Abstract:
A broadband communication system including an Internet Protocol Telephony Network and public switched telephone network, including apparatus and methods for placing a call on hold in a way that significantly reduces the amount of network bandwidth utilized by the call while the call is on hold. When a call is placed on hold, embodiments of the architecture of the telephony network of the present invention allows the network to essentially “forget” about the call placed on hold. In other words, a call that is on hold may require very little, or even zero, bandwidth within the telephony network. Accordingly, the total necessary bandwidth capacity of the telephony network may be smaller than it would be if calls on hold were to consume precious network bandwidth as is found in existing telephony systems.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/475,673 filed Dec. 30, 1999 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,836,478. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to communication between users in diverse communication systems, and more particularly, to providing a broadband communication system including an Internet Protocol Telephony Network and public switched telephone network. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Present day telephony voice networks, have a network built around circuit switches, end offices, a toll network, tandem switches, and twisted wires. These voice networks are referred to as a public switched telephone network (PSTN) or plain old telephone service (POTS). Due to bandwidth limitations of plain old telephone service (POTS), there is an inherent inability to efficiently integrate multiple types of media such as telephony, data communication for personal computers (PC), and television (TV) broadcasts. Accordingly, a new broadband architecture is required. This new architecture gives rise to a new array of user services. 
   Further, due at least in part to limitations in the architecture of such telephony voice networks, various features offered by the telephony voice networks are of limited value. For example, although some telephony voice networks offer a call hold feature, typically only a very small number of calls may be put on hold by a party at any one time. A reason for this limitation is that each call on a conventional network requires a certain amount of reserved resources (e.g., a real or virtual circuit dedicated to each call), even when the call is placed on hold. Conventional networks must therefore be designed to have sufficient resources to handle such features as call hold; however, there is a relatively low practical limit to the number of calls that may be placed on hold at any one time. Moreover, conventional telephony systems typically do not provide for call hold unless the call hold feature is implemented via electronics built into the telephone itself. 
   There is therefore a need to provide an improved call hold feature in a telephony network, and in particular, in the communication system of the present invention. The call hold feature should be available to IP telephony users regardless of whether they are connecting to system using a traditional analog POTS telephone, a smartphone, a multimedia phone, or any other type of telephony terminal. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Aspects of the invention include to providing broadband access capabilities or enhanced services for use in conjunction with a packetized network such as an Internet Protocol (IP) based system infrastructure. 
   Other aspects of the invention include providing one or more of the following either individually, or in any combination or subcombination:
         a new broadband architecture;   broadband network capabilities, including local access; and   enhanced services for use in conjunction with a packetized network such as an Internet Protocol (IP) based system infrastructure.       

   For example, an aspect of the present invention is directed to apparatus and methods for placing a call on hold in a way that significantly reduces the amount of network bandwidth utilized by the call while the call is on hold. While the call is ongoing, a customer premises equipment that is a party to the call may receive via the IP telephony network a first request to place the call on hold. The customer premises equipment may temporarily stop from sending the stream of IP packets into the IP telephony network responsive to receiving the request. The customer premises equipment may then receive via the IP telephony network a second request to remove the call from hold. Responsive to receiving the second request, the customer premises equipment may resume sending the stream of IP packets into the IP telephony network. Thus, when a call is placed on hold, embodiments of the architecture of the telephony network of the present invention allows the network to essentially “forget” about the call placed on hold. In other words, a call that is on hold may require very little, or even zero, bandwidth within the telephony network. Accordingly, the total necessary bandwidth capacity of the telephony network may be smaller than it would be if calls on hold were to consume precious network bandwidth as is found in existing telephony systems. 
   According to yet another aspect of the present invention, the party who places the call on hold may send, or “push,” information to another party while the other party is on hold. The party who placed the other party on hold may designate the type of information that the party on hold will receive while on hold. For example, the party on hold may receive music, a tone, and/or a recorded message. Alternatively, the party on hold may receive multimedia information (e.g., including animation/video) to be presented on a personal computer monitor, a videophone, and/or a display of the party&#39;s broadband residential gateway (BRG). This feature is very useful for small business owners because infomercials may be sent to the customers while they are on hold. 
   In a further aspect of the present invention, an IP telephony user may place a call on hold by entering a feature code from a terminal such as a POTS telephone. The user would thus not need to upgrade to a telephone that has a built-in call hold feature in order to place calls on hold. The user placing the call on hold can later retrieve the call that is on hold by, for example, entering the same or a different feature code and/or speaking a voice command. 
