Mechanism for implementing voice over IP telephony behind network firewalls

• US 6,674,758 B2
• Filed: 06/06/2002
• Issued: 01/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Clinton Watson, George T and Mary E Watson Trust, Mary Reyes, The Reyes Trust
• Original Assignee: George T and Mary E Watson Trust
• Inventors: Watson, Clinton
• Primary Examiner(s): VINCENT, DAVID ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US10/164,503
• Publication Number:
  US 20030227903A1
• Time in Patent Office: 579 Days
• Field of Search: 370/351, 370/352, 370/353, 370/354, 370/400, 370/401-2, 370/409, 370/410, 370/411, 370/431, 370/437, 370/449, 370/450-1, 370/458-9, 370/460-3, 370/464-6, 370/469, 370/473, 370/474-5, 709/225, 709/226-230, 709/238, 713/200, 713/201
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2514 between local and global IP addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2564 for a higher-layer protocol, e.g. for session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/029 Firewall traversal, e.g. tunnelling or, creating pinholes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1045 Proxies, e.g. for session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1046 Call controllers; Call servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1106 Call signalling protocols; H.323 and related

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a network is disclosed. The network includes a first Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) station a first communication medium coupled to the VOIP station a router, coupled to the first communication, that includes a network address translation (NAT) firewall, a second communication medium coupled to the router and a public proxy/gatekeeper (PPG) coupled to the second communication. The PPG masquerades un-translated NAT IP addresses received from the first VOIP station.

Claims

1. A network comprising:

a first Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) station;

a first communication medium coupled to the VOIP station;

a router, coupled to the first communication medium, including a network address translation (NAT) firewall;

a second communication medium coupled to the router; and

a public proxy/gatekeeper (PPG), coupled to the second communication medium, that masquerades un-translated NAT IP addresses received from the first VOIP station.

2. The network of claim 1 wherein the PPG assigns one or more dedicated ports for the first VOIP station to implement VOIP communications from behind the NAT firewall.

3. A network comprising:

a router including a network address translation (NAT) firewall;

a first communication medium coupled to the router; and

a first Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) station, coupled to the first communication medium, that transmits dummy packets to the router at predetermined intervals to maintain open ports behind the NAT firewall to allow call signaling from devices external to the NAT firewall.