On-Premises Proxy Mapping for Private P2P Topology Obscuring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Video conferencing platforms face challenges in configuring peer-to-peer (P2P) groups within private networks without divulging internal network topologies, as existing methods require exposing IP addresses and other internal information, violating security policies.
Innovation Solution
Implementing on-premises proxy services that map internal identifiers to alternate identifiers and encrypt/decrypt messages, allowing P2P group configuration without revealing private network details.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If P2P group configuration is implemented within private networks, then media delivery efficiency is improved and platform loads are reduced, but internal network topology information is exposed violating security policies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a network address translator (NAT) as an intermediary component within the private network gateway. The NAT translates internal private IP addresses to external public IP addresses, allowing P2P connections to be established without exposing the actual internal network topology to external tracking services. This mediator enables efficient P2P media delivery while maintaining network security by hiding internal structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual representation of network addresses through the NAT mechanism. Instead of exposing real internal IP addresses, the system uses translated public IP addresses that serve as copies or proxies. These copied address representations allow external services to facilitate P2P connections without accessing or learning about the actual internal network configuration.
2Ease of operation
If internal identifiers are exposed for P2P configuration, then peer connection establishment is simplified, but security policies are violated
Solution Approach 1:
The NAT serves as an intermediary that sits between internal identifiers and external tracking services. It receives connection requests using translated public addresses, performs the necessary address translation, and facilitates peer connections without requiring internal identifiers to be exposed. This maintains ease of operation while protecting internal information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the address translation function from the P2P client devices and places it within the network gateway's NAT. This extraction allows the P2P configuration process to proceed using public addresses while the sensitive internal identifier translation happens independently within the network boundary, preventing internal information disclosure.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If centralized distribution servers are used instead of P2P, then network topology is protected, but bandwidth requirements and latency increase
Solution Approach 1:
The NAT acts as a lightweight intermediary that enables P2P direct connections without requiring content to flow through centralized distribution servers. By translating addresses at the network gateway level, it allows peers to establish direct media streams, reducing bandwidth consumption and latency while maintaining topology protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical content routing through centralized servers with a more efficient address translation mechanism. Instead of physically routing all media traffic through distribution servers (mechanical system), the NAT enables direct peer-to-peer paths by substituting the address resolution mechanism, thereby reducing bandwidth requirements and improving latency.
Data Source
AI summary
A data item is provided to an on-premises proxy service by a peer-to-peer (P2P) client device associated with a video conferencing platform. The P2P client device and the on-premises proxy service are associated with a private network. The data item comprises topological information corresponding to the private network. A transformed version of the data item is received from the on-premises proxy service. The transformed version of the data item obscures the topological information corresponding to the private network. The transformed version of the data item is provided to an external tracking service for a P2P configuration operation. The external tracking service is associated with the video conferencing platform and is external to the private network.