METHOD AND APPARATUS TO CONTROL APPLICATION MESSAGES BETWEEN A CLIENT AND A SERVER HAVING A PRIVATE NETWORK ADDRESS

A method to control communication traffic in a communication network. The traffic includes application-level messages between a client and a server having a private network address. The method includes the steps of: sending by the client a request message requesting a service to the server using a first public network address associated with the server; processing the request message at an intermediate logic unit logically positioned between the client and the server; and receiving an alert signal at the intermediate unit. Upon receipt of said alert signal, the method provides for: mapping the private network address of the server to a second public network address associated with the server; and instructing the client to send the request message to the second public network address of the server, routing to the server only request messages directed to the second public network address.