Patent ID: 7886057

Claim:
A method for communicating video conference data between at least a first host and a second host, the method comprising: establishing a first communication channel between the first host and a directory server; providing periodically, by the first host to the directory server; at least one keep-alive message to maintain the first communication channel; establishing a second communication channel between the second host and the directory server: providing periodically, by the second host to the directory server; at least one keep-alive message to maintain the second communication channel; requesting, from the directory server, address information of the first host, the address information including information identifying a first open port in a first network security system coupled between the first host and the directory server; wherein the address information of the first host was previously provided to the directory server by a process of registration of the first host; receiving, at the second host, the address information of the first host; and communicating video conference data from the second host to the first host via a direct communication channel passing through the first open port in the first network security system and a second network security system coupled between the second host and the directory server, using the address information of the first host, and absent intervention from an intermediate server system.