Intelligent network address translator and methods for network address translation

A network address translation system configured to provide network address translation services in a communications network, the system comprising:

• a processor;
• a computer readable storage device in communication with the processor;
• one or more network interfaces in communication with the processor, at least one of the network interfaces being associated on the network address translation system with a shared public IP address;
• and
• an address selector module configured to perform, on the processor, a method comprising:
• receiving a packet from a local network via one of the network interfaces;
• identifying a host computer associated with the received packet;
• identifying a record stored in the computer readable storage device, the stored record associating an identifier of the host computer with an indicator of public IP address usage;
• and
• determining whether to transmit the received packet using the shared public IP address and a selected port, or whether to transmit the received packet using a different public IP address, the determination being based on the indicator of public IP address usage of the identified stored record.

A method of translating data packets being sent between a private network and a public network, the method comprising:

• receiving a data packet from the private network;
• determining, using a processor, whether a host device associated with the received data packet is associated with a Network Address Translation scheme or a Network Port Address Translation scheme, the determination being based on data stored in a computer-readable storage device in communication with the processor, the data including an identifier of the host device;
• translating the received data packet in accordance with a Network Address Translation scheme or a Network Port Address Translation scheme based on the determination, thereby producing a translated packet;
• and
• transmitting the translated packet to the public network.