Patent ID: 6353614
Filing Date: 2002-03-05
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A computer readable medium having stored therein a set of routines for implementing a port allocation protocol, said protocol allowing a plurality of first network devices on a first network to use globally unique ports in combination with a common external network address to communicate with a plurality of second network devices on a second external network without network address translation, said set of routines implementing said protocol including a plurality of protocol messages and combination network addresses as data bits, the computer readable medium comprising:a port allocation protocol request message, for requesting allocation of a plurality of globally unique port numbers for a network device; a port allocation protocol response message, for receiving the plurality of globally unique port numbers for the network device; a port allocation protocol invalidate message, for de-allocating the plurality of globally unique port numbers allocated to the network device; and a plurality of combination network addresses, having a globally unique port allocated by the port allocation protocol request message and a common external network address to identify a first network to a second external network, and allowing a plurality of first network devices on the first network to communicate with the plurality of second network devices on the second external network without network address translation.