IMPROVED NODE IN A NETWORK

摘要

The invention relates to a network node for facilitating traversal of NATs. The node includes a NAT, a client such as e.g. a STUN client, configured for determining NAT-related information for the NAT by exchanging one or more messages with a server such as e.g. a STUN server, and a routing unit configured for routing the messages exchanged between the client and the server via the NAT. Implementing the client on such a network node allows messages sent by a NAT information provider, NIP, to reach the client, while implementing the routing unit ensures that the client is “behind” the NAT in the network sense. In this manner, the NIP may request NAT behaviour discovery and obtain NAT-related information from the client and is able to later provide appropriate NAT-related information to terminals in local networks, thereby enabling the terminals to traverse the NATs that they are behind.