Patent ID: 7680065

Claim:
A method for controlling traffic in a network, wherein an originator initiates a transfer of information with a receiver, wherein a network device coupled between the originator and the receiver has at least two modes of operation, the method comprising: translating an unregistered address for the originator into a registered address using a network address translator (NAT) in the network device, wherein the network device operates in a first mode of operation with a port-restricted NAT configuration such that the originator sends information packets to the receiver using a first port in the NAT; detecting that a predetermined network traffic condition has been met; and changing operation of the network device from the first mode of operation to a second mode of operation in response to the detected predetermined network traffic condition, wherein the second mode of operation comprises a symmetrical NAT configuration such that the receiver subsequently sends information packets to the originator using a second port in the NAT.