System and method for extending private networks onto public infrastructure using supernets

A method for communicating between a first private network and a second private network configured from nodes in a public network, comprising:

• receiving a packet from a source node in the first private network;
• determining whether the packet is destined for the second private network;
• obtaining an address mapping corresponding to a destination node in the second private network based on the determination;
• and
• sending the packet to the destination node using the address mapping, the address mapping reflecting a relationship between an internal address for the destination node for use in communicating among nodes in the second private network and an external address for the destination node suitable for communicating over the public network.

A method for communicating between a first private network and a second private network that uses a public network infrastructure, comprising:

• receiving a packet from a source node in the second private network;
• determining whether the packet is destined for the second private network;
• and
• forwarding the packet to a destination node in the first private network based on the determination.

A method for communicating between a first private network and a second private network that uses a public network infrastructure, comprising:

• receiving a packet from a source node in the second private network;
• determining whether the packet is destined for the second private network;
• obtaining an address mapping corresponding to a router node based on the determination;
• sending the packet to the router node using the address mapping, wherein the router node forwards the packet to a destination node in the first private network based on an internal address in the packet for the destination node suitable for communicating among nodes in the first private network.

A computer-readable medium containing instructions for performing a method for communicating between a first private network and a second private network that uses a public network infrastructure, the method comprising:

• receiving a packet from a source node in the first private network;
• determining whether the packet is destined for the second private network;
• obtaining an address mapping corresponding to a destination node in the second private network based on the determination;
• and
• sending the packet to the destination node using the address mapping, the address mapping reflecting a relationship between an internal address for the destination node for use in communicating among nodes in the second private network and an external address for the destination node suitable for communicating over the public infrastructure.

A computer-readable medium containing instructions for performing a method for communicating between a first private network and a second private network that uses a public network infrastructure, the method comprising:

• receiving a packet from a source node in the second private network;
• determining whether the packet is destined for the second private network;
• obtaining an address mapping corresponding to a router node based on the determination;
• sending the packet to the router node using the address mapping, wherein the router node forwards the packet to a destination node in the first private network based on an internal address in the packet for the destination node suitable for communicating among nodes in the first private network.

An apparatus for communicating between a first private network and a second private network configured from nodes in a public network infrastructure, comprising:

• means for receiving a packet from a source node in the first private network;
• means for determining whether the packet is destined for the second private network;
• means for obtaining an address mapping corresponding to a destination node in the second private network based on the determination;
• and
• means for sending the packet to the destination node using the address mapping, the address mapping reflecting a relationship between an internal address for the destination node for use in communicating among nodes in the second private network and an external address for the destination node suitable for communicating over the public infrastructure.

An apparatus for communicating between a first private network and a second private network configured from nodes in a public network infrastructure, comprising:

• means for receiving a packet from a source node in the second private network;
• means for determining whether the packet is destined for the second private network;
• means for obtaining an address mapping corresponding to a router node based on the determination;
• means for sending the packet to the router node using the address mapping, wherein the router node forwards the packet to a destination node in the first private network based on an internal address in the packet for the destination node suitable for communicating among nodes in the first private network.

A method for communicating between a first private network and a second private network configured from nodes in a public network, comprising:

• receiving, at a router node, a first packet from a source node in the first private network, wherein the router node facilitates connection between the first private network and the second private network;
• determining whether the first packet is destined for the second private network;
• obtaining an address mapping corresponding to a destination node in the second private network based on the determination;
• sending the packet to the destination node using the address mapping, the address mapping reflecting a relationship between an internal address for the destination node for use in communicating among nodes in the second private network and an external address for the destination node suitable for communicating over the public infrastructure;
• receiving a second packet from a source node in the second private network;
• determining whether the second packet is destined for the second private network;
• obtaining an address mapping corresponding to the router node based on the determination that the second packet is not destined for the second private network;
• and
• sending the packet to the router node using the address mapping corresponding to the router node, wherein the router node forwards the packet to a destination node in the first private network based on an internal address in the second packet for the destination node suitable for communicating among nodes in the first private network.