Patent ID: 7197030
Filing Date: 2007-03-27
Classification: H04L,H04M

Abstract:
1. In a network of processing devices arranged to communicate over an addressed packet-based data communication medium by using packetized messages having an addressing header and a data portion, a method of implementing an addressed point-to-point packet-based call, said method comprising: registering at a central location respective information defining telephony service specifications and current busy/free status for the processing devices; making a new call attempt from a source processing device to a destination processing device by sending a signalling message from that source processing device to the central location identifying that destination processing device; determining from the registered information for that source processing device and for that destination processing device the further processing of that new call attempt; and, provided that the service for that source processing device is compatible with the service for that destination processing device and that the current busy/free status of that destination processing device is free, sending a signalling message from said central location to one of the source and destination processing devices identifying an address for the other of the source and destination processing devices; and thereafter conducting an addressed point-to-point packet-based call directly between the source and destination processing devices using the address communicated from the central location; and at the location, updating the registered information in response to receipt of status signaling messages from the processing devices indicating change in busy/free status.