   According to still another aspect of the present invention, the user may be provided with a “call on hold” reminder after a predetermined period of time has elapsed since a call has been placed on hold (and/or repeatedly at a predetermined time interval). The call on hold reminders may be, for example, the user&#39;s voice or a computer generated voice including the name of the party on hold. 
   According to yet a further aspect of the present invention, the party that is on hold may make a one-way interruption directed to the party who placed them on hold that they are still on hold, or to initiate a network prompt to notify the other party that they are still on hold. 
   Although the invention has been defined using the appended claims, these claims are exemplary and not limiting to the extent that the invention is meant to include one or more elements from the apparatus and methods described herein and in the applications incorporated by reference in any combination or subcombination. Accordingly, there are any number of alternative combinations for defining the invention, which incorporate one or more elements from the specification (including the drawings, claims, and applications incorporated by reference) in any combinations or subcombination. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  shows a schematic representation of a broadband network (e.g., broadband IP based network) in accordance with a preferred embodiment of aspects of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  shows a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of a centralized control (IP central station) in accordance with aspects of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  shows a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of a local control apparatus (broadband residential gateway) in accordance with aspects of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  shows a detailed schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of the broadband network shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 5  is a signal flow diagram illustrating a typical on-network to off-network call according to one preferred method of operating the broadband network shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 6  is a signal flow diagram illustrating a typical on-network to on-network call according to one preferred method of operating the broadband network shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 7  is a signal flow diagram illustrating a call that includes call hold with reminder and information push. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   A new system is provided for broadband access and applications. Unless otherwise indicated by the appended claims, the present invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments described in this section but is applicable to other integrated multimedia communication systems. 
   I. Integrated Communication System Overview 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , an exemplary embodiment of a broadband network  1 . The broadband network generally provides interconnection between a plurality of customer locations utilizing various interconnection architectures including Internet Protocol (IP) based network, various existing systems (legacy systems) such as the public switched telephone network (PSTN), ATM networks, the Internet, signaling networks, as well as other systems. The broadband network provides versatile intelligent conduits that may carry, for example, Internet Protocol (IP) telephony or multimedia signals between the customer premises over, for example, the public switched telephone network, Internet, or wireless communication networks. 
   Again referring to  FIG. 1 , the broadband network  1  may include one or more customer premises equipment (CPE) units  102 . The customer premise equipment  102  may be variously configured. In one example, the customer premise equipment  102  may include one or more local control devices such as a broadband residential gateway (BRG)  300 . Although the broadband residential gateway is preferably disposed in a residence for many aspects of the invention, in exemplary embodiments, it may also be disposed in a business or other location. The broadband residential gateway  300  may be variously configured to provide one or more integrated communication interfaces to other devices within the customer premise equipment  102  such as televisions (TV), personal computers (PC), plain old telephone system (POTS) phone(s), video phones, IP enabled phones, and other devices. For example, the broadband residential gateway  300  may provide one or more telephone port connections (e.g., plain old telephone system), Ethernet connections, coaxial connections, fiber distributed data interface (FDDI) connections, wireless local area network (LAN) connections, firewire connections, and/or other connections to a plurality of devices such as plain old telephones, IP based phones, television converters, e.g., cable television (CATV) set top devices, televisions, digital televisions, high definition televisions (HDTV), video phones, and other devices. In exemplary embodiments, the broadband residential gateway  300  may support communications between any of the aforementioned devices in intra-premises calling and/or extra-premises calling. Further, when the broadband residential gateway  300  is used in a business environment, it can function as a private branch exchange or key type telephone system. 
   In  FIG. 1 , broadband residential gateway  300  is illustrated as a single physical device. This configuration is appropriate where centralization of maintenance and control is desirable. Alternatively, the broadband residential gateway  300  may be separated into more than one physical device allowing functionality to be distributed to a plurality of different physical locations in the customer premise and/or broadband network  1 . However, in many embodiments, having a centralized broadband residential gateway  300  located in a single location provides ease of maintenance, control, and re-configuration as well as a reduction in cost due to shared functionality. For example, the broadband residential gateway may be configured to provide the intelligence needed to allow each of the customer premises equipment devices to operate within the broadband network  1 . For example, analog voice may be converted to digital data and packetized for transmission in an appropriate output protocol such as an Internet protocol (IP). 
