IP packet access gateway

A method for managing an IP bearer path between IP endpoints, comprising the steps of:

• terminating a first IP bearer connection with a first IP endpoint;
• terminating a second IP bearer connection with a second IP endpoint;
• logically concatenating said connections into an active IP bearer path extending between said first IP endpoint and said second IP endpoint;
• moving bearer traffic IP packet payloads over said active IP bearer path, said packet payloads being part of a call established between said first IP endpoint and said second IP endpoint and comprising voice, data, multimedia or other information;
• and
• said moving step utilizing a bearer connection address table that associates said first IP bearer connection and said second IP bearer connection with said active IP bearer path, said bearer connection address table being constructed to provide bearer path pivot capability that allows said first IP bearer connection to participate in multiple IP bearer paths that respectively associate said first IP bearer connection with alternative second IP bearer connections that can be switched into and out of association with said first bearer connection by modifying said bearer connection address table to select one of said multiple IP bearer paths as said active IP bearer path.

A method in accordance with clam 31 wherein said signaling message relay step includes a signaling traffic IP packet from said first IP endpoint and rewriting the packet header of said signaling packet by:

• setting the source IP address to IP address of said IP PAG relaying said signaling messages;
• setting the source port number to said IP port assigned to said first IP endpoint, as determined from said IP endpoint address table;
• setting the destination IP address to an IP address of said destination, as determined by said source IP address and the destination port number of said signaling message received;
• and
• leaving the destination port unchanged.

A computer program product for manager product for managing an IP bearer path between IP endpoints, comprising

• one or more data storage media;
• program means recorded on said one or more data storage media for:
• terminating a first IP bearer connection with a first IP endpoint;
• terminating a second IP bearer connection with a second IP endpoint;
• logically concatenating said first and second bearer connections into an active IP bearer path extending between said first IP endpoint and said second IP endpoint;
• moving bearer traffic IP packet payloads over said active IP bearer path, said packet payloads being part of a call established between said first IP endpoint and said second IP endpoint and comprising voice, data, multimedia or other information;
• and
• said moving step utilizing a bearer connection address table that associates said first IP bearer connection and said second IP bearer connection with said active IP bearer path, said bearer connection address table being constructed to provide bearer path pivot capability that allows said first IP bearer connection to participate in multiple IP bearer paths that respectively associate said first IP bearer connection with alternative second IP bearer connections that can be switched into and out of association with said first bearer connection by modifying said bearer connection address table to select one of said multiple IP bearer paths as said active IP bearer path.