Abstract: There is an increasing need for many media gateway nodes to be used in enterprise networks. These media gateway nodes are typically connected behind a network address translator (NAT) which connects the enterprise network to a public communications network. Communication between the access nodes and a service provider network, which is also connected to the public network, is needed to provide communications services to end users. However, as the number of media gateways increases problems arise associated with increased traffic, complexity and use of resources at the NAT and at the service provider network. A solution is presented whereby a node is used to represent the media gateway nodes in the enterprise network.

Abstract: To create and maintain a NAT bind, data packets need to flow from a private network to the public network, therefore the device in the private network that will use the NAT bind has to send data packets. This is not always convenient, and the device may not send data packets frequently enough. The invention provides methods for creating, maintaining and discovering NAT binds, and a dedicated device therefor called an Internet Protocol faker that sends packets through the NAT, whereby the source fields of the packets have been edited to be the IP address and port of the real device. When the packets are received by the NAT and their headers analysed, the NAT is fooled into determining that the packets are being sent by the real device, thereby allowing the IP faker to open a NAT bind and maintain the NAT bind on behalf of the real device.

Abstract: There is an increasing need for many media gateway nodes to be used in enterprise networks. These media gateway nodes are typically connected behind a network address translator (NAT) which connects the enterprise network to a public communications network. Communication between the access nodes and a service provider network, which is also connected to the public network, is needed to provide communications services to end users. However, as the number of media gateways increases problems arise associated with increased traffic, complexity and use of resources at the NAT and at the service provider network. A solution is presented whereby a node is used to represent the media gateway nodes in the enterprise network.