   In exemplary embodiments, the broadband residential gateway  300  may function to couple devices within the customer premise equipment  102  to the rest of the broadband network  1  using any suitable broadband communication mechanism. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the broadband residential gateway  300  utilizes a hybrid fiber-coaxial plant  112  to couple the broadband residential gateway  300  to the rest of the broadband network  1 . The hybrid fiber-coaxial plant  112  may be preferred in many embodiments over other broadband communication mechanisms because of the large number of homes currently connected to cable networks, the capacity for shared access, and the ability for asymmetric data access speeds which allow high quantities of data to be distributed to the various devices in the customer premises equipment  112 . The hybrid fiber-coaxial plant  112  may include coaxial cable and/or optical fiber networks in any suitable combination. The hybrid fiber-coaxial plant  112  may provide an intelligent broadband conduit between the broadband residential gateway  300  and a gateway such as the head-end hub (HEH)  115 . The head-end hub  115  may be variously configured to provide various services and/or interconnections with the rest of the broadband network  1 . For example, the head-end hub  115  may provide an interconnection point to gather and aggregate external services (e.g., off air and satellite video, public switched telephone network voice, multimedia messages, and Internet data) for distribution to and from the hybrid fiber-coaxial plant  112 . With respect to telephony and multimedia calls, the head-end hub  115  may function as intelligent conduit for connection and communication between the hybrid fiber-coaxial plant  112  and external networks such as an IP network  120  and/or an ATM/frame relay/cell relay network  185 . 
   The broadband network  1  may include any number of interconnected head-end hubs  115 , IP networks  120 , and/or ATM networks  185 . Further, the IP network  120  and/or ATM network  185  may be connected to one or more other networks and devices such as:
         (1) external networks including a public switched telephone network (PSTN)  170 , an signaling system 7 (SS7) network  170 , an Internet  180 , and/or a wireless network  144 ;   (2) various components including one or more private branch exchanges  146 , terminals  142  including computers and wireless devices, and/or one or more stand alone broadband residential gateway  300 ;   (3) one or more administration centers  155 ;   (4) one or more secure network management data networks  190  such as a network operations center (NOC);   (5) one or more billing systems  195  such as OSS; and/or   (6) one or more centralized control centers such as what is referred to as an IP central station  200 .       

   The IP network  120  and/or ATM network  185  may include one or more routers and/or other devices to route, for example, telephony calls, multimedia calls, signaling messages, administrative messages, programming messages and/or computer data between the various devices in the broadband network  1  such as the head-end hub  115 , the public switched telephone network  160 , the private branch exchange (PBX)  146 , as well as the other devices discussed above. In preferred embodiments, the information traveling in the IP network  120  may be packetized and formatted in accordance with one of the Internet protocols. The IP network  120  may also include gateways to interface with the various other networks and/or devices. For example, the gateways may be distributed at the edge of the IP network where the IP network interfaces with one of the other devices or networks. Alternatively, the gateways interfacing the IP central station  200  to, for example, the Internet  180 , public switched telephone network (PSTN)  160 , signaling system 7 (SS7)  170 , wireless networks  144 , ATM/frame/cell relay networks  185  may be provided in the IP central station  200 , or in both the IP network  120  and the IP central station  200 , and/or partially distributed between the IP network  120  and the IP central station  200 . Where the gateways are separated by an IP network  200 , an appropriate transport protocol may be utilized to logically connect the IP central station  200  to the particular gateway. 
   The IP central station(s)  200  may be connected to, for example, one or more IP networks  120 , ATM networks  185 , secure management data networks  190 , and/or administration centers  155 . The IP central station  200  may be variously configured to include one or more servers and/or one or more gateways. In exemplary embodiments, the servers and gateways provide the necessary intelligence and traffic management capabilities to enable information, e.g., IP telephony signals, to travel through the broadband network  1 . For example, the IP central station  200  may be configured to manage voice information transfer from the public switched telephone network  160 , through the IP network  120 , and into and out of one or more devices such as those connected to a broadband residential gateway  300 . The IP central station may be configured to store various control and system information such as location, address, and/or configurations of one or more broadband residential gateways  300 , as well as other routing and call set-up information. 
