Patent ID: 7339934
Filing Date: 2008-03-04
Classification: H04L,H04M

Abstract:
1. A directory gatekeeper for performing alternate routing of calls through a plurality of outbound gateway resources, the directory gatekeeper comprising: one or more communication devices communicatively coupled to a plurality of resource management gatekeepers, each resource management gatekeeper associated with one or more of the plurality of outbound gateway resources, wherein each outbound gateway resource periodically reports the outbound gateway resource's availability to the outbound gateway resource's associated resource management gatekeeper; another communication device communicatively coupled to an inbound gatekeeper, the inbound gatekeeper operable to send a routing request to the directory gatekeeper in response to receiving a call setup request and direct the call to an outbound gateway resource determined by the directory gatekeeper; memory storing a list of routes, each route being associated with a resource management gatekeeper; a processor operable to perform alternate routing by selecting one of the routes and sending a resource request to the resource management gatekeeper corresponding to the selected route to initiate the call through an outbound gateway resource associated with the selected resource management gatekeeper, wherein in response to receiving the resource request, the selected resource management gatekeeper checks outbound gateway resource availability to determine an available outbound gateway resource among the one or more gateway resources associated with the selected resource management gatekeeper, and notifies the directory gatekeeper of the determined available outbound gateway resource, and wherein the directory gatekeeper notifies the inbound gatekeeper of the available outbound gateway resource, to cause the inbound gatekeeper to direct the call through the available outbound gateway resource.