SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RESOLVING NETWORK LAYER ANYCAST ADDRESSES TO NETWORK LAYER UNICAST ADDRESSES

摘要

An information object repository is configured to resolve a network layer anycast address to a network layer unicast address in response to a request for an information object at the network layer anycast address. The information object repository may be further configured to resolve the network layer anycast address by transmitting a request for the network layer unicast address and awaiting a response thereto, and, in some cases, to return a failure message to a source of the request for the information object if the response to the request for the network layer unicast address is not received within a timeout period. Preferably, the request for the network layer unicast address is a single IP packet that includes the network layer anycast address. Similarly, the request for the network layer unicast address is preferably a single IP packet that includes the network layer unicast address. The response to the request for the network layer unicast address may be returned by a host having the network layer unicast address, or another network node configured to do so.