Arrangement for managing multiple gateway trunk groups for voice over IP networks

A method in an Internet Protocol (IP)-based gateway having a set of connected trunk groups for connection to at least a portion of a peer trunk group of a switch, the method comprising:

• sending, to an IP-based node via an IP network, an IP-based message that specifies a trunk group identifier for a group of circuits, and status information for the group of circuits;
• receiving, via the IP network, a call setup message that specifies one of the connected trunk groups, a circuit identifier, and a glare control indicator that specifies a prescribed glare arbitration;
• determining whether the switch is attempting to seize the circuit specified by the circuit identifier for the one connected trunk group;
• and
• selectively initiating an outgoing call on the circuit specified by the circuit identifier for the one connected trunk group, based on the determining whether the switch is attempting to seize the circuit and the glare control indicator.

An Internet Protocol (IP)-based node comprising:

• a table configured for storing trunk group entries, each trunk group entry specifying an address, for an IP-based gateway device having a set of connected trunk groups, and an identified one of the connected trunk groups;
• a processor configured for establishing a prescribed trunk group from multiple sets of the connected trunk groups coupled to a respective plurality of the IP-based gateway devices, the processor configured for updating one of the trunk group entries based on selecting a circuit from a corresponding selected one of the connected trunk groups for connection with a switch having a peer trunk group interfacing with the prescribed trunk group;
• and
• an IP interface configured for outputting an IP-based selection message, generated by the processor and identifying the selected circuit for the connection with the switch, to the corresponding IP-based gateway device configured for controlling the selected one connected trunk group.

A computer readable medium having stored thereon sequences of instructions for establishing a prescribed trunk group, the sequences of instructions including instructions for performing the steps of:

• establishing a prescribed trunk group having multiple sets of connected trunk groups coupled to respective IP-based gateway devices, the establishing step including storing trunk group entries within a table, each trunk group entry specifying an address for one of the IP-based gateway devices and an identified one of the connected trunk groups from the corresponding set of connected trunk groups;
• selecting a circuit from a selected one of the connected trunk groups for connection with a switch having a peer trunk group interfacing with the prescribed trunk group;
• and
• outputting an IP-based selection message, identifying the selected circuit for the connection with the switch, to the corresponding IP-based gateway device configured for controlling the selected one connected trunk group.

A computer readable medium having stored thereon sequences of instructions for establishing a connection on a circuit by an Internet Protocol (IP)-based gateway having a set of connected trunk groups for connection to at least a portion of a peer trunk group of a switch, the sequences of instructions including instructions for performing the steps of:

• sending, to an IP-based node via an IP network, an IP-based message that specifies a trunk group identifier for a group of circuits, and status information for the group of circuits;
• receiving, via the IP network, a call setup message that specifies one of the connected trunk groups, a circuit identifier, and a glare control indicator that specifies a prescribed glare arbitration;
• determining whether the switch is attempting to seize the circuit specified by the circuit identifier for the one connected trunk group;
• and
• selectively initiating an outgoing call on the circuit specified by the circuit identifier for the one connected trunk group, based on the determining step and the glare control indicator.

An Internet Protocol (IP)-based node comprising:

• means for establishing a prescribed trunk group having multiple sets of connected trunk groups coupled to respective IP-based gateway devices, the establishing means configured for storing trunk group entries within a table, each trunk group entry specifying an address for one of the IP-based gateway devices and an identified one of the connected trunk groups from the corresponding set of connected trunk groups;
• means for selecting a circuit from a selected one of the connected trunk groups for connection with a switch having a peer trunk group interfacing with the prescribed trunk group;
• and
• means for outputting an IP-based selection message, identifying the selected circuit for the connection with the switch, to the corresponding IP-based gateway device configured for controlling the selected one connected trunk group.

An Internet Protocol (IP)-based gateway having a set of connected trunk groups for connection to at least a portion of a peer trunk group of a switch, the IP-based gateway further comprising:

• means for sending, to an IP-based node via an IP network, an IP-based message that specifies a trunk group identifier for a group of circuits, and status information for the group of circuits, and receiving, via the IP network, a call setup message that specifies one of the connected trunk groups, a circuit identifier, and a glare control indicator that specifies a prescribed glare arbitration;
• means for determining whether the switch is attempting to seize the circuit specified by the circuit identifier for the one connected trunk group;
• and
• means for selectively initiating an outgoing call on the circuit specified by the circuit identifier for the one connected trunk group, based on the determining step and the glare control indicator.