System and method for maintaining a provisioned configuration for an endpoint in a communications network

An endpoint in a packet switched communications network to maintain a provisioned configuration, the communications network utilizing a signaling protocol between the endpoint and gatekeepers, the endpoint including a processor which is operable to:

• send, during gatekeeper discovery, a gatekeeper request to a first gatekeeper from the endpoint within the signaling protocol;
• receive, from the first gatekeeper, the identity of an assigned gatekeeper and the fact that the assigned gatekeeper is designated as the assigned gatekeeper to the endpoint via a dedicated assigned gatekeeper field in a communication utilizing the signaling protocol, wherein the assigned gatekeeper is a second gatekeeper different from the first gatekeeper;
• receive the addresses of the assigned gatekeeper and a plurality of alternate gatekeepers to the endpoint within the signaling protocol, the alternate gatekeepers being prioritized and being different from the first and second gatekeepers;
• set the assigned gatekeeper as a default gatekeeper;
• in response to an assigned gatekeeper being unresponsive:
• select an alternate gatekeeper based on the relative priority of the plurality of alternate gatekeepers;
• send a communication from the endpoint to the selected alternate gatekeeper;
• if the selected alternate gatekeeper is responsive, register with the selected alternate gatekeeper;
• and
• periodically send from the endpoint a polling status request to the assigned gatekeeper until the endpoint receives a confirmation message from the assigned gatekeeper, thereby to monitor when the assigned gatekeeper is once again responsive;
• and
• selectively re-register with the assigned gatekeeper in response to the assigned gatekeeper being once again responsive, wherein the assigned gatekeeper is a reconfigurable default gatekeeper for the endpoint.

A non-transitory machine-readable medium embodying instructions to provide gatekeepers in a packet switched communications network to maintain a provisioned configuration, the communications network utilizing a signaling protocol between the endpoint and a gatekeeper, the instructions when executed by a machine cause the machine to:

• send, during gatekeeper discovery, a gatekeeper request to a first gatekeeper from the endpoint within the signaling protocol;
• receive, from the first gatekeeper, the identity of an assigned gatekeeper and the fact that the assigned gatekeeper is designated as the assigned gatekeeper to the endpoint via a dedicated assigned gatekeeper field in a communication utilizing the signaling protocol, wherein the assigned gatekeeper is a second gatekeeper different from the first gatekeeper;
• receive the addresses of the assigned gatekeeper and a plurality of alternate gatekeepers to the endpoint within the signaling protocol, the alternate gatekeepers being prioritized and being different from the first and second gatekeepers;
• set the assigned gatekeeper as a default gatekeeper;
• in response to an assigned gatekeeper being unresponsive:
• select an alternate gatekeeper based on the relative priority of the plurality of alternate gatekeepers;
• send a communication from the endpoint to the selected alternate gatekeeper;
• if the selected alternate gatekeeper is responsive, register with the selected alternate gatekeeper;
• and
• periodically send from the endpoint a polling status request to the assigned gatekeeper until the endpoint receives a confirmation message from the assigned gatekeeper, thereby to monitor when the assigned gatekeeper is once again responsive;
• and
• selectively re-register with the assigned gatekeeper in response to the assigned gatekeeper being once again responsive, wherein the assigned gatekeeper is a reconfigurable default gatekeeper for the endpoint.