US 2003/0118002 A1 · Methods and apparatus for setting up telephony connections between two address domains having overlapping address ranges

Abstract

IP addresses are presently becoming a scarce resource, even in private IP address domains. Commonly therefore network address translators are used to map a large number of private addresses to a relatively small number of public IP address, or even map addresses between two different IP address domains. However, network address translators do not readily pass voice set-up protocols such as SIP and VoIP packets. By modifying a call server and providing an intelligent network address translator, conventional media gateways may be caused to use the intelligent address translator to route VoIP packets between IP domains having overlapping address spaces.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A method of initiating a media call over a packet-switched network comprising:

(a) issuing a call set-up request at a first terminal having an address in a first address range, the call set-up request being destined for a second terminal in a separate network having an address in a second address range which overlaps with the first address range,
(b) passing the call set-up request to a first call server communicatively coupled to the first address range,
(c) passing the call set-up request from the first call server to a second call server communicatively coupled to the second address range,
(d) causing the call servers to negotiate a port at each respective addresses of the terminals for subsequent communication once the call is set-up,
(e) providing a first address translator having a first range address in the first address range,
(f) providing a second address translator having a second range address in the second address range,
(g) causing the first call server to provide the first terminal with the first range address of the first address translator as its destination address for the call,
(h) causing the second call server to provide the second terminal with the second range address of the second address translator as its destination address for the call,
(i) arranging for the first address translator to pass data received at the first range address from the first terminal at the negotiated port to the second address translator for onward communication to the address of the second terminal at the negotiated port, and
(j) arranging for the second address translator to pass data received at the second range address from the second terminal at the negotiated port to the first address translator for onward communication to the address of the first terminal at the negotiated port,
whereby two-way communication is established between the first and second terminals via the first and second address translators.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Methods and apparatus for setting up telephony connections between two address domains having overlapping address ranges

Life of this patent

Methods and apparatus for setting up telephony connections between two address domains having overlapping address ranges

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17