Patent ID: 6202081
Filing Date: 2001-03-13
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
In a first network with a plurality of network devices and a plurality of firewalls, the first network connected to a second network with a plurality of network devices, a method of firewall traversal, the method comprising the following steps:sending a first secure message with a firewall traversal protocol from a first network device on a first network inside a first firewall to a second network device on a second network outside the first firewall, wherein the first secure message includes firewall traversal information that helps the second network device to traverse the first firewall protecting the first network by allowing a virtual data transfer-window to be created through the first firewall;receiving a second secure message with the firewall traversal protocol on the first network device from the second network device network creating a virtual data transfer-window through the first firewall, wherein the second secure message includes firewall traversal information from the first secure message to authenticate the second network device; andreceiving a plurality of secure data packets on the first network device in the virtual data transfer-window through the first firewall from the second network device, wherein the plurality of secure data packets received through the virtual data transfer-window in the firewall include firewall traversal information from the first secure message to authenticate the plurality of secure data packets at the first firewall.