   In exemplary embodiments, one or more administration centers  155  may be connected to the IP network  120  and provide billing and local directory number portability administration. The local number portability may be handled by one or more Local Service Management System (LSMS) which may be included in the administration center  155  and/or in the IP central station  200 . Further, the Secure Management Data Network  190  may also include a mechanism for transferring various information such as billing, call tracking, and/or customer service provisioning. Various existing systems may be utilized to provide this information such as existing billing systems (OSS)  195  and/or one or more network operations center (NOC). The network operations centers may be included in the administration center  155 , the IP central station  200 , and/or the billing system  195 . The network operations center (NOC) may be variously configured to include a translation server to allow communications with the various disparate entities (e.g., legacy systems) in the broadband network  1 . 
   The IP network  120  and/or the ATM network  185  illustrated in  FIG. 1  may include one or a plurality of sub-networks. Each of the sub-networks may include its own IP central station  200  in a distributed configuration, with certain routing data replicated across all IP central stations or each sub-network may be connected to a single centralized IP central station  200 . Where the IP network  120  includes one or more sub-networks, each sub-network may be connected to multiple head-end hubs  115 . Further, each head-end hub  115  may be connected to multiple hybrid fiber-coaxial plants  112 , and each hybrid fiber-coaxial plant  112  may be connected to multiple pieces of customer premises equipment  102  and/or broadband residential gateways  300 . The IP network  120  provides an interconnected broadband network which may be utilized to transport and route packetized information to and from diverse geographic locations and may be used on a national or international basis. Further, the IP network  120  and/or ATM network  185  may utilize private network facilities and/or may be provisioned over a shared network such as the Internet. 
   The IP central station  200  may be configured to provide connectivity for the broadband residential gateway  300  to the Internet  180  (e.g., World Wide Web (www)), as well as connectivity to other external networks such as public switched telephone network  160  and signaling system 7 (SS7)  170  for end-to-end voice, multimedia, and data applications, for example voice over IP telephony. IP packets traveling through the IP network provide for priority so that, for example, voice packets are given priority over data packets to maintain certain VoIP telephony QoS requirements and a leased line concept for packet traffic which may have an even higher priority. However, the system is sufficiently flexible so that the priority can be dynamically altered according to customer preferences, variable billing rates, traffic patterns, and/or congestion. 
   A. Internet Protocol Central Station 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , the IP central station  200  may be variously configured. In preferred embodiments, it may be configured to ensure seamless integration of IP based communication system including the IP network  120  with the public switched telephone network  160 , signaling system 7 (SS7) network  170 , and the Internet  180  so that packetized data, for example, voice calls and information data, is properly transferred between the broadband residential gateway  300 , the public switched telephone network  160  and/or the Internet  180 . In one embodiment, the hybrid fiber-coaxial plant  112 , head-end hub  115 , and IP network  120 , provide a virtual signaling conduit for packetized voice and data which may, with the coordination of the IP central station  200 , be provided in the appropriate format between the broadband residential gateway  300  and the public switched telephone network  160  and/or Internet  180 . 
   Again referring now to  FIG. 2 , the IP central station  200  may include a central router  200 , for example, a gigabit switch, which may be utilized to interconnect various servers and gateways contained in the IP central station  200 . The central router  210  provides for example Ethernet switching and aggregate traffic between servers, gateways and the IP network  120  and/or ATM network  185  backbone. In one exemplary embodiment, the central router  210  provides high-speed, non-blocking IP and IP multicast Layer 3 switching and routing. The IP central station  200  may include one or more of the following servers: the least cost server (LCS)  255 , the time of day (TOD) server  212 , the dynamic host control protocol (DHCP) server, the trivial file transfer protocol (TFTP) server, and the domain name service (DNS) server  214 , the system management (SM) server  216 , the call manager (CM) server  218 , the announcement server (AS)  220 , the multimedia server (MS)  222 , and/or the conference server (CS)  224 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the servers may be separate servers, for example the call manager server  218 , or may be incorporated into a single server. In the exemplary embodiment, the dynamic host control protocol server  131 , trivial file transfer protocol server  132 , and the domain name service server  214  are each incorporated in a single server facility. Each server in the IP central station  200  may include computer(s), storage device(s), and specialized software for implementing particular predefined functions associated with each server. In this manner, the servers in the IP central station may be provisioned as a main server and one or more back-up servers to provide redundant processing capabilities. Similarly, the router may be implemented as a main router and a back-up router with similar routing functionality. 
