A VPN connection method and a communication system are provided, each
which can omit the setting of a firewall and the installation of a relay
server and can establish communications from the outside of a firewall to
the inside thereof. The internal network 2 is connected to the external
network 1 via the firewall 13. The internal network 2 enables
communications by an e-mail from the external network 1 (outside the
firewall) to the mail server 21 in the internal network 2 (inside the
firewall) or communications by telephone or radio, which is not via the
firewall 3. The feature of the firewall 3 is utilized that access from
the outside to the inside of the firewall through VPN connection is very
difficult but the access in the reverse stream can be simply performed.
Using the mail server, telephone line or radio line, the internal network
2 receives an e-mail, which requires for VPN connection from the external
network 1, or control information through the telephone line. Thus, the
internal network 2 sends callback for VPN connection to the e-mail
transmission source. As a result, the callback allows the external
network 1 to pass through the firewall 3.