Method for managing communication connections by network address translating (NAT) network nodes

A communication system comprising:

• a communication facility generating a first connection request directed to a first external communication terminal that is external to a first communication network of the communication facility, the first connection request having a source network identifier for a first communication terminal that is valid inside the first communication network;
• and
• a first network address translating node translating the source network identifier of the first connection request to identify a network identifier for the first network address translating node and subsequently transmitting a second connection request directed to the first external communication terminal, the second connection request having the translated source network identifier that was translated by the first network address translating node;
• and
• wherein the first network address translating node is configured to receive a confirmation message from the first external communication terminal, the confirmation message comprising a network identifier for the first external communication terminal that is valid inside an external communication network of the first external communication terminal, the external communication network being external from the first communication network;
• and
• wherein the first network address translating node provides the source network identifier of the first connection request and the network identifier for the first external communication terminal to a connection table for a connection entry in the connection table;
• and
• wherein a connection between the first communication terminal and the first external communication terminal is established such that payload is exchangeable between the first communication terminal and the first external communication terminal.

A communication system, comprising:

• a plurality of inter-connected first communication terminals inside a first communication network, each of the communication terminals comprising:
• a communication facility, the communication facility generating a first connection request directed to a first external communication terminal that is external to a first communication network of the communication facility, the first connection request having a source network identifier for the first communication terminal that is valid inside the first communication network;
• and
• a first network address translating node translating the source network identifier of the first connection request to identify a network identifier for the first network address translating node and subsequently transmitting a second connection request directed to the first external communication terminal, the second connection request having the translated source network identifier that was translated by the first network address translating node;
• and
• wherein the first network address translating node is configured to receive a confirmation message from the first external communication terminal, the confirmation message comprising a network identifier for the first external communication terminal that is valid inside an external communication network of the first external communication terminal, the external communication network being external from the first communication network;
• and
• wherein the source network identifier of the first connection request and the network identifier for the first external communication terminal is provided to a connection table for a connection entry in the connection table;
• and
• wherein a connection between the first communication terminal and the first external communication terminal is established such that payload is exchangeable between the first communication terminal and the first external communication terminal.