-2-
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for detection of valid IP settings in on a LAN
(wired \ wireless) network. In particular the invention relates to the development of
application for Automatic Configuration of IP settings without requiring to store past
profiles of IP settings for embedded devices, and mobile devices which access the
internet by connecting through their LAN.
Thus, the past profiles of IP settings are not required & the invention can automatically
configure IP settings of a host on a new LAN.
The invention aims at finding valid IP settings (which give maximum connectivity
possible e.g. internet access, Ian access whichever is possible) for the user of such a
mobile device (capable of connecting to internet through its LAN) without requiring any
intervention from the user who may move from one LAN to any another LAN ( each of
which may or may not have DHCP server for configuring hosts on that LAN ) .In such a
case, the user carries the IP settings from previous LAN which are invalid in the new LAN.
Another case is for automatically configuring IP settings of an embedded device placed in
a new network. The technology domain of the invention relates to the field of zero-
configuration networking and obtaining correct IP settings (ip, gateway, subnet) with
incorrect or unknown IP settings already configured on the device. The user does not
have to provide any IP settings manually. In fact, IP settings the invention is concerned
with should bring maximum connectivity rather than just link local connectivity.

-3-
For the present invention, "applying a profile" means making permanent change to the
network stack overwriting upon the previous settings. If a profile is applied some
internet connections opened and new one is applied, then the connections will be broken.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Apparatus and method are known for automatically obtaining valid IP configuration in a
local area network where the various possible IP settings are stored and each profile is
checked by applying each one and checking for connectivity.
If any profile gives connectivity, some group of IP settings (IP, WINS, DNS, GW, proxy in
a group) are prepared. Here in this description, these groups are referred to as profiles.
Such profiles are created one for each location where the user might work. One group is
applied for network setting. Network connectivity is checked by pinging for availability
and the profile is applied if connectivity check is successful.
A method of configuring a valid IP address and detecting duplicate IP addresses in a local
area network (LAN) is also known. This second known method stores the profile and
applies each profile sequentially, then sends an ARP request to the gateway for that
profile. If gateway is available, then the profile is applied.

-4-
In a third prior art method the IP settings information are stored on a centralized server
in the LAN and settings are obtained by querying the server.
In a fourth known method network configuration information present in the network are
stored in RFID. The RFID information is detected for applying correct settings.
These known methods require some input unit to specify the "possible" or valid IP
configurations (IP settings for network on which the device may be taken). A unit to
apply each profile and a method to select the correct one are also required along with a
unit to apply the same.
Thus the prior art methods have the disadvantage of the requirement for the presence of
a unit to input the correct profile. Such methods are unable to create new profile upon
entering new networks and unable to find the best unused conflict free IP in case the IP
has been acquired by somebody else. For example, the user inputs a certain IP in a
profile, and uses it for internet access. He comes back to the network, but this time
somebody else is using that IP. In such a case the known methods will result in client's
system being unable to access the internet because of IP conflict.

-5-
The method can only function / work for networks for which the user has input correct IP
settings for the network. That is, it is assumed that the IP settings are correct.
The methods cannot differentiate between networks with the same gateway IP address
in each of which we have a different unique IP. For example, multiple profiles with same
gateway IP cannot be differentiated further.
The other drawbacks of the prior art methods are that they are slow in finding the best
IP. Best profile is one which gives correct values of all profile parameters. These
parameters include IP and DNS. Valid profiles are gateway subnet and other network
information.
The prior art methods do not work on new networks for which an IP profile has not been
created, i.e. the methods cannot detect IP settings without using stored profiles. These
methods do not aim to find all the IP settings (IP, gateway, subnet), required to access
internet. The methods may not work on many modern LAN networks.

-6-
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The main object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for
detecting valid IP settings which would give a system internet connectivity. The
invention can work independently without the apparatus, but the apparatus will only
enhance the operation of the invention and make it faster and easily deployable.
It is to be noted that the system has old IP settings (of the previous network the user of
the device visited) in place on his system and hence he may not be able to ping any
other IP on a new network successfully with these IP settings on his TCP stack. From
these invalid settings in place, a valid IP setting is looked up. A list of IP settings profiles,
each for a particular network to which the system was connected to for accessing the
internet earlier, are stored. If no such configuration had been done earlier the invention
automatically detects basic IP settings (gateway, subnet and IP address) for the host
using which the system can access the internet. These basic settings / profile are
updated once the client connects to the LAN for accessing internet. Later (while the
laptop is in use on the LAN) the remaining parameters like DNS will be detected by
network traffic capture and analysis. Next time user comes to this LAN, this LAN
environment will be detected and these IP settings will get applied without any delay.

