2. Functional elements PCP

The PCP protocol is based on a client-server architecture involving the following functional elements:

• 1 – PCP client is a software structure embedded in a fixed or mobile terminal, a CPE (Customer Premises Equipment), or even network equipment such as an IP router, which is responsible for generating PCP requests to a PCP server;

• 2 – PCP server is a software structure responsible for processing requests sent by a PCP client. In particular, such processing involves interaction with a particular function, such as an IP address translation function (NAT function) or a firewall function, so that the PCP server can dynamically control these functions in accordance with the request issued by a PCP client. These functions (NAT, firewall, etc.) are embedded in devices which are therefore controlled by PCP ("PCP-controlled...