Patent ID: 9497108
Filing Date: 2016-11-15
CPC Classification: H04L

Claim Text:
1. A method of enabling media bypass of one or more session border controllers (SBCs) in a telecommunications network which comprises a plurality of SBCs via which a signalling path for transfer of signalling information for setup of a media session between endpoint devices can be established, the method comprising, at a SBC: receiving an inbound offer message requesting setup of a media session between an originating endpoint device and a terminating endpoint device in the telecommunications network, the inbound offer message being received along an inbound offer signaling path to the SBC; transmitting an outbound offer message along an outbound offer signaling path from the SBC to an ensuing SBC located between the SBC and the terminating endpoint device in the signaling path for the media session, wherein the originating endpoint device address comprised in the inbound offer message is re-written with an SBC address in the outbound offer message, the SBC address comprising a network address associated with the SBC which is capable of being used for the transfer of media data in the media session, the originating endpoint device address comprising a network address associated with the originating endpoint device which is capable of being used for the transfer of media data in the media session; receiving an inbound answer message along an inbound answer signaling path, the answer message comprising a terminating endpoint device address, the terminating endpoint device address comprising a network address associated with the terminating endpoint device and which is capable of being used for the transfer of media data in the media session; and in response to receipt of the inbound answer message, transmitting an outbound answer message to the originating endpoint device without re-writing the terminating endpoint device address, the outbound answer message being transmitted along an outbound answer signaling path to the originating endpoint device; whereby the SBC and the ensuing SBC are bypassed in the media path for the media session, wherein in addition to the originating endpoint device address comprised in the inbound offer message, the inbound offer message comprises one or more alternative network addresses associated with the originating endpoint device which are capable of being used for the transfer of media data in the media session, wherein the inbound and outbound offer messages comprise Session Initiation Protocol, SIP, messages, and wherein the inbound and outbound answer messages comprise Session Initiation Protocol, SIP, messages.