System and method for multimedia communication across disparate networks

• US 8,605,730 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2010
• Issued: 12/10/2013
• 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, Edward M. III, Signaoff, Justin S.
• Primary Examiner(s): HSU, ALPUS
• Application Number:
  US12/661,316
• Publication Number:
  US 20100177786A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,366 Days
• Field of Search: 370/395.5, 370/401, 370/466, 380/255, 709/230, 713/151, 726/3
• US Class Current: 370/395.5
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/663 Transport layer addresses, e.g. aspects of transmission control protocol [TCP] or user datagram protocol [UDP] ports
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0272 Virtual private networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/029 Firewall traversal, e.g. tunnelling or, creating pinholes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols

Abstract

A method of communication between endpoint devices that includes converting data packets from a multiport protocol to a proprietary port protocol so that the data packets can traverse firewalls protecting the endpoint devices. A system that includes networks protected by firewall wherein the communication between the networks is in a proprietary protocol and the system further including a device for managing the communication between the protected networks.

Claims

1. A method for communicating between two or more endpoint communication devices, said method comprising:

outputting data in a first multiport protocol from a first endpoint communication device that resides in a first protected network that is protected by a first firewall;

converting said data from the first multiport protocol to data having a single port proprietary protocol that is not natively supported by at least said first endpoint communication device; and

reconverting said converted data from said single port proprietary protocol to data having a second multiport protocol for receipt by a second endpoint device, which is in a second protected network.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said converting is performed by a device within said first protected network.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said converting is performed under the control of a device outside of said first protected network.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said device outside of said first protected network comprises a dedicated versatile network (DVN) device.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said converting comprises converting said data having multiport protocol to tunneling protocol for traversing a firewall and reconversion from said tunneling protocol to said single port proprietary protocol.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said reconverting is performed by a device within said second protected network.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said reconverting is performed under the control of a device outside of said second protected network.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said first multiport protocol is the same as said second multiport protocol.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein at least one of said first and second multiport protocol utilizes one or more protocols selected from the group consisting of HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, TFTP, SSH, TELNET and SNMP with respect to ports of the multiport protocol.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said first and second multiport protocol are selected from the list consisting of H.323 and SIP.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said data having a single port proprietary protocol traverses at least one of a firewall protecting said first protected network and a firewall protecting said second protected network.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said data having a single port proprietary protocol travels at least a portion of a network between said endpoint devices.

13. A method for communicating between two or more endpoint devices, said method comprising:

outputting, from a first endpoint device within a first protected network, data in a first multiport protocol;

converting said outputted data from said first multiport protocol to a tunneling protocol for traversing a firewall protecting said first protected network; and

converting said data from said tunneling protocol to a single port proprietary protocol that is not natively supported by said two or more endpoint devices.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said converting from said tunneling protocol to said single port proprietary protocol is performed by a front-end device residing external to said first protected network.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

receiving data communicated from a second endpoint device residing on a second protected network, said received data in said single port proprietary protocol;

converting said received data from said single port proprietary protocol to said tunneling protocol for traversing said firewall protecting said first protected network;

converting said received data from said tunneling protocol to said first multiport protocol; and

inputting said data to said first endpoint device in said first multiport protocol.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said converting from said single port proprietary protocol to said tunneling protocol is performed by a front-end device residing external to said first protected network.

17. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

converting said data from said single port proprietary protocol to a second multiport protocol; and

sending said data in said second multiport protocol to a second endpoint device residing on a second protected network.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said converting from said single port proprietary protocol to said second multiport protocol is performed by a back-end device residing within said second protected network.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein said first and second multiport protocol are the same protocol.

20. The method of claim 13 wherein said data having a single port proprietary protocol travels at least a portion of a network between said endpoint devices.

21. A communication community system comprising:

a first protected network and a second protected network, wherein said first protected network comprises a first endpoint device protected by a first firewall and said second protected network comprises a second endpoint device protected by a second firewall;

a front-end device residing outside of said protected networks; and

communication links between said first and second protected networks and said device outside of said protected networks, wherein said communication links comprise the use of a proprietary protocol to traverse said first firewall and said second firewall using a commonly-open port, wherein the proprietary protocol is a single-port protocol adapted for communication through said commonly-open port without reconfiguration of the first and second firewalls for said traversal.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein said first protected network comprises a back end device for converting multiport protocol data, from said first endpoint device, to single port proprietary protocol data capable of traversing said first firewall.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein said second protected network comprises a back end device for converting said single port proprietary protocol data to a multiport protocol data for receipt at said second endpoint device.

24. The system of claim 21 wherein said device outside of said protected networks comprises a dedicated versatile network (DVN) device.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein said DVN device provides software to said first endpoint device for converting said multiport protocol data to single port proprietary protocol data.

26. The system of claim 24 wherein said DVN device provides software to said second endpoint device for conversion of single port proprietary protocol data to multiport protocol data.

27. The system of claim 21 further comprising:

a device within said first protected network for converting multiport protocol data from said first endpoint device to tunneling protocol data for traversing said first firewall.

28. A method for communicating between a first endpoint device in a first protected network and a second endpoint device in a second protected network, said method comprising:

receiving single port proprietary protocol data at a back end device in said second protected network, wherein said single port proprietary protocol data was created, by a conversion process, from data having a first multiport protocol from said first endpoint device; and

converting, at said back end device, said proprietary protocol data to data having a second multiport protocol for receipt by said second endpoint device.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein said first and second multiport protocols are selected from the list consisting of H.323 and SIP.

30. The method of claim 28 wherein said first and second multiport protocols are the same.

31. The method of claim 28 wherein at least one of said first and second multiport protocols utilizes one or more protocols selected from the group consisting of HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, TFTP, SSH, TELNET and SNMP with respect to ports of the multiport protocol.