Dynamic gateway selection

A method of operating a communication device, the method comprising:

• transmitting a first test message to a first gateway;
• transmitting a second test message to a second gateway;
• receiving a first response message from the first gateway;
• receiving a second response message from the second gateway;
• processing the first response message and the second response message to determine a preferred gateway of the first gateway and the second gateway;
• generating an update message indicating the preferred gateway;
• transmitting an update message to a soft switch;
• and
• transmitting a session invite message to the soft switch to initiate a service session through the preferred gateway.

A communication network comprising:

• a first gateway;
• a second gateway;
• a soft switch;
• and
• an end device;
• wherein the end device is configured to transmit a first test message to the first gateway and transmit a second test message to the second gateway;
• wherein the first gateway is configured to receive the first test message and transmit a first response message responsive to the first test message;
• wherein the second gateway is configured to receive the second test message and transmit a second response message responsive to the second test message;
• wherein the end device is further configured to receive the first response message, receive the second response message, process the first response message and the second response message to determine a preferred gateway of the first gateway and the second gateway, generate an update message indicating the preferred gateway, transmit the update message to the soft switch, and transmit a session invite message to the soft switch to initiate a service session through the preferred gateway;
• and
• wherein the soft switch is configured to receive the update message and responsively update a routing table to indicate the preferred gateway for the end device.

A method of operating a communication network, the method comprising:

• in an end device, transmitting a first test message to the first gateway and transmit a second test message to the second gateway;
• in the first gateway, receiving the first test message and transmitting a first response message responsive to the first test message;
• in the second gateway, receiving the second test message and transmitting a second response message responsive to the second test message;
• in the end device, receiving the first response message, receiving the second response message, processing the first response message and the second response message to determine a preferred gateway of the first gateway and the second gateway, generating an update message indicating the preferred gateway, transmitting the update message to the soft switch, and transmitting a session invite message to the soft switch to initiate a service session through the preferred gateway;
• and
• in the soft switch, receiving the update message and responsively updating a routing table to indicate the preferred gateway for the end device.