Method and apparatus for transmitting messages associated with internet protocol version 4 (IPv4) addresses on an internet protocol version 6 (IPv6) network

1. A computer-implemented method for transmitting messages associated with IPv4 addresses on an IPv6 network, comprising:

receiving, in a first message from an IPv4 network, an IPv4 address of a component in the IPv4 network;

parsing the IPv4 address into a plurality of elements;

hashing the plurality of elements of the IPv4 address;

creating a new host name for the IPv4 address based on the hashed plurality of elements;

sending, to a domain name server (DNS) associated with the IPv6 network, a request to perform a DNS lookup of the host name;

responsive to the DNS lookup request, receiving an IPv6 address; and

processing the first message as if it were originally received with the IPv6 address.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein processing the first message as if it were originally received with the IPv6 address comprises one of transmitting a response to the first message on the received IPv6 address or opening a connection for media transmission on the IPv6 address.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first message is a SIP message used in VoIP transactions.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the first message is a SIP signaling message.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the IPv4 address identifies a location of where to transmit a response to the first message from the IPv6 network to the IPv4 network.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the IPv6 address is generated on a DNS64 server, and wherein a NAT64 component of the DNS64 server stores an association of the IPv6 address with the original IPv4 address.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting a response to the first message as usual as if it were received with the IPv6 address causes all media transfer messages to be routed from the IPv6 network to the IPv4 network without modification of the media transfer messages.

8. A client device comprising:

a) at least one processor;

b) at least one input device; and

c) at least one storage device storing a client application that is connected to an IPv6 network, wherein the client application is preconfigured with an IP address conversion format and configured to:

receive, in a first message from an IPv4 network, an IPv4 address of a component in the IPv4 network;

parse the IPv4 address into a plurality of elements;

hash the plurality of elements of the IPv4 address;

create a new host name for the IPv4 address based on the hashed plurality of elements;

send, to a domain name server (DNS) associated with the IPv6 network, a request to perform a DNS lookup of the host name;

responsive to the DNS lookup request, receive an IPv6 address; and

process the first message as if it were originally received with the IPv6 address.

9. The client device of claim 8 , wherein processing the first message as if it were originally received with the IPv6 address comprises one of transmitting a response to the first message on the received IPv6 address or opening a connection for media transmission on the IPv6 address.

10. The client device of claim 8 , wherein the first message is an SIP message used in VoIP transactions.

11. The client device of claim 10 , wherein the first message is a SIP signaling message.

12. The client device of claim 8 , wherein the IPv4 address identifies a location of where to transmit a response to the first message from the IPv6 network to the IPv4 network.

13. The client device of claim 8 , wherein the IPv6 address is generated on a DNS64 server and wherein a NAT64 component of the DNS64 server stores an association of the IPv6 address with the original IPv4 address.

14. The client device of claim 8 , wherein transmitting a response to the first message as usual as if it were received with the IPv6 address causes all media transfer messages to be routed from the IPv6 network to the IPv4 network without modification of the media transfer messages.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium for storing computer instructions that, when executed by at least one processor causes the at least one processor to perform a method for transmitting messages associated with IPv4 addresses on an IPv6 network, when an IPv4 address for a network component is received on an IPv6 network device, comprising:

receiving, in a first message from an IPv4 network, an IPv4 address of a component in the IPv4 network;

parsing the IPv4 address into a plurality of elements;

hashing the plurality of elements of the IPv4 address;

creating a new host name for the IPv4 address based on the hashed plurality of elements;

sending, to a domain name server (DNS) associated with the IPv6 network, a request to perform a DNS lookup of the host name;

responsive to the DNS lookup request, receiving an IPv6 address; and

processing the first message as if it were originally received with the IPv6 address.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein processing the first message as if it were originally received with the IPv6 address comprises one of transmitting a response to the first message on the received IPv6 address or opening a connection for media transmission on the IPv6 address.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the first message is an SIP message used in VoIP transactions.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the first message is a SIP signaling message.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the IPv4 address identifies a location of where to transmit a response to the first message from the IPv6 network to the IPv4 network.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the IPv6 address is generated on a DNS64 server and wherein a NAT64 component of the DNS64 server stores an association of the IPv6 address with the original IPv4 address.