Patent ID: 7827313

Claim:
A method for use by a Host Identity Protocol, HIP, proxy node of at least partially securing communications, via the HIP proxy node, between a first host which is not HIP enabled and a second host which is HIP enabled, the method comprising: the HIP proxy node receiving a query from the first host to resolve an Internet Protocol, IP, address of the second host; in response to said query, the HIP proxy node retrieving an IP address and Host Identity Tag, HIT, associated with the second host; in response to said retrieval, the HIP proxy node returning a substitute IP address associated with the second host, and maintaining a mapping between the substitute IP address, the retrieved IP address and the retrieved HIT; and upon receipt of a session initiation message from the first host including as its destination address the substitute IP address, the HIP proxy node using the mapping to negotiate a HIP connection between the HIP proxy node and the second host.