-7-
Each profile (or IP settings) can either be provided by the user (for which internet
connectivity could be obtained) or can be created by the method as part of the current
invention. Each profile corresponds to a network through which the user of the mobile
device has successfully accessed internet in the past and has either entered the profile /
IP settings on his own or the method has created that profile automatically for the user.
According to the present invention, a list of profiles shall be stored on the device though
this may not be necessary if the client is to be taken across different LANs. These
profiles store the IP settings as mentioned above along with some additional information
regarding the network and other devices on it.
Whenever client shifts to a new location and has IP settings of the previous network, he
can invoke the method of the current invention to find and apply the valid IP settings, as
mentioned above, to be able to access the internet. This can also be done automatically.
First, it is determined which stored profile is the best fit. If one is found it is applied. If
not, then it is found whether new IP settings are needed or connectivity loss is because
of some other reasons. If IP settings need to be set as per the new network, then basic
IP settings are detected and a basic profile is created.

-8-
These two basic steps can occur paralelly such that IP setting which is deduced first is
used (after which the other step stops).
The user can enter the exact IP, DNS or may wait for the invention to find these for the
newly created profile.
The method is further able to distinguish between different networks with same gateway
IP.
In a preferred embodiment the present invention provides a method for detection of valid
IP settings in a network comprising the steps of: starting network interface; finding a
profile; sending query on network; analyzing responses based on profile parameters for
finding valid profile; searching network upon finding valid profile, for other matching
profile information to find a best profile; and applying said best profile.
BREIF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
The invention can now be described in detail with the help of the figures of the
accompanying drawings in which

-9-
Figure 1 shows schematically the structure of the present invention.
Figure 2 shows a flow diagram of the method of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The profile consists of basic IP settings for a particular network (on which the device was
used to access the internet with certain valid IP settings) along with additional
information regarding the attached devices and link layer topology information gathered
through network traffic analysis or input. If some configuration change occurs, like
change in network printer or router internal network interface change, on the network,
for which a profile is present, these will also be detected and reported to the user.
Valid profiles can be found from the list of stored profiles, without applying each profile
sequentially. A valid profile does include the parameter of IP address. A free IP can be
found after hit and trial and / or with some steps to reduce the number of IP assumptions
based on network traffic analysis. A valid profile also does not include the parameter of
DNS address; which will be found out using network traffic analysis. (This may take
time; if fixed timeout set by the user expires, then the user may be allowed to input the
same.

-10-
A valid profile also does not contain link layer topology information, information regarding
the devices on that network, some details of router configuration information and for
windows systems WINS server address, domain controller information (if applicable) etc.
These will be obtained while the network is in use to elaborate on the basic valid profile.
This information is used to boil down to the best suiting profile amongst the list of
profiles. This is explained below.
The object of invention is not only to find such settings such that the user may access the
internet but also make those settings after which the user may access local network
resources (like printers, or those in the active directory) without requiring any manual
settings from this end. This involves making correct settings to WINS, printer information
etc.
A profile is a tuple consisting of all these indicators / information. So we can have many
profiles with the same gateway IP; but to select the best suiting one, all these indicators/
information are needed.

-11-
When the method is invoked it first finds a subset of valid profiles which may work on the
given network to provide internet connectivity. Now many networks can have the same
gateway IP (private) and all the known methods that relay on ARP queries to gateway
may wrongly select such a profile whose IP is already in use over that network and even
after selecting their best profile these may not be able to give instant access to network
resources like printers and the system still requires user to select or install the printer and
other devices or contact the WINS server or domain controller.
If the desired resources are not found then it is checked that the IP is in use over the
network or not in such a manner that the operation of LAN is not affected and even the
clashing system's (which is using the IP mentioned in our profile and was not detected as
activated and used by the invention is working upto this point) connectivity is not
hampered and it does not receive any errors due to duplicate IP.
Then the profile information (indicators outside of the parameters necessary to create a
valid profile) will be sought to distinguish whether the profile is the one best-suited on
the particular network and on the application of the profile the user will not have to make
changes to printer settings or WINS address by himself.

