Call processing control system

A method for processing a call over a network comprising

• providing a call handling device that is attached to said network via a first call connection interface, said first call connection interface permitting establishing and releasing a network connection to said call over said network and participation with a second call connection interface in said network connection to said call over said network,
• providing a device controller connected to said network via said second call connection interface, said second call connection interface permitting establishing and releasing said network connection to said call over said network, participation with said first call connection interface in said network connection to said call over said network, and control over said network connection when said second call connection interface is the sole interface participating in said connection to said call over said network,
• receiving said call at said network connection in which both said call handling device and said device controller participate,
• actively engaging said call by said call handling device, and
• transmitting a control message regarding at least one of establishing and releasing said network connection from said device controller to said call handling device via message transfer interfaces.

A control system for processing a call over a network comprising:

• a call handling device connected to said network via a first call connection interface, said first call connection interface permitting establishing and releasing a network connection to said call over said network and participation with a second call connection interface in said network connection to said call over said network, said call handling device being programmed to do at least one of sending and receiving messages over message transfer interfaces and being capable of actively engaging said call over said first call connection interface, said call handling device and said call being connected to said network via respective legs, one of said legs being added to said network connection before the other leg, and
• a device controller connected to said network via said second call connection interface, said second call connection interface permitting establishing and releasing said network connection to said call over said network, participation with said first call connection interface in said network connection to said call over said network, and control over said network connection to drop the leg that was added last to said network connection,
• said device controller being connected to said call handling device via message transfer interfaces and being programmed to do at least one of sending or receiving messages over said message transfer interfaces, said device controller also being programmed to provide a drop message to said network to drop the last leg added to said network connection.

A method for processing a call over a network comprising

• providing a call handling device that is attached to said network via a first call connection interface, said first call connection interface permitting establishing and releasing a network connection to said call over said network and participation with a second call connection interface in said network connection to said call over said network,
• providing a device controller connected to said network via said second call connection interface, said second call connection interface permitting establishing and releasing said network connection to said call over said network, participation with said first call connection interface in said network connection to said call over said network, and control over said network connection to drop the leg that was added last to said network connection,
• receiving said call at a network connection in which both said call handling device and said device controller participate,
• actively engaging said call by said call handling device over said first call connection interface,
• said call handling device and said call being connected to said network via respective legs, one of said legs being added to said network connection before the other leg,
• transmitting a message between said device controller and said call handling device via message transfer interfaces, and

A method for shifting control of a network connection from one network interface to a network to another comprising

• providing a first terminal device connected to said network via a first network interface, said first network interface permitting establishing and releasing said network connection, participation with a second network interface in said network connection, and control over said network connection when said first network interface is the sole network interface participating in said network connection,
• providing a second terminal device connected to said network via said second network interface, said second network interface permitting establishing and releasing said network connection, participation with said first network interface in said network connection, and control over said network connection when said second network interface is the sole network interface participating in said network connection,
• establishing a network connection to said network by said first terminal device via said first network interface,
• sending a control message relating to said network connection from one said first and second terminal device to the other of said first and second terminal devices over message transfer interfaces,
• establishing a connection to said network connection by said second terminal device via said second network interface to participate in said call connection with said first terminal device, and
• releasing said network connection by said first terminal device.

A method for monitoring the state of a network connection to a network from a network interface comprising

• providing a first terminal device connected to said network via a first network interface, said first network interface permitting establishing and releasing said network connection and participation with a second network interface in said network connection,
• providing a second terminal device connected to said network via said second network interface, said second network interface permitting establishing and releasing said network connection and participation with said first network interface in said network connection, said first terminal device being connected to said network connection via a first leg, said network connection having a second leg over said network associated therewith, one of said legs being added before the other leg, said second interface permitting control over said network connection to drop the leg that was added last to said network connection,
• participating in said network connection to said network by said first and second terminal devices, and
• determining the state of said network connection by said second terminal device by examining the state of the network that results after sending a drop message to the network to drop the leg added last to said network connection.