Message mapping for forced hold call handling in a VoP environment

A service node for facilitating a forced hold function for a call established across a voice over packet network and a public switched telephone network comprising:

• at least one communication interface;
• and
• a control system associated with the at least one communication interface and adapted to:
• receive from the voice over packet network a disconnect message indicative of an attempt to disconnect a call established between a communication client and a remote endpoint;
• send over the public switched telephone network a forced hold message to place the call on forced hold in response to receiving the disconnect message, wherein a portion of the call extending toward the remote endpoint and through the public switched telephone network is placed on hold and a portion of the call extending toward the communication client through the voice over packet network is dropped;
• receive over the public switched telephone network a reconnect request message to reestablish the call with the communication client;
• generate a session initiation message in response to receiving the reconnect request message;
• and
• send the session initiation message toward the communication client, the session initiation message configured to reestablish the call with the communication client.