-12-
It will also be detected if the user is on a new network and need new profile. A valid
profile allowing basic internet connectivity / access will be generated and other profile
parameters will be found out as the user is working on the network.
The search for IP will be done in such a manner such that the operation of the LAN does
not get disrupted. This will not entail making use of lots of queries of many different
protocols as done in a known method.
If a GPS module is in place, it will inform us of the actual geographical information and if
we have visited the same LAN before then the IP setting corresponding to it are applied.
It is to be noted that with each profile we are storing the geographical location as
returned by GPS module at that time. A GPS module consists of the receiver hardware
along with module for detection of current geographical location. Based on a
geographical location a subset of valid profiles is obtained.
Otherwise, profile selection is done by sending a ping to the gateway (sending raw frame
using router mac after appropriate ARP broacast) .The TCP / IP stack of the OS is not
used instead a raw Ethernet frame is created using the scored IP and MAC details of the
router devices (in all the stored profiles). If no response is got then it means that we are
on a new work or router's H / W has been upgraded.

-13-
Profile selection is done by capturing network packets and matching its network number
with that of a stored profile or by sending an ARP request with the gateway name (IP).
The one whose name (IP) matches is checked by sending ARP query for the IP
corresponding to this gateway IP in the profile.
The auto-detection module is active in this situation because it may be the case that we
have not visited this LAN before and the necessary profile settings are not in one of the
stored profiles.
If GPS module is absent, automatic profile creation module becomes active now.
In such a case a new profile is created by this module. Four modules are started.
Capture module stores IP-MAC tuple form captured network traffic into a table from
which an analysis engine will identify a set of candidate gateway's IP, MAC from table
using duplicate MAC-IP detection. This will allow us to know the MAC address of the
router / gateway. By sending a low TTL message to any global server, such that TTL is
0, we can know gateway IP and MAC. While this module is processing (adding table
entries and analyzing); a second module detect local IP from captured packets. Any

-14-
broadcast / multicast is sent from local IP. All IPs in ARP request / replies are local.
Similarly one of the IPs on any unicast packet is internal and can be detected by sending
a low TTL ping to the corresponding MAC-IP. If TTL exceeded message comes from the
MAC address of the MAC-IP tuple recorded then the MAC-IP of gateway else the IP is a
local IP. Using such local IP-MAC combinations it sends ping messages with low TTL to
global server and detects gateway IP-MAC.
Even this may be slow so a third module, sends a multicast ping to the all router's multi-
cast address of 224.0.0.2 and detects the gateway IP from this response.
This may not be supported on all routers so a fourth module, sends a ping request with a
pre-determined IP to the local IP-MAC detected. There is a service running at this IP
which replies back to an echo reply and from the reply the gatetway's MAC is detected
and gateway IP detection is done using low TTL message. This IP can be that of the
system which is running such a service and is reachable from everywhere. So such an IP
can be installed at the gateway, at any globally reachable server or any host / router on
the way. Since these IPs are fixed configuring these in the application is not hard. We
can even have a fixed set of systems across the world with such IPs located at different
network / network boundaries so that they can be accessed.

-15-
The module amongst these which gets the gateway fastest notifies and causes the others
to stop. Now subnet detection module is run as follows.
For subnet detection, ping packets are broadcast with possible subnet broadcast
addresses (a contiguous sequence of ones followed by contiguous sequence of zeroes)
generated from the captured local ip , i.e. we extract the shortest sequence of high-order
ones from the captured ip's & produce a subnet directed broadcast address by reducing
the length of network mask bit by bit.
The broadcast address to which we do not get a reply is the one which is outside of the
subnet & helpful in ascertaining subnet.
Alternatively the following can also be used,
Subnet is detected by deriving possible IP address from gateway and sending low TTL
messages (ping) to the gateway (but destination address derived from gateway IP,
sender IP = captured local IP or another guessed address on LAN).
The one for which a TTL exceeded message (instead of ping reply) is got is the one
which is outside of our subnet. The destination address is derived by changing the
higher-order bit from gateway IP in each such message. For this the router cache may
be poisoned temporarily for small duration (if necessary). Destination IP may be of a
global server also, but sender IP must be derived IP as discussed. Also the router's MAC

