System and method for routing information packets
AssigneeCisco Technology, Inc.
InventorCullen Jennings
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Abstract
A system and method allowing control of VoIP communications by configuring a Network Address Translator (NAT) is provided. In a first NAT configuration, such a port-restricted NAT, peer-to-peer Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communications are permitted between a VoIP originator and a receiver. In a second NAT configuration, such as a symmetrical NAT, peer-to-peer communications are not possible without further cooperation of the NAT. In this manner, an entity that has control of the NAT, such as an ISP, is able to have a degree of control over traffic using network resources such as bandwidth.
Claims20
A method for controlling traffic in a network, wherein an originator initiates a transfer of information with a receiver, wherein a network device coupled between the originator and the receiver has at least two modes of operation, the method comprising:
- translating an unregistered address for the originator into a registered address using a network address translator (NAT) in the network device, wherein the network device operates in a first mode of operation with a port-restricted NAT configuration such that the originator sends information packets to the receiver using a first port in the NAT;
- detecting that a predetermined network traffic condition has been met;
- and
- changing operation of the network device from the first mode of operation to a second mode of operation in response to the detected predetermined network traffic condition, wherein the second mode of operation comprises a symmetrical NAT configuration such that the receiver subsequently sends information packets to the originator using a second port in the NAT.
An apparatus for controlling traffic in a network, wherein an originator initiates a transfer of information with a receiver, wherein a network device coupled between the originator and the receiver has at least two modes of operation, the apparatus comprising:
- a processor;
- and
- a computer-readable storage medium including instructions executable by the processor, the storage medium comprising:
- one or more instructions for translating an unregistered address for the originator into a registered address using a network address translator (NAT) in the network device, wherein the network device operates in a first mode of operation with a port-restricted NAT configuration such that the originator sends information packets to the receiver using a first port in the NAT;
- one or more instructions for detecting that a predetermined network traffic condition has been met;
- and
- one or more instructions for changing operation of the network device from the first mode of operation to a second mode of operation in response to the detected predetermined network traffic condition, wherein the second mode of operation comprises a symmetrical NAT configuration such that the receiver subsequently sends information packets to the originator using a second port in the NAT.
A computer-readable storage medium including instructions executable by a processor for controlling traffic in a network, wherein an originator initiates a transfer of information with a receiver, wherein a network device coupled between the originator and the receiver has at least two modes of operation, the storage medium comprising:
- one or more instructions for translating an unregistered address for the originator into a registered address using a network address translator (NAT) in the network device, wherein the network device operates in a first mode of operation with a port-restricted NAT configuration such that the originator sends information packets to the receiver using a first port in the NAT;
- one or more instructions for detecting that a predetermined network traffic condition has been met;
- and
- one or more instructions for changing operation of the network device from the first mode of operation to a second mode of operation in response to the detected predetermined network traffic condition, wherein the second mode of operation comprises a symmetrical NAT configuration such that the receiver subsequently sends information packets to the originator using a second port in the NAT.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.