Apparatus and methods for forwarding data between public networks via a private network

A first network address translation (NAT) system operable to handle data sent from a first processing node within a public network, through a private network, to a second node within a same or different public network, the first NAT system comprising:

• one or more processors;
• one or more memory, wherein at least one of the processors and memory are adapted to:
• receive from the first processing node a request to communicate with the second processing node, the request being sent from the first processing node, through a second network address translation (NAT) system, through the private network, to the first NAT system, wherein the request includes a private address associated with the first processing node;
• obtaining a public address to be associated with the first processing node and sending the public address to the first processing node, the obtained public address being based on an address space associated with the requested second processing node;
• creating a first binding between the public address and the private address associated with the first processing node;
• and
• sending the first binding to the second NAT system.

An apparatus for handling data sent from a first processing node within a public network, through a private network, to a second node within a same or different public network, the apparatus comprising:

• means for receiving from the first processing node a request to communicate with the second processing node, the request being sent from the first processing node, through a first network address translation (NAT) enabled router, through the private network, to a second NAT enabled router, wherein the request includes a private address associated with the first processing node and is received into the second NAT enabled router;
• means for obtaining a public address to be associated with the first processing node and sending the public address to the first processing node, the obtained public address being based on an address space associated with the requested second processing node;
• means for creating a first binding between the public address and the private address associated with the first processing node;
• and
• means for sending the first binding to the first NAT enabled router.