-16-
may be poisoned temporarily and restored or the MAC address corresponding to the
sender IP be found out (either using ARP query or by capturing network traffic and
detecting local IP-MAC combinations). So the packets will contain both IP and MAC of
our system which will ensure that the switch learns this and forwards any packets
destined to this MAC-IP combination to our switch port.
All this while all the local IPs as detected are noted. A broadcast ping is sent as well as
multicast ping is sent using sender IP, MAC addresses as one of these local ones. Now
we will have valid address ranges in which a free IP may be present. We query each one
sequentially using ARP query requests to find the first free usable IP.
Even after this, one module will monitor for IP-conflicts and upon choosing IP conflict a
free IP is chosen.
A user can simply plug in the LAN cable to the module.
Also in an alternate embodiment of the invention a GPS module will be embedded in the
hardware. This will detect the location and select the best profile accordingly.

-17-
• Also the invention can make use of a very lightweight device which records all ARP
requests on LAN and hence is aware of all used IPs on LAN especially after IP
settings detection algorithm (not profile selection has been run by a system on
LAN. This device can have a fixed MAC address and can be contacted top fetch
the unused IP very fast.
• This device can also trap all messages of port 53 going to gateway and hence
detect and possess the DNS IP. Upon receiving request from client using the
method and this independent apparatus for the invention, it can reply back with
the DNS.
• Such a system just needs a MAC address, no complete TCP / IP stack is needed
just a small request reply parser is required along with memory to store all used
IPs and detect ARP broadcasts.
• Thus, it can be a very low cost system for enabling faster IP detection.

-18-
The features of the present invention includes detection whether any profile is
matching or not without sequentially applying each one. The best profile is selected
from the subset of profiles as detected above using additional information and / or
queries over the net. This involves finding the exact profile which can be applied. A
decision can be made whether new profile is needed or not when the already stored
profiles do not give connectivity. A new profile can be created, if a new profile is
needed. This detects profile (IP settings) parameters (gateway, subset, IP) for new
profile. It provides a fast method of gateway detection on LAN without using any
protocol specific broadcasts queries. Detection of free IP on LAN. The method is able
to differentiate between different networks with same gateway IP.
The unique aspect of the application is its method for detecting the gateway settings
in a fast manner (if the user has visited a lot of networks then the method developed
is definitely much faster than sequential search for profiles) and its ability to detect
that the mobile user has entered a new network not visited before or requires new
settings to work on the network he was working. The profile information also requires
some more information to identify the network and identification of a free IP in case
of IP conflict, are some other features.

-19-
Similarly, the invention detects the subnet from the gateway address details without
making any protocol requests. The invention creates a new profile for the user in
such a situation.
The structure of the invention is illustrated schematically in Figure 1. As shown, a
profile information gatherer 2 provides information on profile parameters to a profile
manager 1. The profile manager stores and manages profiles and removes redundant
profiles. The profile manager 1 is used for deciding whether new profile has to be
created by consulting the information through the profile manager. Detection of
additional profile parameters.
A profile selector 3 selects correct profile without applying and checking each one
sequentially, that is selection of correct profile without applying each one and
removing each tried profile (IP settings which have been checked for validity /
connectivity). The profile selector 3 finds the best profile amongst the stored profile
list. The profile selector 3 is also able to detect if new IP settings need to be
generated. This module finds if new settings may be needed, because of visiting a
network which has not been visited earlier and the IP configuration needed to work
on it are not stored in the profile list.

-20-
A profile creator 4 creates a new valid profile on its own but may make use of
intervention of the user for storing the profile parameter of IP, DNS into the stored
profile list.
A profile applier 5 applies the created profile and gathers information for profile
parameters of valid profile created by profile creator 4.
The flow chart of Figure 2 illustrates the method of the present invention. The
network interface is started at block represented by 100. It can be kept on
promiscuous mode, listening to network traffic and monitoring responses. Block 200
represents activity for finding a profile and block 300 for sending a query on network.
Responses are analyzed at block 400 basing the analysis on some profile parameters.
These profile parameters can be gateway, subnet and IP addresses.
Block 600 represents searching network, after finding valid profile 500, for other
matching profile information to find a best profile 700. Upon finding the best profile it
is applied for accessing the network resources. This is represented by block 800.