   The IP central station  200  may also include, for example, one or more of the following gateways: a element management gateway (EMG)  238 , an accounting gateway (AG)  240 , an Internet (Boarder) gateway (IG)  236 , a signaling system 7 (SS7)) gateway (SG)  234 , a voice gateway (VG)  232 , and/or a multimedia gateway (MG)  230 . The IP central station  200  may utilize one or more of these gateways to provide centralized system intelligence and control of voice and/or data IP packets. 
   In exemplary embodiments, the dynamic host control protocol server and domain name service server  214  may operate to dynamically assign IP addresses devices in the customer premise equipment  102 . Where a dynamic IP assignment scheme is used, the customer premises equipment may be provided with one or a plurality of dynamic IP assignment when activated initially, and/or at the initiation of each active secession. Where an IP address is assigned when the device is initially activated, it may be desirable to assign a single IP address to a single broadband residential gateway and assign a port address to devices connected to the broadband residential gateway  300 . In other embodiments, an individual IP address may be assigned to each device coupled to the broadband residential gateway  300 . For example, the broadband residential gateway may include and/or be coupled to one or more cable modems, IP phones, plain old telephone system phones, computers, wireless devices, CATV converters, video phones, and/or other devices which each may be assigned a unique static and/or dynamic IP address and/or a port of a one of these IP addresses. The particular protocol for allocating IP addresses and/or ports may be specified using protocols defined in the dynamic host control protocol server  214 . In exemplary embodiments, the dynamic host control protocol and DN server  214  may be configured to assign available IP addresses from address pools based, for example, on the identity or type of requesting device, the amount of use expected for the requesting device, and/or predefined assignment protocols defined in the dynamic host control protocol and DN server  214 . In centralized embodiments, it may be desirable to configure the call manager (CM)  218  to provide sufficient information such that the domain name service server  214  can distinguish between static IP devices, dynamic IP devices, registered devices, unregistered devices, and registered devices that have been assigned to a particular class of service e.g., data vs. telephony, un-provisioned, vs. provisioned, etc. 
   The trivial file transfer protocol (TFTP) server  214  may be configured to transfer certain information to/from one or more broadband residential gateways  300 . In exemplary embodiments, the trivial file transfer protocol server provides Data Over Cable Service Interface Specifications (DOCSIS) configuration information containing QoS parameters and other information required for the broadband residential gateway  300  to operate optimally. 
   The time-of-day (TOD) server  212  may include a suitable facility for maintaining a real time clock such as an RFC868-compliant time server. In exemplary embodiments, the time-of-day server  212  provides system messages and/or responses to system inquiries containing a coordinated time, e.g., universal coordinated time (UCT). The universal coordinated time may be used by any of the servers and/or devices in the broadband network  1 . For example, the broadband residential gateway  300  may use the universal coordinated time to calculate the local time for time-stamping error logs. 
   The system management (SM) server  216  may include responsibility for the overall operational state and functioning of components the broadband network  1 , either alone, or in combination with other system management servers  216 . The system management (SM) server  216  may be variously configured to provide monitoring and administrative functions for devices within the broadband network  1 . For example, the system management server  216  may be configured to provide management of various database functions, memory buffer functions, and software utility functions within the broadband network  1 . Software management includes, for example, version control, generic control, and/or module control. 
   The least cost server (LCS)  255  may be variously configured to enable the system to determine the least cost routing of telephone and data transmission throughout the network. The least cost server  255  may also provide one or more broadband residential gateway users capability to select between, for example, cost and Quality of Service (QoS). 
   The announcement service (AS) server  220  may be variously configured. In exemplary embodiments, it may store and send announcements to specified destinations and/or all destinations based on instructions received by, for example, the call manager (CM) server  218 . The announcement server  220  receives, for example, Media Gateway Control Protocol (MGCP) or later signaling (e.g., H.GCP—an ITU standard Gateway Control Protocol) control messages from the call manager  218 , and sends announcements to one or more voice gateways (VG)  232  and/or the one or more broadband residential gateway  300  (e.g., using Real Time Protocol (RTP) packets). The announcement server  220  may send an announcement once, a predetermined number of times, or in a continuous loop. The announcement server  220  may detect when a phone or other device has been taken off-hook and play an advertisement or other announcement to the user. Where a user has signed-up for an advertising plan whereby phone rates are reduced in return for advertising revenue generated by the advertisements, the announcement server  220  may be utilized to track the number of individuals with a particular income, age, or other profile which hear the advertisement. The announcement server  220  may respond to requests from individual system devices such as one of the broadband residential gateways  300  and/or under control of, for example, the call manager  218 . Where the announcement server is under control of the call manager  218 , the call manager may be configured to control various operating parameters of the announcement server. For example, the call manager  218  may request that certain announcements are sent once, a specified number of times, or in a continuous loop. 
