Systems and methods for encapsulation based session initiation protocol through network address translation

• US 20060078096A1
• Filed: 07/23/2004
• Published: 04/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Piece Future Pte., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Poyhonen, Petteri, Siren, Ritva
• Granted Patent: US 8,090,858 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/88.120
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2564 for a higher-layer protocol, e.g. for session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2578 without involvement of the NAT server
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/029 Firewall traversal, e.g. tunnelling or, creating pinholes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]

Abstract

Provided are improved SIP communication systems and methods for traversing firewalls, NATs, and ALGs. An encapsulation protocol is used to preserve the original SIP message by encapsulating the original SIP message in visible encapsulation protocol of layers 4+. An encapsulated SIP message is decapsulated after transparently traversing a firewall, NAT, and/or ALG.

Claims

1. A method of performing encapsulation based SIP, comprising the steps of:

binding an encapsulation protocol and an SIP identity for a recipient SIP client;

creating or receiving an SIP message including an SIP identity;

mapping the SIP message for the SIP identity of the SIP message based upon the SIP identity of the binding; and

encapsulating the SIP message in the encapsulation protocol of the binding to produce an encapsulated SIP message.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of binding is performed during an SIP registration phase of an SIP client with an SIP server.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of removing at least part of one encapsulated protocol header.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein at least the SIP client or SIP server is capable of interpreting and processing the IP packet of the SIP message in the encapsulation protocol of the binding without the at least one reduced protocol header by recognizing the encapsulation protocol and the availability of the SIP identity.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the steps of:

determining reduced protocol headers; and

bypassing processing of reduced protocol headers based upon identified, remaining headers.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of encapsulating is performed between a network and an SIP client or between SIP clients.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the network includes at least one of an SIP proxy server, an SIP redirect server, and an SIP registration server.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of mapping is performed over the binding, and binding occurs in the encapsulation end points where encapsulation or decapsulation is performed.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving said encapsulated SIP message; and

decapsulating said encapsulated SIP message.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of mapping maps the source of said encapsulated SIP message.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of mapping maps the destination of said encapsulated SIP message, wherein said SIP message is received.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said encapsulating uses hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) or hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) and at least one of IP protocol, TCP protocol, and UDP protocol.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of determining that encapsulation is configured for the destination of said SIP message.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of removing the IP header from the SIP message.

15. A method of performing encapsulation based SIP, comprising the steps of:

receiving an encapsulated SIP message;

determining the encapsulation protocol of said encapsulated SIP message;

binding the encapsulation protocol to the SIP identity of said SIP message; and

decapsulating said encapsulated SIP message according to the encapsulation protocol.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of transmitting said decapsulated SIP message.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of mapping the source of said encapsulated SIP message for performing said step of decapsulating said encapsulated SIP message.

18. A system for establishing a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) communication session with an encapsulated SIP message, comprising:

an SIP message client; and

an SIP server communicably connected to said SIP message client, wherein said SIP message client and said SIP server are both configured to encapsulate or decapsulate an SIP message or encapsulated SIP message according to at least one common encapsulation protocol for communication of said SIP message or encapsulated SIP message.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said SIP message client and said SIP server are separated by at least one of a firewall, a network address translator, and an application layer gateway.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said SIP message client and said SIP server are separated across a public network.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein said SIP message client is a terminal located in a private network.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein said SIP message client is a mobile terminal located in a mobile network.

23. The system of claim 18, wherein said SIP message client is a mobile terminal.

24. The system of claim 18, wherein said SIP message client is capable of receiving and thereafter decoding an encapsulated SIP message and said SIP server is capable of encapsulating an SIP message and thereafter sending the encapsulated SIP message.

25. The system of claim 18, wherein said SIP server is capable of receiving and thereafter decoding an encapsulated SIP message and said SIP message client is capable of encapsulating an SIP message and thereafter sending the encapsulated SIP message.

26. A terminal located within a network, the terminal comprising:

a controller capable of at least one of;

(i) receiving and thereafter decapsulating an encapsulated SIP message, and (ii) encapsulating an SIP message and thereafter sending an encapsulated SIP message.

27. The terminal of claim 26, wherein said controller is capable of determining an encapsulation protocol for encapsulating an SIP message or decapsulating an encapsulated SIP message.

28. An SIP server located within a network, said SIP server comprising:

a controller capable of at least one of;

(i) receiving and thereafter decapsulating an encapsulated SIP message, and (ii) receiving and encapsulating an SIP message and thereafter sending an encapsulated SIP message.

29. The SIP server of claim 28, wherein said controller is capable of determining an encapsulation protocol for encapsulating an SIP message or decapsulating an encapsulated SIP message.

30. The SIP server of claim 28, further comprising a table for mapping the source of an encapsulated SIP message.

31. A system for establishing a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) communication session with an encapsulated SIP message, comprising:

an SIP message client; and

a network node communicably connected to said SIP message client, wherein said SIP message client is configured to encapsulate or decapsulate an SIP message or encapsulated SIP message according to at least one common encapsulation protocol for communication of said SIP message or encapsulated SIP message, wherein a binding is configured between said SIP identity and at least one common encapsulation protocol.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein said SIP message client is preconfigured with an SIP identity.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein at least one of said SIP message client and said network node is capable of removing at least part of a header to produce a reduced protocol header or to remove a header.

34. The system of claim 31, wherein said network node is configured to encapsulate or decapsulate an SIP message or encapsulated SIP message according to at least one common encapsulation protocol for communication of said SIP message or encapsulated SIP message, and wherein binding of said SIP identity is performed at said network node.

35. The system of claim 31, wherein said network node is an SIP server.