-21-
In case a valid profile is not found at 500, a new valid profile can be created at 600'
by network traffic pattern analysis and network query. Similarly, if no best profile is
found at 700 a new profile can be created. Block 700' represents finding out other
profile parameters using network traffic analysis before carrying out the step 800 of
applying the appropriate profile (IP configuration).
The prior art methods only uses stored profiles for selection of best profile based on
sequential connectivity check for each of the possible profiles.
In the present invention IP settings are obtained to get internet connectivity and not
just for connectivity over the local link or local LAN only like the APIPA service on
windows. The method finds the valid settings, faster than the current art and no
sequential application of profiles required. The method deduces whether the device
has been taken to a new network not worked on before. The method automatically
creates a new profile if deemed necessary by the method described above. The
method can take user's inputs for faster determination of IP address. The method
uses some new information in their profiles like link layer information etc. and derives
the same from the knowledge of working set of profile parameters. That is those
parameters which are sufficient to provide internet connectivity and are required to be
configured on the TCP / IP stack, namely the gateway IP address, subnet and IP
address of the host. Some settings are found out automatically.

-22-
The prior art only provides using stored profiles for checking connectivity for each
profile sequentially.
Profile manager 1 or the present invention maintains profiles (IP settings and other
related network information for each profile). This will be used by the profile selector
3 to find the best profile in the shortest possible time (it is assumed that the profiles
are correct ones and we are on a network that has been visited before and correct IP
settings for TCP / IP stack for accessing internet through that network have been
created by the user (if user has also created some profiles or intervened for the
same).
The profile selector 3 will decide whether new profile needs to be created or not; if
need arises it invokes the profile creation functionality to create a basic / valid profile
for internet connectivity; the other parameters are detected while the system is in
operation on the network.
The method of the present invention detects valid internet settings without
sequentially applying each one.

-23-
If no valid profile is found, then it can deduce whether this is because no valid profiles
in the stored list (i.e. we are visiting a network we have not visited before) or if
gateway / router of our current network (which we had visited earlier) is temporarily
down. It can create new profiles for new networks, if needed. Hence, can be used
for finding valid IP configuration for networks that have not been visited before. The
method automatically detects any other necessary information (link-layer topology
information) required for the profile apart from IP (even these may be determined but
the current known efficient method for this has been patented) and uses the same
information to find the best profile out of the sub-set of valid profiles. It is able to
distinguish between profiles on different networks with same gateway IP. It makes
settings to access network resource like printer.
Besides the four modules, profile manager, profile selector, profile creator and profile
applier the structure of the invention may also include a GPS module and hardware
for the same (though this is not essential). An optional low-cost IP, DNS detection
device as described above, may also be included.

-24-
A set of stored profiles shall be in the profile manager module. Whenever user moves
to a new network, new settings are needed. The method can be invoked to find the
correct IP settings. Without the correct IP settings the host will not be able to ping
any system on the new LAN and will not be able to access the internet.
The present invention will then find best matching profile and if not found it will
detect correct IP settings. The invention shall deduce whether new profile has to be
created. In case no such profile exists the invention shall use the unique method of
traffic pattern analysis for finding proper IP settings in the new location.
A host on a LAN is having some incorrect IP settings and the user wants to configure
it with the settings usable on that LAN. For this he would invoke the method of the
invention. As per the method, the system will listen for certain broadcasts and detect
the sender MAC address on these. Based on this it will search the most matching
profile (IP settings) from a stored list of profiles. This search will always lead to a
single profile. The profile is applied, if no such profile is found then it will send a ping
request at the 224.0.0.2 (at the all router's address).

