Communication method and apparatus utilizing protocol options

A method of operating a communication network to provide communication between an originating unit and a terminating unit, said method comprising the steps of:

• routing data identifying an originating protocol for said originating unit and a terminating protocol for said terminating unit to a network processor, wherein said network processor comprises an originating processor associated with said originating unit and residing in an originating network node, and a terminating processor associated with said terminating unit and residing in a terminating network node;
• determining whether said originating protocol is substantially identical to said terminating protocol, and when said determining step determines that said originating protocol is substantially identical to said terminating protocol, said substantially identical protocols defining a common protocol, identifying said communication link as a first communication link, activating a second communication link between said originating unit and said terminating unit using said common protocol, and routing said second communication link to exclude one of said originating and terminating network nodes;
• establishing, when said determining step determines that said originating protocol is not substantially identical to said terminating protocol, a communication link between said originating and terminating units using both of said originating and terminating protocols;
• and
• translating, when said determining step determines that said originating protocol is not substantially identical to said terminating protocol, between said originating and terminating protocols.