Patent ID: 7903585

Claim:
A method comprising: receiving a discovery request from a Network Management System (NMS) transmitted to a public internet Protocol (IP) address associated with a private network, wherein said discovery request includes a request to identify devices of said private network, and wherein said NMS is connected with a public network; identifying said devices of said private network; transmitting a private IP address for each of said devices to said NMS; receiving an access request from said NMS to add a Port Address Translation (PAT) entry for one or more of said devices, wherein said access request includes said private IP address and designates a port for communication with said one or more devices, and wherein said access request is accompanied by a password; verifying said password and adding said PAT entry to a translation table, wherein said PAT entry includes said private IP address and said designated port; receiving a second discovery request from said NMS to said designated port, wherein said second discovery request includes a request to identify additional devices known by said one or more devices; forwarding said second discovery request to said one or more devices to additionally identify devices of said private network and unknown to the NMS; and removing said PAT entry from said translation table after said one or more devices have been discovered by said NMS.