Network address translation protocol for transmission control protocol connections

摘要

The present invention is directed to a computer-implemented Network Address Translation (NAT) traversal method for establishing a direct connection from a first entity to a second entity, including a recipient peer communicating through a recipient NAT box. The method includes the steps of: (a) initiating an outbound TCP communication by the recipient peer through the recipient NAT box to the first entity; (b) creating, by the recipient NAT box, a mapping for use in forwarding requests received at the IP address and port of recipient NAT box to the IP address and port of the recipient peer; (c) rejecting the communication by the first entity; (d) initiating a TCP communication by the first entity, at the IP address and port of the first entity, with the recipient peer, at the IP address and port of the recipient peer, through the recipient NAT box, at the IP address and port of the recipient NAT box utilizing the mapping, thereby establishing a direct communication between the first entity and the recipient peer.