System and method for a communication system

• US 8,560,828 B2
• Filed: 04/13/2006
• Issued: 10/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: directPacket Research, Inc.
• Original Assignee: directPacket Research, Inc.
• Inventors: Signaoff, Christopher S., Opsahl, Tom W., Riley, III, Edward M., Signaoff, Justin S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Popham, Jeffrey D
• Application Number:
  US11/403,548
• Publication Number:
  US 20070245412A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,742 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 713/150
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2514 between local and global IP addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/256 NAT traversal

Abstract

A communication system is made up of several communication communities. Each community provides for communication between the endpoints connected into that community by connecting the endpoints and communication controllers located behind a firewall with an external communication controller outside of the firewall. In selected embodiments, such a community may be configured to connect an internal controller that is connected to a plurality of endpoints with another controller that is designed for connection to only one endpoint. When communication is desired outside of the individual communities, the external controller for that community establishes a connection with the external controller for the desired community. Once established, the communication data can be transmitted across community borders. In some embodiments, there may be a central external controller that is in communication with each of the external controllers for the other individual communities. In such embodiments, all inter-community communication will pass through that central controller.

Claims

1. A method for a multimedia communication comprising:

receiving, at a controller that is behind a firewall and that is communicatively coupled with a plurality of endpoint communication devices, a plurality of multiport packets of data in a multiport communication protocol for communication from at least one of the plurality of endpoint communication devices;

converting, by said controller, said plurality of multiport packets into a plurality of single-port packets in a single-port communication protocol;

receiving at an external controller a communication request from said controller behind said firewall, wherein said external controller is not behind said firewall;

establishing a communication channel between said controller and said external controller;

opening a second communication channel between said external controller and at least one other controller behind another firewall, wherein said at least one other controller is configured to service a single endpoint communication device;

transmitting multimedia communication data between said controller and said at least one other controller wherein said multimedia communication data passes through said external controller; and

distributing said multimedia communication data to one or more of said plurality of endpoint communication devices and said single endpoint communication device.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

verifying said communication request at said external controller.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

transmitting a security key from said controller to said external controller for authorization of said communication request.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

sending an external request from said external controller to an additional external controller responsive to said communication request requesting to communicate with an additional endpoint communication device connected to said additional external controller.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

establishing an external channel between said external controller and said additional external controller; and

forwarding said multimedia communication data to said additional external controller from said external controller; and

distributing said multimedia communication data to said additional endpoint communication device.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

issuing a central request from said external controller to a central controller responsive to said communication request requesting to communicate with an external endpoint device not connected to one or more of said controller and said at least one other controller; and

receiving said multimedia communication data at said central controller.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

determining a peripheral controller connected to said external endpoint device;

opening another external channel between said central controller and said peripheral controller;

forwarding said multimedia communication data to said peripheral controller from said central controller; and

distributing said multimedia communication data to said external endpoint device.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

distributing said multimedia communication data to said external endpoint device when said external endpoint device is connected to said central controller.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said transmitting said multimedia communication data between said controller and said at least one other controller comprises:

transmitting from said controller said plurality of single-port packets over a commonly-open port to said at least one other controller, said plurality of single-port packets traversing one or more firewalls using said commonly-open port.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

receiving said plurality of single-port packets at said at least one other controller;

reconverting, by said at least one other controller, said received plurality of single-port packets into said multiport communication protocol, resulting in reconverted plurality of multiport packets; and

delivering, from said at least one other controller to said single endpoint communication device, said reconverted plurality of multiport packets using two or more ports associated with said multiport communication protocol.

11. A communication community comprising:

one or more shared controllers connected to one or more endpoint communication devices, wherein said one or more shared controllers is behind a firewall, and wherein said one or more shared controllers is operable to convert a plurality of multiport packets received from said one or more endpoint communication devices into a plurality of single-port packets in a single-port communication protocol;

at least one individual controller connected to a single endpoint communication device, wherein said at least one individual controller is behind another firewall, and wherein said at least one individual controller is operable to reconvert said plurality of single-port packets into said multiport communication protocol, resulting in reconverted plurality of multiport packets, and transmit to said single endpoint communication device said reconverted plurality of multiport packets using two or more ports associated with said multiport communication protocol; and

an external controller that comprises a device, said external controller in connection to said one or more shared controllers and said at least one individual controller, wherein said external controller is not behind said firewall or said another firewall, and wherein said external controller facilitates communication between ones of said one or more endpoint communication devices and said single endpoint communication device.

12. The communication community of claim 11 further comprising:

a verification utility within said external controller for verifying one or more communication requests from one or more of said one or more shared controllers and said individual controller.

13. The communication community of claim 11 further comprising:

a security key repository within each of said one or more shared controllers and said individual controller, wherein said one or more shared controllers and said individual controller transmit a security key for verification by said external controller for each communication request issued to said external controller.

14. The communication community of claim 11 further comprising:

an external communication interface within said external controller for communicating with a second communication community.

15. The communication community of claim 14 wherein said external controller communicates with a central communication controller to establish a communication channel with said second communication community.

16. The communication community of claim 11 wherein said one or more shared controllers, and said at least one individual controller each comprise a device.

17. A method for communicating comprising:

establishing a first communication connection between a first internal controller behind a firewall and a first external controller in a first communication community, said first external controller not behind said firewall, wherein a first communication request is initiated by a local communication device connected to the first internal controller;

establishing a second communication connection between a second internal controller behind a second firewall and a second external controller in a second communication community, said second external controller not behind said second firewall, wherein a second communication request is initiated by a remote communication device connected to the second internal controller;

responsive to one or more of the first and second communication request requesting communication between the local communication device and the remote communication device, establishing a third communication connection between the first and second external communication controllers; and

transmitting communication data between the first and second communication communities through the third communication connection, wherein said transmitting comprises;

receiving, at a first intermediate communication device that is behind said firewall a plurality of multiport packets of data in a multiport communication protocol for communication from said local communication device in said first communication community,

converting, by said first intermediate communication device, said plurality of multiport packets into a plurality of single-port packets in a single-port communication protocol,

transmitting, through the third communication connection, said plurality of single-port packets to a second intermediate communication device that is behind said second firewall,

receiving said plurality of single-port packets at said second intermediate communication device,

reconverting, by said second intermediate communication device, said received plurality of single-port packets into said multiport communication protocol, resulting in reconverted plurality of multiport packets, and

delivering, from said second intermediate communication device to said remote communication device in said second communication community, said reconverted plurality of multiport packets using two or more ports associated with said multiport communication protocol.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

verifying at said first external controller said first communication request prior to said establishing said first communication connection; and

verifying at said second external controller said second communication request prior to said establishing said second communication connection.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

issuing a third communication request between said first and second external controllers; and

verifying said third communication request prior to said establishing said third communication connection.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein said establishing a third communication connection comprises:

issuing a third communication request to a central communication controller;

establishing a first central communication channel between said first external controller and said central communication controller;

issuing a fourth communication request from said central communication controller to said second external controller; and

establishing a second central communication channel between said central communication controller and said second external controller.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

verifying said third communication request at said central communication controller prior to said establishing said first central communication channel;

verifying said fourth communication request prior to said establishing said second central communication channel.

22. The method of claim 17 wherein said first internal controller comprises said first intermediate communication device;

and wherein said second internal controller comprises said second intermediate communication device.

23. The method of claim 17 wherein said transmitting, through the third communication connection, said plurality of single-port packets to a second intermediate communication device that is behind said second firewall comprises:

transmitting said plurality of single-port packets over a commonly-open port.