Communicating voice over a packet-switching network

A method of establishing a voice call bearing voice data through a packet-switching network, comprising:

• receiving signaling data for establishing the voice call;
• obtaining a network address of a first coding unit in the packet-switching network by
• transmitting, in response to receiving the signaling data, a first message to the first coding unit requesting the network address of the first coding unit, and
• receiving a second message from the first coding unit containing the network address of the first coding unit;
• and
• controlling a second coding unit in the packet-switching network to establish a bearer channel with the first coding unit for carrying the voice data through the packet-switching network, based on the network address of the first coding unit in the packet-switching network.

A computer-readable medium bearing instructions for establishing a voice call bearing voice data through a packet-switching network, said instructions arranged, when executed, for causing one or more processors to perform the steps of:

• receiving signaling data for establishing the voice call;
• obtaining a network address of a first coding unit in the packet-switching network by
• transmitting, in response to receiving the signaling data, a first message to the first coding unit requesting the network address of the first coding unit, and
• receiving a second message from the first coding unit containing the network address of the first coding unit;
• and
• controlling a second coding unit in the packet-switching network to establish a bearer channel with the first coding unit for carrying the voice data through the packet-switching network, based on the network address of the first coding unit in the packet-switching network.

A telecommunications network, comprising:

• a packet-switching network;
• a first coding unit coupled to the packet-switching network and a first node originating a voice call bearing voice data, configured to convert between multiplexed voice data and voice data packets, wherein the first coding unit is further configured to extract signaling data associated with the voice call and transmit the signaling data to the first signaling apparatus;
• a second coding unit coupled to the packet-switching network and a second node terminating the voice call, configured to convert between multiplexed voice data and voice data packets;
• and
• a first signaling apparatus coupled to the first coding unit and the second coding unit;
• wherein the first coding unit is configured to transmit to the first signaling apparatus a network address of the first coding unit;
• wherein the second coding unit is controllable by the first signaling apparatus to establish a connection through the packet-switching network with the first coding unit for the voice call based on a network address of the first coding unit.