   In still further embodiments, announcements may be generated elsewhere in the broadband network  1 , stored as files, and distributed to one or more announcement servers via a file transfer protocol or resource such as the trivial file server  214  using one or more file transfer protocols. In many embodiments, it is desirable to store announcements in an appropriate encoding format (e.g., G.711 or G.729) within the Announcement Server. The announcement may have an audio component and/or a audio/video component. The audio/video component may be stored using a combination of an encoding format (e.g., G.711) and/or a standard file format such as wave (WAV), MPEG, and other suitable formats. 
   In one exemplary method of operation, a user picks up a telephone which sends a signal to the call manager  218 . Subsequently, the call manager  218  may establish a connection to the announcement server  220  and play one or more pre-recorded and/or predetermined announcement (hypertext and/or audio). Signaling tones such as a busy signal may be played by the broadband residential gateway  300  or the call manager  218 , but Special Information Tones (SIT) and/or messages may also be included as part of an announcement file. In this way, the user experience is enhanced such that the user receives a busy message and/or hypertext announcement providing one of several options for contacting the called party. The announcement server  220  may have information entered by a user using, for example, a broadband residential gateway to provide additional information to the called party. The additional information may include the ability to leave a message, type-in a chat note, page the called party, barge-in on the call, and/or other user or system defined call handling capabilities. 
   The announcement server  220  may also be programmed with various system messages such as an announcement indicating that a number dialed is incorrect or that the call did not go through as dialed, that the lines are busy, that all lines between two countries are currently busy, that the called party has changed numbers, that the called parties phone has been disconnected, that one or more system errors have occurred, and/or other announcement messages. 
   The call manager (CM)  218  may be variously configured. In exemplary embodiments, the call manager  218  provides a centralized call control center for supporting call set-up and tear-down in the broadband network  1 . The call manager  218  may be configured to include trunk and line information maintenance, call state maintenance for the duration of a call, and/or user service features execution. The call manager  218  may also provide for call processing functions such as a standardized call model for processing the various voice connections such as voice over IP calls. In exemplary embodiments, a standardized “open” call model may be utilized which supports standardized application programming interfaces (APIs) to provide transport services and other user functions such as calling cards. An open application programming interface and call set-up interface in the call manager will enable third party applications to be loaded into the call manager  218  and broadband residential gateway  300 . This will facilitate the development of third party applications for enhancing the functionality of components in the broadband network  1 . For example, third parties and other equipment vendors may manufacture various broadband residential gateways  300  for use in the broadband network  1  by writing applications to support the open call model of the call manager  218 . The call manager  218  and/or broadband residential gateway  300  may also be configured to execute and/or accept commands form a standardized scripting language which may generate instructions for the call manager  218  and/or broadband residential gateway  300  to execute various functions. The scripting functionality may include the ability to execute an entire call model including interfaces to the signaling system 7 (SS7)  170 , public switched telephone network  160 , IP network  120 , ATM/frame/cell relay network  185 , and/or other functions within, for example, IP central station  200  such as the multimedia server  222 , announcement server  220 , system management server  216 , conference server  224 , time of day server  212 , least cost server  255 , and/or domain name server  214 . 
   The call manager  218  may also be configured to maintain the call states for each call it handles (e.g., a voice over IP call) and respond to system events created by, for example, the multimedia gateway control protocol (MGCP) messages and/or integrated services digital network user part (ISUP) messages for signaling system 7 (SS7) protocol that may occur during the processing of a call. Exemplary events handled by the call manager  218  include call state changes, call feature changes/call feature triggering events, changes in the status of lines and trunks, and/or error conditions. Further, the call manager  218  may interact with devices connected to a single circuit on the public switched telephone network  160  and/or a device connected to a port of the broadband residential gateway  300 . In this manner, new devices may be added to the infrastructure and operate using the open call model contained in the call manager  218 . 
