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Abstract

Methods for processing a media flow at an end of a tunneling association in a data network. One method includes receiving a data packet on a public network, such as the Internet, and recognizing that it encapsulates another data packet for a virtual connection to an application. The virtual connection is addressed by private network addresses. Another method includes constructing a data packet for a virtual connection to the application and encapsulating it for transmission on the public network. The methods provide for hiding the identity of the originating and terminating ends of the tunneling association from the other users of the public network. Hiding the identities may prevent interception of media flow between the ends of the tunneling association or eavesdropping on Voice-over-Internet-Protocol calls. The methods increase the security of communication on the data network without imposing a computational burden on the devices in the data network.

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First Claim