US Patent 7792942 DHCP server synchronization with DHCP proxy

Managing a network resource is disclosed. An indication that a resource assigned to a subscriber host by a resource allocating node is no longer to be used by the subscriber host is received at a node other than the subscriber host or the resource allocating node. A resource release communication is sent to the resource allocating node from said node other than the subscriber host or the resource allocating node. The resource release communication appears to the resource allocating node to originate from the subscriber host and indicates to the resource allocating node that the resource is no longer to be used by the subscriber host.