Apparatus and method for using multiple call controllers of voice-band calls

An apparatus connecting a local packet network (LPN) and a circuit-switched network and capable of supporting multiple call control protocols simultaneously, the apparatus comprising:

• a first call control protocol endpoint configured to exchange a first plurality of external call control messages of a first protocol associated with the first call control protocol endpoint with a first call controller associated with the circuit-switched network, and further configured to map external call control messages of the first protocol to corresponding internal call control messages of an internal protocol;
• a second call control protocol endpoint configured to exchange a second plurality of external call control messages of a second protocol associated with the second call control protocol endpoint with a second call controller, and further configured to map external call control messages of the second protocol to corresponding internal call control messages of the internal protocol;
• a third call control protocol endpoint configured to exchange a third plurality of external call control messages of a third protocol associated with the third call control protocol endpoint with an integrated access device (IAD) associated with the LPN, and further configured to map external call control messages of the third protocol to corresponding internal call control messages of the internal protocol;
• and
• a protocol adapter configured to receive internal call control messages from the first, second and third call control protocol endpoints, and further configured to route each of the internal call control messages received from one of the call control protocol endpoints to another of the call control protocol endpoints, wherein the another call control protocol endpoint is configured to map the routed internal call control message to a corresponding external call control message of the protocol associated with the another call control protocol endpoint.

A method for supporting multiple call control protocols simultaneously in a gateway that connects a local packet network (LPN) and a circuit-switched network, the method comprising:

• receiving at least one first external call control message from a first call controller associated with the circuit-switched network, the at least one first external call control message of a protocol associated with the first call controller;
• mapping the at least one first external call control message to at least one corresponding first internal call control message of an internal protocol;
• receiving at least one second external call control message from a second call controller, the at least one second external call control message of a protocol associated with the second call controller;
• mapping the at least one second external call control message to at least one corresponding second internal call control message of the internal protocol;
• receiving at least one third external call control message from an integrated access device (IAD) associated with the LPN, the at least one third external call control message of a protocol associated with the IAD;
• mapping the at least one third external call control message to at least one corresponding third internal call control message of the internal protocol;
• routing the at least one first internal call control message for mapping to a corresponding fourth external call control message of the protocol associated with either the second call controller or the IAD;
• routing the at least one second internal call control message for mapping to a corresponding fifth external call control message of the protocol associated with either the first call controller or the IAD;
• and
• routing the at least one third internal call control message for mapping to a corresponding sixth external call control message of the protocol associated with either the first or second call controllers.

A system for supporting multiple call control protocols simultaneously in a gateway that connects a local packet network (LPN) and a circuit-switched network, the system comprising:

• means for exchanging a first plurality of call control messages with a first call controller associated with the circuit-switched network, the first plurality of call control messages of a protocol associated with the first call controller;
• means for mapping each of the first plurality of call control messages received from the first call controller to a corresponding internal call control message of an internal protocol;
• means for mapping each of the first plurality of call control messages sent to the first call controller from a corresponding routed internal call control message of the internal protocol;
• means for exchanging a second plurality of call control messages with a second call controller, the second plurality of call control messages of a protocol associated with the second call controller;
• means for mapping each of the second plurality of call control messages received from the second call controller to a corresponding internal call control message of the internal protocol;
• means for mapping each of the second plurality of call control messages sent to the second call controller from a corresponding routed internal call control message of the internal protocol;
• means for exchanging a third plurality of call control messages of a third protocol with an integrated access device (IAD) associated with the LPN, the third plurality of call control messages of a protocol associated with the IAD;
• means for mapping each of the third plurality of call control messages received from the IAD to a corresponding internal call control message of the internal protocol;
• means for mapping each of the third plurality of call control messages sent to the IAD from a corresponding routed internal call control message of the internal protocol;
• and
• means for routing each of the internal call control messages from one of the means for mapping from received call control messages to a predetermined one of the means for mapping to sent call control messages.

A computer readable storage medium containing program code for controlling a method for supporting multiple call control protocols simultaneously in a voice-over-packet (VoP) media gateway that connects a local packet network (LPN) and a circuit-switched network, the program code comprising logic configured to perform the steps of:

• receiving at least one first external call control message of a first protocol from a first call controller associated with the circuit-switched network;
• mapping the at least one first external call control message to at least one corresponding first internal call control message of an internal protocol;
• receiving at least one second external call control message of a second protocol from a second call controller;
• mapping the at least one second message to at least one corresponding second internal call control message of the internal protocol;
• receiving at least one third external call control message of a third protocol from an integrated access device (IAD) associated with the LPN;
• mapping the at least one third external call control message to at least one corresponding third internal call control message of the internal protocol;
• routing the at least one first internal call control message for mapping to at least one corresponding fourth external call control message of the second or third protocol;
• routing the at least one second internal call control message for mapping to at least one corresponding fifth external call control message of the first or third protocol;
• and
• routing the at least one third internal call control message for mapping to at least one corresponding sixth external call control message of the first or second protocol.

An apparatus connecting a local packet network (LPN) and a circuit-switched network, the apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of protocol endpoints, each protocol endpoint configured to receive external call control messages of an external protocol associated with the protocol endpoint and to map the external call control messages to corresponding internal call control messages of an internal protocol for routing to another of the plurality of protocol endpoints, each endpoint further configured to receive routed internal call control messages of the internal protocol and to map the routed internal call control messages to corresponding external call control messages of the external protocol associated with the protocol endpoint,
• wherein at least one of the plurality of protocol endpoints is configured to receive the external call control messages from a first call controller associated with the circuit-switched network and
• at least a second of the plurality of protocol endpoints is configured to receive the external call control messages from an integrated access device (IAD) associated with the LPN;
• and
• a protocol adapter configured to route the internal call control messages from the mapping protocol endpoint to the another protocol endpoint.