System, method, and computer program product for support of bearer path services in a distributed control network

摘要

A packet data network call has both a call signaling path 230 and a bearer path 220. The call signaling path 230 handles call control data necessary to setup, connect and process a call. The bearer path 220 is the actual voice data connection over which a conversation may take place. For many services the call signaling path 230 must be able to tap into the bearer path 220 in order to detect specific events. However, the bearer path 220 may only be accessed at specific points by specific nodes. In some cases MGC 210B has no control over the call other than as a signaling bridge between MGC 210A and MGC 210C. The present invention provides the intermediate MGC 210B with H.248 control reach through capability to a media gateway in the bearer path 220. One implementation is H.248 based in which messaging is modified so that a call control message requests an H.248 link to a specific gateway. Another implementation is ISUP based in which H.248 capabilities are added to ISUP based call control messages.