Patent ID: 8346264

Claim:
A computer-implemented method comprising: transmitting data from a node located in a public network to one of a plurality of devices located in a private network, said public network being connected to said private network by a restrictive gateway which allows connections between the public and private networks to be established in only one direction, the restrictive gateway preventing communication from being initiated by the node to the one of said plurality of devices such that the node waits until a further device in the private network establishes a communication with the node before the node is able to transmit data to the one of said plurality of devices, said transmitting comprising: determining that the further device located in the private network has an existing connection with the node via the restrictive gateway comprising: receiving a first identifier from the one of said plurality of devices, where the first identifier is received from the one of said plurality of devices during a previous connection between the one of said plurality devices and the node; receiving a second identifier from the further device; comparing the first identifier with the second identifier; and determining that the further device is located in the private network if the first identifier and the second identifier are associated with the same network; transmitting from the node to the further device located in the private network a message addressed to the one of said plurality of devices via the connection between the node and the further device effective to cause the further device to forward the message to the one of said plurality of devices via a connection established within the private network.