System and method for videoconferencing across networks separated by a firewall

A method for conducting a conference across networks separated by a firewall, comprising the steps of:

• receiving an incoming conferencing signal at a multimedia firewall adapter from a conference caller;
• decomposing the incoming conferencing signal into conferencing data;
• passing the conferencing data through the multimedia firewall adapter;
• recomposing the incoming conferencing signal from the conferencing data;
• and
• sending the recomposed conferencing signal to a conference recipient.

A system for conferencing across networks separated by a firewall, comprising:

• an inside multimedia firewall adapter unit coupled to an intranet for decomposing conferencing signals from the intranet according to a protocol;
• an outside multimedia firewall adapter unit coupled to an Internet for decomposing conferencing signals from the Internet according to the protocol;
• and
• a plurality of data channels coupling the inside multimedia firewall adapter unit to the outside multimedia firewall adapter unit.

An electronic-readable medium, having embodied thereon a program, the program being executable by a machine to perform method steps for conferencing across networks separated by a firewall, the method steps comprising:

• receiving an incoming data signal at a multimedia firewall adapter;
• decomposing the incoming data signal according to a protocol;
• authenticating the decomposed incoming data signal according to the protocol;
• allowing the decomposed incoming data signal to pass through the multimedia firewall adapter if the decomposed incoming data signal is authenticated to contain conferencing data;
• and
• blocking the incoming data signal from passing through the multimedia firewall adapter if the decomposed incoming data signal is not authenticated to contain conferencing data.

A system for conferencing across networks separated by a firewall, comprising:

• means for receiving an incoming data signal at a multimedia firewall adapter;
• means for decomposing the incoming data signal according to a protocol;
• means for authenticating the decomposed incoming data signal according to the protocol;
• means for allowing the decomposed incoming data signal to pass through the multimedia firewall adapter if the decomposed incoming data signal is authenticated to contain conferencing data;
• and
• means for blocking the incoming data signal from passing through the multimedia firewall adapter if the decomposed incoming data signal is not authenticated to contain conferencing data.