Patent ID: 7305546

Claim:
A method of peer-to-peer communication over a data network wherein first and second peers are coupled to said data network by respective firewalls, said method comprising the steps of: each of said first and second peers establishing a respective persistent control connection with a socket welding control module connected within said data network; using said persistent connections to perform respective protocol capability exchanges; one of said first and second peers using said respective persistent control connection to request a communication channel between said peers; said socket welding control module informing a socket welder of addresses, ports, and protocol capabilities corresponding to said peers; said socket welding control module informing said peers of connection information corresponding to said socket welder; each peer sending application packets through its respective firewall to said socket welder; said socket welder modifying said application packets into a form for tunneling through said firewall of the other peer; and said socket welder forwarding said modified application packets to the other peer.