Method and apparatus for handling SCTP multi-homed connections

A computer system operable to handle Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP) multi-homed connections across multiple translation devices, wherein the computer system is in the form of a particular translation device, the computer system comprising:

• one or more processors;
• one or more memory, wherein at least one of the processors and memory are adapted for:
• when an SCTP association between two hosts is being established through the particular translation device, from the particular translation device communicating multi-homing information for a particular one of the hosts to one or more other translation devices associated with the particular translation device so that the one or more other translation devices can store the multi-homing information and when at the one or more other translation devices data is received for the established SCTP association between the two hosts, causing the data to be sent to its intended destination based on the stored multi-homing information, wherein the multi-homing information, which is communicated from the particular translation device to the one or more other translation devices, includes multiple private addresses and/or ports for the particular host and a translation of at least some of such multiple private addresses and/or ports;
• storing the multi-homing information for the particular translation device;
• and
• when at the particular translation device data is received for the established SCTP association between the two hosts, causing the data to be sent to its intended destination based on the multi-homing information.

A computer program product for handling Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP) multi-homed connections across multiple translation devices, the computer program product comprising:

• at least one computer readable medium;
• computer program instructions stored within the at least one computer readable product configured for:
• when an SCTP association between two hosts is being established through a particular translation device, from the particular translation device communicating multi-homing information for a particular one of the hosts to one or more other translation devices associated with the particular translation device so that the one or more other translation devices can store the multi-homing information and when at the one or more other translation devices data is received for the established SCTP association between the two hosts, causing the data to be sent to its intended destination based on the stored multi-homing information, wherein the multi-homing information, which is communicated from the particular translation device to the one or more other translation devices, includes multiple private addresses and/or ports for the particular host and a translation of at least some of such multiple private addresses and/or ports;
• storing the multi-homing information for the particular translation device;
• and
• when at the particular translation device data is received for the established SCTP association between the two hosts, causing the data to be sent to its intended destination based on the multi-homing information.

An apparatus for handling Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP) multi-homed connections across multiple translation devices, wherein the apparatus is in the form of a particular translation device, the apparatus comprising:

• means for when an SCTP association between two hosts is being established through a particular translation device, from the particular translation device communicating multi-homing information for a particular one of the hosts to one or more other translation devices associated with the particular translation device so that the one or more other translation devices can store the multi-homing information and when at the one or more other translation devices data is received for the established SCTP association between the two hosts, causing the data to be sent to its intended destination based on the stored multi-homing information, wherein the multi-homing information, which is communicated from the particular translation device to the one or more other translation devices, includes multiple private addresses and/or ports for the particular host and a translation of at least some of such multiple private addresses and/or ports;
• means for storing the multi-homing information for the particular translation device;
• and
• means for when at the particular translation device data is received for the established SCTP association between the two hosts, causing the data to be sent to its intended destination based on the multi-homing information.