System and method for distributed call signalling in telephony-over-lan networks

摘要

In a system and method according to the invention, a gateway 106 to an H. 323 network is configured to monitor and intercept in-band signaling from external networks. The gateway 106 further provides to the H.323 terminal 102 out-of-band signaling indicative of the nature of the in-band signaling received from the external network. If the signaling changes, the gateway 106 provides this information to the H.323 terminal 102. The gateway 106 thus prevents the need to cut through audio channels for ringback tones or busy signals. <IMAGE>