Network topology detection using a server

Abstract

Various technologies and techniques are disclosed for automatically detecting whether a local network that a computer is connected to is a public or private network by utilizing a trusted online service and/or heuristics. Techniques are also described for detecting whether or not two computers are connected to the same local area network.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for utilizing an external computer to determine whether two client computers are on a same local area network comprising the steps of:
 receiving trace route information from a first client computer;   receiving trace route information from a second client computer; and   analyzing trace route information from the first client computer and the second client computer to generate a merged view, the merged view being later utilized to make a determination as to whether or not the first client computer and the second client computer are located on a same local area network.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein internal network appearance information is also received from the first client computer and from the second client computer. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the merged view is sent to at least one of the first client computer and the second client computer where the determination step is performed. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determination as to whether or not the first client computer and the second client computer are located on a same local area network is based on default gateway addresses received from the first client computer and the second client computer. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determination as to whether or not the first client computer and the second client computer are located on a same local area network is based on internal addresses of the first client computer and the second client computer. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determination as to whether or not the first client computer and the second client computer are located on a same local area network is based on external addresses of the first client computer and the second client computer. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein if:
 a default gateway addresses received from the first client computer and the second client computer are the same;   internal addresses of the first client computer and the second client computer are within specified address segments; and   external addresses of the first client computer and the second client computer are the same, then the first client computer and the second client computer are determined to be located on a same local area network.   
     
     
         8 . A method for utilizing heuristics in combination with a trusted online service to determine a local network type to which a client computer is connected comprising the steps of:
 using a computing device, utilizing data produced as a result of performing one or more heuristics in combination with data received from a trusted online service to determine a type of network and a level of confidence as to the determined type of network to which a client computer is connected;   if the determined level of confidence exceeds a first level, then automatically setting the local network type for the client computer to the determined type of network; and   if the determined level of confidence is less than the first level, but greater than a second level, then prompting a user to classify the local network type with the determined type of network set as a default value.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein when an internal network address of the client computer is not part of a reserved network address range, then the local network type is a public network. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein when an external network address belongs to a known network then the local network type is a public network. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein when a network ID of a wireless network that the client computer is connected to is on a list of known public hotspots, then the local network type is a public network. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein when a network ID of the client computer matches a secured network ID, then the client computer is connected to a private network. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein when the client computer is connected directly to a wireless network using an encrypted connection, then the local network type is a private network. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the data from the trusted online service includes a network address of the client computer as seen by the trusted online service. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the analyzing step utilizes the network address of the client computer as seen by the trusted online service along with a network address of the client computer as seen by the client computer to help determine the local network type. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein when the network address of the client computer as seen by the trusted online service is a same network address as the network address of the client computer as seen by the client computer, then the local network type is a private network. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the data from the trusted online services includes information regarding whether an attempt by the trusted online service to connect directly to the client computer was successful. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the data from the trusted online service includes usage patterns of devices or users connecting to a network that the client computer is connected to. 
     
     
         19 . A computer storage medium having computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform a method for utilizing an external computer to determine whether two client computers are on a same local area network comprising, the steps comprising:
 receiving trace route information from a first client computer;   receiving trace route information from a second client computer; and   analyzing trace route information from the first client computer and the second client computer to generate a merged view, the merged view being later utilized to make a determination as to whether or not the first client computer and the second client computer are located on a same local area network.   
     
     
         20 . The computer storage medium of  claim 19 , wherein if:
 default gateway addresses received from the first client computer and the second client computer are the same;   internal addresses of the first client computer and the second client computer are within specified address segments; and   external addresses of the first client computer and the second client computer are the same, then the first client computer and the second client computer are determined to be located on a same local area network.