Patent ID: 7120692

Claim:
A system configured for remote point-to multipoint communications between private users through a public network while providing seamless, firewall-compliant connectivity, said system comprising: a first computer connectable to the public network over a first secure channel through a first firewall element, said first firewall element adapted to protect said first computer from hostile intrusion from the public network; a second computer connectable to the public network over a second secure channel through a second firewall element, said second firewall element adapted to protect said second computer from hostile intrusion from the public network; and a connection server operatively coupled to the public network, outside of said first and second firewall elements, said connection server including means for authenticating at least one of said first and second computers, means for forming a first, secure, firewall compliant connection with said first computer, means for forming a second, secure, firewall compliant connection with said second computer, means for forming a third, secure, firewall compliant connection with a third computer; means for sending communications received from said first computer to said second computer while maintaining second firewall compliance, means for sending communications received from said second computer to said first computer while maintaining first firewall compliance; and means for sending communications received from said first or second computer as point-to multipoint communications to multiple computers while maintaining firewall compliance of firewalls associated with communications sent to multiple computers, respectively.