Apparatus and method for peer to peer network connectivty

摘要

A system and method for creating a peer to peer network by interconnecting private networks via publicly addressable residential gateways. A tunnel between a gateway of a first private network and a gateway of a second private network is established and the address of a device in one of the private networks is mapped into the other private network for enabling the device in one of the private networks to communicate with the other private network. Interconnection between private networks is enabled where the private networks and connected devices are able to communicate among themselves without changes to the host system or a need for a centralized server in the public network. Security is provided through the use of Internet Protocol Security (IPsec).