Patent ID: 7403995

Claim:
A method of establishing communication between a first node and a second node, said first node and said second node each being coupled to and addressable by way of a network, said first node having a first address, the method comprising: sending from said second node to said first node via said first address a session request, said session being uniquely identifiable; accepting said session request at said first node and creating a session, said session including establishment of a network connection; sending from said second node to said first node, via said session, a flip request; preserving at said first node said network connection; terminating at said first node said session; acknowledging from said first node to said second node said flip request; terminating at said second node said session; sending from said first node to said second node via said network connection a second session request; accepting said second session request at said second node, said second session including interaction via said network connection, said session being uniquely identifiable; said method further comprising communication between said first node and a third node, said third node being a private node, said method further comprising: sending from said third node to said first node via said first address a third session request; accepting said third session request at said first node and creating a third session, said third session including establishment of a second network connection; sending from said third node to said first node, via said third session, a second flip request; preserving at said first node said second network connection; terminating at said first node said third session; acknowledging from said first node to said third node said second flip request; terminating at said third node said third session; sending from said first node to said third node via said second network connection a fourth session request; and accepting said fourth session request at said third node, said fourth session including interaction via said second network connection; and said first node serving as a communication intermediary between said second node and said third node.