METHOD FOR SENDING MESSAGES OVER SECURE MOBILE COMMUNICATION LINKS

摘要

The method of the invention is concerned with sending messages over secure communication links in networks comprising at least one mobile terminal and at least one other terminal. There might be intermediate computers between the mobile terminal and the other terminal that perform network address translation and/or other translations. A secure communication link is established between a given initial network address of the mobile terminal and the address of the other terminal. In the method of the invention, the secure communication link defines at least the addresses of the two terminals. Furthermore, the secure communication link supports some method, e.g. an encapsulation method to overcome network address translations and/or other translations. When the mobile terminal moves from an initial network address to a new network address, a request message is sent from the mobile terminal to the other terminal to change the secure connection to be between the new address of the mobile terminal and the other terminal. The request is sent using said method to overcome network translations, e.g. an encapsulation method. The request also contains information to enable the other terminal to detect the existence and nature of translations performed by possible intermediate computer(s). The request also indicates the overcoming methods supported by the mobile terminal. The other terminal responds to the mobile terminal with a reply message with a description about the overcoming methods, such as encapsulations, supported by the other terminal and/or about possible translations made by intermediate computer(s) situated between the other terminal and the new address of the mobile terminal. All messages are thereafter sent from the mobile terminal to the other terminal by using the information sent with said reply.