Establishing call sessions between terminals through plural switch systems

A method of establishing a call session over a packet-based network, comprising:

• receiving, in a first switch, a call request over the packet-based network from a first terminal associated with a logical identifier, the call request targeting a second terminal coupled to a second switch;
• storing, in the first switch, information relating to features of the first terminal, the information associated with the logical identifier;
• sending, from the first switch, a request over a packet-based trunk to the second switch in response to the call request;
• and
• sending, from the first switch to the first terminal, a media connection request containing a network address of the second terminal to enable the first terminal to establish a media path with the second terminal over the packet-based network,
• wherein storing, in the first switch, information relating to features of the first terminal comprises storing information relating to a speed dial feature of the first terminal that is coupled to the first switch over a packet-based network.

A switch system for establishing calls over a packet-based network, comprising:

• an interface adapted to communicate over the packet-based network;
• a controller communicatively coupled to the interface and adapted to receive a call request over the packet-based network from a first terminal, the first terminal associated with a logical identifier, the call request targeting a second terminal that is coupled to a second switch system,
• the controller adapted to further send signaling to the second switch system over a packet-based trunk provided over the packet-based network;
• and
• a storage unit containing information relating to features of the first terminal, the information associated with the logical identifier of the first terminal,
• wherein the controller is adapted to send a media connection request to the first terminal, the media connection request containing a network address of the second terminal to enable the first terminal to establish a media path with the second terminal over the packet-based network,
• wherein the controller is adapted to interact with the first terminal to establish a call session based on the call request and the media connection request enables the first terminal to communicate over the media path of the call session with the second terminal without passing though the first and second switches.

A switch system for establishing calls over a packet-based network, comprising:

• an interface adapted to communicate over the packet-based network;
• a controller communicatively coupled to the interface and adapted to receive a call request over the packet-based network from a first terminal, the first terminal associated with a logical identifier, the call request targeting a second terminal that is coupled to a second switch system,
• the controller adapted to further send signaling to the second switch system over a packet-based trunk provided over the packet-based network;
• and
• a storage unit containing information relating to features of the first terminal, the information associated with the logical identifier of the first terminal, the information including a telephone number for a speed-dial button of the first terminal.

An article comprising at least one storage medium containing instructions that when executed cause a first switch to:

• receive a request over a packet-based network from a first terminal, the terminal associated with a logical identifier;
• access a profile associated with the logical identifier;
• use information in the profile to send signaling to a second switch to establish a call session with a second terminal;
• send a media connection request to the first terminal, the media connection request containing a network address of the second terminal to enable the first terminal to establish a media path with the second terminal over the packet-based network;
• and
• interact with the first terminal to establish the call session based on the received request,
• wherein the media connection request enables the first terminal to communicate over the media path of the call session with the second terminal without passing through the first and second switches.

An article comprising at least one storage medium containing instructions that when executed cause a first switch to:

• receive a request over a packet-based network from a first terminal, the terminal associated with a logical identifier;
• access a profile associated with the logical identifier;
• and
• use information in the profile to send signaling to a second switch to establish a call session with a second terminal,
• wherein accessing the profile comprises accessing a profile containing information relating to a speed dial feature of the first terminal.

A data signal embodied in a carrier wave and comprising instructions that when executed cause a first switch to:

• receive a call request over the packet-based network from a first terminal associated with a logical identifier, the call request targeting a second terminal coupled to a second switch;
• store information relating to features of the first terminal, the information associated with the logical identifier;
• send a request over a packet-based trunk to the second switch in response to the call request;
• send a media connection request to the first terminal containing a network address of the second terminal to enable the first terminal to establish a media path with the second terminal over the packet-based network;
• and
• interact with the first terminal to establish a call session based on the call request, and
• wherein the media connection request enables the first terminal to communicate over the media path of the call session with the second terminal without passing through the first and second switches.

A data signal embodied in a carrier wave and comprising instructions that when executed cause a first switch to:

• receive a call request over the packet-based network from a first terminal associated with a logical identifier, the call request targeting a second terminal coupled to a second switch;
• store information relating to features of the first terminal, the information associated with the logical identifier;
• send a request over a packet-based trunk to the second switch in response to the call request;
• and
• send a media connection request to the first terminal containing a network address of the second terminal to enable the first terminal to establish a media path with the second terminal over the packet-based network,
• wherein storing the information relating to features of the first terminal comprises storing information relating to a speed dial feature of the first terminal that is coupled to the first switch over the packet-based network.