Data communications method and system

• US 20020049850A1
• Filed: 10/23/2001
• Published: 04/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Netcelo
• Original Assignee: Netcelo
• Inventors: Cayuela, Jacques, Guionneau, Christophe, Fiori, Costantino
• Application Number:
  US09/983,233
• Publication Number:
  US 20020049850A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4633 Interconnection of networks using encapsulation techniques, e.g. tunneling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/45 Network directories; Name-to-address mapping
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0272 Virtual private networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

Method and system for data communications between a first user station of a first network and a second user station of a second network via a network of the Internet type, in which, after an access terminal has obtained a public address intended for a communication between the first user station and the second user station, the access terminal is connected to the administrator, the administrator supplies the access terminal with connection data and supplies addressees with the connection data and the public address, and the access terminal establishes a communications tunnel with the second user station or with an access terminal of the second user station, then a communication with the second user station.

Claims

1. A method of data communications between a first user station of a first network and a second user station of a second network via a network of the Internet type, in which:

after an access terminal has obtained a public address intended for a communication between the first user station and the second user station, said access terminal is connected to the administrator, the administrator supplies said access terminal with connection data and supplies addressees with said connection data and said public address,

the access terminal establishes a communications tunnel with the second user station or with an access terminal of the second user station, then a communication with the second user station.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, in which said access terminal is connected to the administrator by establishing a communications tunnel.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, in which said communications tunnel is encrypted.

4. The method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which said access terminal sends the administrator its public address and its identifier.

5. The method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the connection data supplied by the administrator to said access terminal comprise security rules and a list of access terminals to be alerted.

6. The method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the communications tunnel between the access terminal and the administrator is destroyed once the administrator has supplied the access terminal with the connection data allowing the access terminal to establish communications tunnels to other user stations.

7. The method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which, at the end of the communication with the second user station, the communications tunnel is destroyed.

8. The method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the access terminal establishes a communications tunnel with another access terminal in communication with the second user station, then a communication with said other access terminal.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, in which the connection data supplied by the administrator to said access terminal are also supplied to the other access terminal.

11. A computer program comprising program-code means for implementing the stages of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, when said program is running on a computer.

12. A medium capable of being read by a device for reading program-code means which are stored thereon and which are suitable for implementing the stages of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, when said program is running on a computer.

10. A data communications system comprising a first user station of a first network, an access terminal (TA), a network administrator (SCA) and a second user station of a second network, the network being of the Internet type, wherein the access terminal comprises a means for obtaining a public address intended for a communication between the first user station and the second user station, a means for connecting to the administrator, and a means for establishing a communications tunnel with the second user station or with an access terminal of the second user station, then a communication with the second user station, and the administrator comprises a means for supplying connection data to said access terminal and a means for supplying said connection data and said public address to addressees.