   The call manager  218  may also include storage for subscriber and network configuration, a cache server for faster access to frequently used data, a routing engine for selecting an appropriate routing algorithm (e.g., least cost routing), and/or a service broker which provides the data and logic for specific services. In addition, the call manager  218  may include an authentication (AC) server  245  that provides authentication of various devices, objects, packets and users in the integrated multimedia system. In this manner, a user may verify the identity of the calling or called party. 
   The call manager  218  may interact with the signaling gateway (SG)  234 , the accounting gateway (AG)  240 , the element management gateway (EMG)  238 , the voice gateway (VG)  232 , and the multimedia gateway (MG)  230  using any suitable protocol such as IP and an interconnection mechanism such as the central router  210 . In one preferred embodiment, the call manager  218  may be configured to utilize signaling messages such as: a) ISUP messages over Common Object Broker Architecture (COBRA) interface to and/or from signaling gateway  234 , b) MGCP, SIP—simple internet protocol, H.GCP, and/or other suitable control messages to and/or from the announcement server  220 , c) call event records in modified Radius format to the accounting gateway  240 , d) Radius (or Enhanced Radius or compatible protocol) control messages to and/or from the voice gateway  232  and/or the broadband residential gateways  300 , and e) signaling network management protocol (SNMP) messages to and/or from the element management gateway  238 . 
   The call manager  218  may incorporate one or more databases. For example, the call manager  218  may include database information such as (1) a resources database that provides an identification of what resources are connected to the broadband network  1  and their current state; (2) a trunk/gateway database that indicates which gateway serves what circuits in a trunk; (3) a customer database which indicates whether a call is authorized, identifies what services a line supports and determines whether a telephone number is on or off the integrated IP communication network; (4) a numbering plan/least cost routing database which provides routing information that enables the IP central station  200  to choose the correct trunk as a function of the call number; and (5) a local number portability (LNP) database that indicates the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) and associated prefixes which are open for association with the number portability service; and (6) an address of the service control point (SCP) towards which requests for translating these local portability numbers should be routed. 
   In exemplary embodiments, the broadband network  1  includes equipment compatible with the COBRA standard. COBRA may be utilized to allow applications from a plurality of vendors to operate with each other. The COBRA standard allows a company, such as AT&amp;T, to build its network using multi-vendor equipment and yet ensure seamless integration and operation. Some of the major areas covered by COBRA v. 2.2 includes: Inter-ORB Bridge Support, General Inter-ORB Protocol (GIOP) support, Internet Inter-ORB Protocol (IIOP) support, and Environment Specific Inter-ORB Protocol (ESIOP) support. The call manager  218  may integrate these protocols to facilitate call set-up with diverse equipment. This is advantageous in that equipment from a plurality of vendors may interoperate over the broadband network  1  without modification. 
   The multimedia server (MS)  222  may be variously configured. For example, one or more multimedia servers may provide support for multimedia messaging service and/or the overall management of multimedia voice and mail messages transmitted across the broadband network  1 . The multimedia server may be configured to support e-mail (e.g., html) messages, voice mail (audio) messages, and/or video mail (audio and video) messages. The multimedia messages may include standard pre-configured system messages, advertising messages, and/or user defined messages. In either event, where the messages are stored in a centralized location, the multimedia server may provide such storage. Where the multimedia server  222  provides storage for the multimedia messages, a database may be utilized for indexing, storage, and retrieval of such messages. In exemplary systems, the user may access predetermined ones of these messages. The multimedia server  222  may utilize IP as a method of communicating with other devices across the broadband network  1 . 
   The conference server (CS)  224  may be configured to provide for multiparty conference calls using, for example, IP voice packets during an IP telephony or multimedia session call. The conference server  224  may include specialized software that runs on a computing platform having associated multiplexing and demultiplexing capability for segregating and aggregating user information packets. For example, the conference server may log several calls into a conference session. When information packets are sent from one or more phones, they are aggregated and sent to the other phones on the conference call. The conference server  224  may use any suitable communication protocol such as H.GCP or SIP. The conference server  224  may function to aggregate user information from two or more users onto a single call path. The conference server  224  may include one or more “call-in numbers” and be controlled from any location, e.g., a centralized operator location and/or one or more broadband residential gateways  300 . It may be desirable to have the conference server  224  configured such that some callers simply monitor the call without voice interruption while other callers have both voice transmit and receive capabilities. Where a caller is not given the privileges associated with active participation in the call, voice packets from these users are discarded. For example, a CEO may have a conference call with a plurality of financial advisors and invite the press to listen on the call without interruption capabilities. 
