Communication network and method of operation therefor
View Patent ↗A communication network comprising a Network Address Translator (NAT) arranged to translate between a public NAT address and a plurality of private NAT addresses. A network element has a plurality of network interfaces each of which corresponds to a private NAT address. A connection processor sets up a connection for data communication which is capable of supporting a plurality of network interfaces of the network element. An identifier processor initializes a network interface identifier for identifying individual network interfaces for the connection. The network interface identifier is distributed to the NAT and the network elements of the connection. Incoming data packets for the network elements are then adapted to include the network interface identifier and the NAT uses this to address the data packets in response to the first network interface identifier.
1. A communication method comprising:
arranging a first Network Address Translator (NAT) to translate between a public NAT address and a plurality of private NAT addresses for a plurality of network elements supported by the first NAT;
setting up a connection for data communication between a first network element and a second network element, the connection being capable of supporting a plurality of network interfaces for the first network element, each network interface corresponding to a private NAT address;
initializing a first network interface identifier for identifying a first network interface for the connection, wherein the first network interface identifier is unique for the connection;
providing the first network interface identifier to at least the first network element, the second network element and the first NAT;
arranging the second network element to include the first network interface identifier in at least some data packets for the first network element; and
arranging the first NAT to address the at least some data packets to the first network interface of the first network element in response to the first network interface identifier.
2. The communication method of claim 1 , further comprising:
arranging an identifier processor to initialize a second network interface identifier for identifying a second network interface; and
arranging to provide the second network interface identifier to at least the first network element, the second network element and an associated NAT supporting the second network interface,
the second network element being arranged to include the second network interface identifier in at least some further data packets for the first network element, and
the associated NAT being arranged to address the at least some data packets to the second network interface of the first network element in response to the second network interface identifier.
3. The communication method of claim 2 , wherein the first NAT and the associated NAT are the same.
4. The communication method of claim 2 , wherein the first NAT and the associated NAT are different NATs.
5. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon a computer-readable program for implementing a communication method, the method comprising:
arranging a first Network Address Translator (NAT) to translate between a public NAT address and a plurality of private NAT addresses for a plurality of network elements supported by the first NAT;
setting up a connection for data communication between a first network element and a second network element, the connection being capable of supporting a plurality of network interfaces for the first network element, each network interface corresponding to a private NAT address;
initializing a first network interface identifier for identifying a first network interface for the connection, wherein the first network interface identifier is unique for the connection;
providing the first network interface identifier to at least the first network element, the second network element and a first NAT;
arranging the second network element to include the first network interface identifier in at least some data packets for the first network element; and
arranging the first NAT to address the at least some data packets to the first network interface of the first network element in response to the first network interface identifier.