Apparatus and method for firewall traversal

A system providing for firewall traversal, the system comprising:

• a first device positioned in a private network;
• a firewall device accessible to the private network and a public network;
• a second device in the public network configured to register the first device;
• and
• a session controller positioned in the public network between the firewall device and the second device, the session controller comprising a plurality of software executable instructions including:
• instructions for intercepting a registration response message from the second device to the first device, wherein the response message includes the first timeout period;
• and
• instructions for replacing the first timeout period in the response message with a second timeout period before forwarding the response message to the first device.

An apparatus for enabling a network edge device to maintain a registration between a first device and a second device separated by the edge device, the apparatus comprising:

• an interface accessible to the edge device and the second device;
• and
• means for intercepting a registration message from the first device to the second device;
• means for determining whether it is time to renew the first device's registration, wherein the determination is based on a first timeout period defined by the second device;
• means for forwarding the registration message to the second device if it is time to renew the first device's registration;
• means for intercepting a response message from the second device to the first device, wherein the response message includes the first timeout period;
• and
• means for replacing the first timeout period in the response message with a second timeout period based on a binding lifetime of the edge device before forwarding the response message to the first device.

A method for traversing a firewall device to maintain a registration between a first device and a second device separated by the firewall device, wherein the first device is protected by the firewall device and the second device is outside the firewall device's protection, the method comprising:

• establishing a signaling channel between the first device and the second device;
• sending a request to the first device from the second device via the signaling channel, wherein the request is sent at a time that is less than a binding lifetime of the firewall device;
• and
• receiving a response from the first device at the second device via the signaling channel, wherein the response indicates to the firewall device that the signaling channel is active.