Patent ID: 8000236
Filing Date: 2011-08-16
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. Media proxy apparatus arranged to receive via an incoming port a first message comprising media packets from a first media gateway located near a first end of a communications path for forwarding via an outgoing port to a second media gateway located near a second end of the communications path, the media proxy apparatus being arranged to detect a blocking situation where another media proxy apparatus in the communications path is awaiting receipt of the first message in order to perform address discovery to determine an address of the first media gateway to enable it to forward to said first media gateway a second message comprising media packets from the second media gateway, said first media gateway normally requiring receipt of the second message in order to perform address discovery to determine an address of the second media gateway to enable it to forward to said second media gateway said first message, the media proxy apparatus being arranged to detect said blocking situation by sending a probe message via a probe port along said communications path towards the second media gateway end of the path and receiving a probe message acknowledge message from said another media proxy thereby enabling the media proxy apparatus to deduce that the another media proxy apparatus is in the communications path causing the blocking situation, said media proxy apparatus being arranged to forward the first message to the second media proxy apparatus in response to receiving said probe message acknowledge message thereby resolving the blocking situation.