Method and apparatus for detecting and recovering from faults associated with transport protocol connections across network address translators

A method, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

• receiving a first message of a transport protocol, wherein the first message includes two or more private network addresses of a first host;
• creating and storing a first mapping of a first private network address to a first public network address, a second mapping of a second private network address to a second public network address;
• linking the first mapping to the second mapping;
• in response to receiving a second message from the first host, creating and storing context information for a first transport session between the first host and a second host referencing the first private network address, and linking the context information to the first mapping and the second mapping;
• receiving a third message of the transport protocol from the second host that specifies the second public network address;
• based on the mappings, automatically using the context information for processing subsequent messages between the first host and the second host that use the second public network address and the second private network address.

An apparatus for detecting and recovering from faults associated with transport protocol connections across network address translators, comprising:

• means for receiving a connection initialization message of a transport protocol, wherein the connection initialization message includes two or more private network addresses of a first host;
• means for allocating two or more public network addresses corresponding to the two or more private network addresses;
• means for electronically creating and storing a first mapping of a first private network address to a first public network address, a second mapping of a second private network address to a second public network address, and a link of the first mapping to the second mapping;
• means for creating and storing, in response to receiving a second message of the transport protocol from the first host, context information comprising one or more session parameters for a first transport session between the first host and a second host referencing the first private network address, and creating a second link of the context information to the first mapping and the second mapping;
• means for receiving a third message of the transport protocol from the second host that specifies the second public network address as a destination;
• means for automatically using, based on the mappings and the links, the session parameters of the context information for processing subsequent messages between the first host and the second host that use the second public network address and the second private network address.

An apparatus for detecting and recovering from faults associated with transport protocol connections across network address translators, comprising:

• a network interface that is coupled to the data network for receiving one or more packet flows therefrom;
• a processor;
• one or more stored sequences of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to carry out the steps of:
• receiving a connection initialization message of a transport protocol, wherein the connection initialization message includes two or more private network addresses of a first host;
• allocating two or more public network addresses corresponding to the two or more private network addresses;
• electronically creating and storing a first mapping of a first private network address to a first public network address, a second mapping of a second private network address to a second public network address, and a link of the first mapping to the second mapping;
• in response to receiving a second message of the transport protocol from the first host, creating and storing context information comprising one or more session parameters for a first transport session between the first host and a second host referencing the first private network address, and creating a second link of the context information to the first mapping and the second mapping;
• receiving a third message of the transport protocol from the second host that specifies the second public network address as a destination;
• based on the mappings and the links, automatically using the session parameters of the context information for processing subsequent messages between the first host and the second host that use the second public network address and the second private network address.