Computer network with an IP subnetwork and a non-IP subnetwork and backend device, gateway, frontend device therefore and procedure for operation thereof

A frontend device for a computer network configured to communicate with a gateway within a Non-Internet Protocol (IP) subnetwork by applying a Non-IP communication;

• and
• wherein the gateway is configured to communicate with a backend device within an IP subnetwork by applying IP communication based on an IP security protocol, which provides means for authentication and/or encryption;
• and
• wherein the frontend device is configured to run an implementation of the IP security protocol such that the frontend device is capable to interpret a transcription of a request data datagram sent from the gateway by applying Non-IP communication.

A method for operating a computer network, wherein the computer network comprises:

• a Non-Internet Protocol (IP) subnetwork with at least one frontend device;
• and
• an IP subnetwork with at least one backend device;
• and
• a gateway connecting the Non-IP subnetwork with the IP subnetwork and translating communication therebetween, wherein the communication between the backend device and the gateway is an IP communication based on an IP security protocol, providing means for authentication and/or encryption;
• and
• wherein the communication between the gateway and the frontend device is a Non-IP communication;
• wherein the method comprises:
• transmitting a request datagram for establishing a secure end-to-end communication between the backend device and the frontend device from the backend device to a virtual IP communication endpoint provided by the gateway, wherein the virtual IP communication endpoint is dedicated to the frontend device;
• transmitting a transcription of the request datagram from the gateway to the frontend device by applying the Non-IP communication;
• executing an implementation of an IP security protocol such that the frontend device is capable to interpret the transcription of the request data datagram;
• generating a response datagram by the frontend device;
• transmitting a transcription of the response datagram from the frontend device to the gateway by applying the Non-IP communication;
• and
• transmitting a second transcription of the response datagram from the gateway to the backend device by applying the IP communication.