spoofed network address had been generated, updating the reference table with the actual network address,
cross-referencing in the reference table the actual network address against the spoofed network address that has been forwarded, and
in case a request from the first device for accessing the second device using the spoofed network address is received, forwarding the request using the actual network address stored in the reference table.
2. The method of claim 1 , further including providing to the first network device and in addition to the spoofed network address, information on the error condition causing the provision of the spoofed network address.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first network is a local area network and the second network is the Internet, and wherein the network address is an Internet Protocol address and the network resource identifier is a Uniform Resource Locator.
4. A gateway device comprising a first and a second network interface, a router, a memory storing unique spoofed network addresses, and a DNS forwarder, wherein the gateway device is adapted to carry out the method of claim 1 .
5. The gateway device of claim 4 , further comprising an HTTP server and being adapted to carry out the method of claim 3 .