Method and apparatus for packet traversal of a network address translation device

A computer system configured to characterize a network address translation (NAT) device such that the computer is coupled to the NAT device via an internal network and the computer is behind the NAT device, the computer system comprising:

• a web enabled device configured to:
• create a plurality of sockets;
• bind the plurality of sockets, respectively, to a plurality of ports;
• transmit a plurality of STUN requests in user datagram protocol (UDP) packets to a plurality of STUN servers, wherein each STUN request is associated with one of the sockets;
• determine that the NAT device does support UDP packets if responses are not received from the STUN servers;
• and
• determine a set of NAT characteristics of the NAT device if a response is received from each of the STUN servers.

A computer system comprising:

• a first network;
• a first network address translation (NAT) device on the first network;
• at least a first web enabled device on the first network, wherein
• the first web enable device is operatively coupled to the first NAT device and is operatively behind the first NAT device, and
• the first web enabled device is configured to:
• create a plurality of sockets;
• bind the plurality of sockets, respectively, to a plurality of ports;
• transmit a plurality of STUN requests in user datagram protocol (UDP) packets to a plurality of STUN servers, wherein each STUN request is associated with one of the sockets;
• and
• determine a set of NAT characteristics of the first NAT device if a response is received from each of the STUN servers.

A characterization method for a firewall device by an internal computer behind the firewall device, the method comprising:

• creating a plurality of sockets;
• binding the plurality of sockets, respectively, to a plurality of ports;
• transmitting a plurality of STUN requests in user datagram protocol (UDP) packets to a plurality of STUN servers, wherein each STUN request is associated with one of the sockets;
• determining that the firewall device does support UDP packets if responses are not received from the STUN servers;
• and
• determining a set of firewall characteristics of the firewell device if a response is received from each of the STUN servers.

A computer system comprising:

• a first network;
• a firewall device on the first network;
• at least a first web enabled device on the first network, wherein
• the first web enable device is operatively coupled to the firewall device and is operatively behind the firewall device, and
• the first web enabled device is configured to:
• create a plurality of sockets;
• bind the plurality of sockets, respectively, to a plurality of ports;
• transmit a plurality of STUN requests in user datagram protocol (UDP) packets to a plurality of STUN servers, wherein each STUN request is associated with one of the sockets;
• and
• determine a set of firewall characteristics of the firewall device if a response is received from each of the STUN servers.