System and method for routing information packets
First Claim
1. A method for controlling traffic in a network, wherein an originator initiates a transfer of information with a receiver, wherein a network device coupled between the originator and the receiver has at least two modes of operation, the method comprising:
- detecting that a predetermined network traffic condition has been met; and
changing the mode of the network device from a first mode of operation to a second mode of operation, wherein in the first mode of operation the receiver communicates with the originator via a mechanism at the network device that is made known to the receiver at a time of initiation, and wherein in the second mode of operation no such mechanism is made known to the receiver.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method allowing control of VoIP communications by configuring a Network Address Translator (NAT) is provided. In a first NAT configuration, such a port-restricted NAT, peer-to-peer Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communications are permitted between a VoIP originator and a receiver. In a second NAT configuration, such as a symmetrical NAT, peer-to-peer communications are not possible without further cooperation of the NAT. In this manner, an entity that has control of the NAT, such as an ISP, is able to have a degree of control over traffic using network resources such as bandwidth.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for controlling traffic in a network, wherein an originator initiates a transfer of information with a receiver, wherein a network device coupled between the originator and the receiver has at least two modes of operation, the method comprising:
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detecting that a predetermined network traffic condition has been met; and
changing the mode of the network device from a first mode of operation to a second mode of operation, wherein in the first mode of operation the receiver communicates with the originator via a mechanism at the network device that is made known to the receiver at a time of initiation, and wherein in the second mode of operation no such mechanism is made known to the receiver. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for controlling the routing of information packets over a network, the network comprising a first entity, a second entity and a plurality of users, wherein the first entity configures a system used for communication between the plurality of users, the first entity, and the second entity, the information packets being sent through a plurality of ports in the system, the method comprising:
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sending an initiation information packet for communication between a first user and a second user, the initiation information packet being sent by a first user to the second entity through a first port;
identifying the address of the second user for communication, based on the initiation information packet, the identification being carried out by the second entity; and
transmitting an information packet between the first user and the second user, based on the identified address, the information packet being sent by the second user to the first user through a second port on the system - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A system for controlling routing of information packets over a network, the network comprising a first entity, a second entity, and a plurality of users, wherein the first entity configures the system, the system comprising:
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a first port for communicating between a first user and the second entity;
a second port for communicating between the first user and a second user;
an activation module for activating the second port on the system, for routing the information packets; and
an address translating means for translating a private address of a user to a public address. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A system for controlling the routing of information packets over a network, the network comprising a first entity, a second entity and a plurality of users, wherein the first entity configures the system, the system comprising:
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means for routing information packets between a first user and the second entity; and
means for routing information packets between the first user and the second user.
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22. An apparatus for controlling traffic in a network, wherein an originator initiates a transfer of information with a receiver, wherein a network device coupled between the originator and the receiver has at least two modes of operation, the apparatus comprising:
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a processor; and
a machine-readable medium including instructions executable by the processor comprising one or more instructions for detecting that a predetermined network traffic condition has been met; and
one or more instructions for changing the mode of the network device from a first mode of operation to a second mode of operation, wherein in the first mode of operation the receiver communicates with the originator via a mechanism at the network device that is made known to the receiver at a time of initiation, and wherein in the second mode of operation no such mechanism is made known to the receiver.
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23. A machine-readable medium including instructions executable by a processor for controlling traffic in a network, wherein an originator initiates a transfer of information with a receiver, wherein a network device coupled between the originator and the receiver has at least two modes of operation, the machine-readable medium comprising:
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one or more instructions for detecting that a predetermined network traffic condition has been met; and
one or more instructions for changing the mode of the network device from a first mode of operation to a second mode of operation, wherein in the first mode of operation the receiver communicates with the originator via a mechanism at the network device that is made known to the receiver at a time of initiation, and wherein in the second mode of operation no such mechanism is made known to the receiver.
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Specification