8x8, Inc.
NAT traversal in VoIP communication system

Abstract:

Methods, systems, and apparatuses are provided for VoIP communication with VoIP-enabled devices via a network address translator (NAT). A set of proxy servers is configured to relay communications through mapped paths of the NAT during operations including VoIP sessions through or with the plurality of VoIP-enabled devices and during other operations not involving VoIP sessions through or with the plurality of VoIP-enabled devices. The mapped paths are susceptible to being unmapped by the NAT if the mapped path is unused for a threshold duration of time. The proxy servers maintain the mapped paths through the NAT by prompting the VoIP-enabled devices to communicate data to the set of proxy servers. More specifically, a VoIP-enabled device is prompted to communicate data to the set of proxy servers, in response to the VoIP-enabled device not communicating with the set of proxy servers for a duration of time exceeding the threshold duration of time.