-25-
The method does not check profiles sequentially rather it boils down to a subset of
valid profiles at the first step faster configuration of IP settings. The prior art
systems described cannot detect whether the profile being applied may actually cause
a conflict or not. The method of the present invention detects whether there has
been a change in the network configuration of the network (to which the user is re-
attaching itself after a period on time by remembering some details). It is able to
detect new settings. This way device can be taken to new networks regarding which
no IP settings are present and still be able to set correct IP configuration for internet
access. The prior art systems do not differentiate well between network with same
gateway IP. Present invention can even deduce new IP needs for creating the best
profile. The prior art systems check only gateway IP or perform a ping operation and
cannot know from their profiles that they are on a new network or the network on
which they were connected has changed (either hardware or IP address assignments
or
The present invention aims at application development for a mobile user and will even
derive IP settings. The mobile user will not have to bother about detecting IP settings
each time he moves to a new network by automatically selecting the best possible
setting in a quick way and discovering a new setting (necessary to get internet
access) if such a setting has not been discovered before. The invention will also
automatically discover if a profile needs to be updated or a new similar one needs to
be added.

-26-
The profile discovery has a limitation. Basically for this to work, the network topology
should be such that at least one that is communicating over the internet in the same
multi-access network as our host.
Above all the method is capable of analyzing network traffic and is capable of
deducing if such a condition exists.

-27-
WE CLAIM
1. A method for detection of valid IP settings in a network comprising the steps of:
- starting network interface;
- finding a profile;
- sending query on network;
- analyzing responses based on profile parameters for finding valid profile;
- searching network upon finding valid profile, for other matching profile
information to find a best profile; and
- applying said best profile.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein if no valid or best profile is found said
before applying appropriate profile for accessing network resources the steps are
performed:

-28-
- creating automatically new valid profile by network traffic pattern analysis
and network query; and
- finding other profile parameters using network traffic analysis.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of applying best profile is for
accessing internet or a multi-access network like a LAN, or a network resource.
4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said network resource is for example, a
printer.
5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said network interface is started on a
promiscuous mode by listening to the network traffic passively for monitoring
responses and detecting certain profile parameters.
6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said profile parameters are for
example, gateway, subnet and IP addresses.

-29-
7. An apparatus for detection of valid IP settings in multi-access network comprising:
- a profile manager for storage and management of profiles;
- a profile selector for selection of correct profile without applying and
checking each profile sequentially;
- a profile creator for creating a new valid profile automatically; and
- a profile applier for applying the created profile.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said IP settings are detected for
wired as well as wireless adapters.
9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said profile manger is configured to
decide whether new profile has to be created by consulting the information
gathered.

-30-
10.The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said profile selector is configured to
determine the best profile amongst the stored profile.
11.The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said profile applier is configured to
gather information for profile parameters of valid profile created by said profile
creator.
12. A method for detection of valid IP settings in a network, substantially as herein
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 28th day of February 2008.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for
detecting valid IP settings which would give a system internet connectivity. The
invention can work independently without the apparatus, but the apparatus will only
enhance the operation of the invention and make it faster and easily deployable.
It is to be noted that the system has old IP settings (of the previous network the user of
the device visited) in place on his system and hence he may not be able to ping any
other IP on a new network successfully with these IP settings on his TCP stack. From
these invalid settings in place, a valid IP setting is looked up. A list of IP settings profiles,
each for a particular network to which the system was connected to for accessing the
internet earlier, are stored. If no such configuration had been done earlier the invention
automatically detects basic IP settings (gateway, subnet and IP address) for the host
using which the system can access the internet. These basic settings / profile are
updated once the client connects to the LAN for accessing internet. Later (while the
laptop is in use on the LAN) the remaining parameters like DNS will be detected by
network traffic capture and analysis. Next time user comes to this LAN, this LAN
environment will be detected and these IP settings will get applied without any delay.
-7-
Each profile (or IP settings) can either be provided by the user (for which internet
connectivity could be obtained) or can be created by the method as part of the current
invention. Each profile corresponds to a network through which the user of the mobile
device has successfully accessed internet in the past and has either entered the profile /
IP settings on his own or the method has created that profile automatically for the user.
According to the present invention, a list of profiles shall be stored on the device though
this may not be necessary if the client is to be taken across different LANs. These
profiles store the IP settings as mentioned above along with some additional information
regarding the network and other devices on it.
Whenever client shifts to a new location and has IP settings of the previous network, he
can invoke the method of the current invention to find and apply the valid IP settings, as
mentioned above, to be able to access the internet. This can also be done automatically.
First, it is determined which stored profile is the best fit. If one is found it is applied. If
not, then it is found whether new IP settings are needed or connectivity loss is because
of some other reasons. If IP settings need to be set as per the new network, then basic
IP settings are detected and a basic profile is created.