Patent ID: 6226751
Filing Date: 2001-05-01
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A method for establishing a virtual private network for facilitating secure communications between entities over a public data network, comprising:receiving selections for a plurality of entities coupled to the public data network to include in the virtual private network;wherein the entities reside on local networks coupled to the public data network and are addressed through local network addresses;assembling a plurality of identifiers for the plurality of entities;defining address translation rules for virtual private network units coupled to the public data network, the virtual private network units using the address translation rules to translate local network addresses for the local networks into corresponding addresses on the public data network;using the plurality of identifiers to identify communications between the plurality of entities;transferring the communications between the plurality of entities securely over the public data network; andwherein transferring the communications involves using the address translation rules to translate local network addresses into addresses on the public data network.