   The gateways in the IP central station  200  may be configured to provide translation of signals to and/or from the various servers in the IP central station  200 , the IP network  120 , the public switched telephone network  160 , the signaling system 7 (SS7) network  170 , the Internet  180 , and/or the secured management data (SMD) network  190 . The gateways typically support one or more of the following group of functions: call processing; signaling system 7 (SS7) connectivity; billing support; OAM&amp;P support; connection to public switched telephone network; control CoS/QoS parameters; and enhanced services. 
   The voice gateway (VG)  232  may be connected to the public switched telephone network  160  and operate to convert between IP based voice packets and standard public switched telephone network  160  voice traffic. Voice gateway  232  may be configured as multi-frequency (MF) or ISUP gateways on a per-T1 basis. Where multi-frequency (MF) trunks are used, one embodiment utilizes signaling between the call manager  218  and the voice gateway  232  using MGCP, SIP, H.GCP and/or other compatible protocol. Multi-frequency trunks may be compatible with Feature Group D (FGD), Operator Service (OS) Signaling protocol and/or Termination Protocol (TP). 
   The IP central station  200  may be variously connected to the public switched telephone network. For example, the IP central station  200  may be connected directly to the public switched telephone network using, for example a bearer channel (e.g., a T1 or T3 carrier) and/or interconnected using one or more networks such as an IP network and/or ATM/frame/cell relay network  185 . Where a T1 network is utilized, it may be desirable to utilize one or more of ISUP or MF, FGD, and OS to interconnect a service bureau in the public switched telephone network  160 . Alternatively, the service bureau in the public switched telephone network  160  may be interconnected using an alternative network arrangement such as an IP network  120  and/or a ATM/frame/cell relay network  185 . The service bureau may coordinate with the IP central station  200  in providing operator services, directory services and provisioning for 311, 611, and 711 services. Emergency 911 services may be routed to an E911 tandem switch that has the appropriate databases and interfaces with a Public Safety Answering Position (PSAP). Emergency 911 services may be coordinated by the call manager  218  and/or public switched telephone network based service bureau. 
   Voice gateway  232  may be router-based and include one or more voice feature cards and/or DSP Module cards to perform voice processing. The voice gateway  232  may optionally include host processors, LAN/WAN ports, Ethernet ports, T1 or E1 telephony interface cards, Voice Feature Cards with DSP Modules providing voice compression transcoding (G.711 and G.729), carrier-quality echo cancellation with 8 ms-32 ms tail length, a de-jitter buffer which adapts to delay variations in the network in order to minimize the delay, packet loss concealment that generates concealment frames for lost packets using information from previously received data, and/or tone detection and generation. This function detects Multi-Frequency (MF) tones and generates MF and call processing tones (e.g. dial tone, call-waiting tone etc.). 
   In exemplary embodiments, the voice gateway  232  may include T1/E1 interfaces with internal Channel Service Units (CSUs). It may also be desirable to configure the voice gateway  232  such that ISUP, MF and Centralized Attendant Services (CAS) trunks are supported with a configuration done on a per T1 basis. Additionally, multi-frequency tones and Centralized Attendant Services may utilize a “robbed bits” communication scheme where bits are “robbed” from sub-frames to transmit in-band signaling. The multi-frequency tones may be converted to and/or from, for example, simple gateway control protocol (SGCP) signal requests and events by the voice gateway  232 . For example, multi-frequency tones and/or lower level signaling and timing functions may be translated to and/or from any of the following indications: simple gateway control protocol Notify functions, simple gateway control protocol Notification Requests, Connection requests, Modify Connection requests, off-hook and/or on-hook indications. 
   An Ethernet interface with a RJ-45 connector may be used to connect the voice gateway  232  to the central router  210  (e.g., Gigabit Switch or High Speed Router (HSR)). The multimedia gateway control protocol may be used as the interface between the voice gateway  232  and the call manager  218 . For example, call control, signaling, and multimedia data stream, real time protocol (RTP) connections, IP addresses, UDP ports, codec choice etc, may be configured in any suitable manner such as by using a multimedia gateway control protocol. In exemplary embodiments, audio streams may be passed directly between customer premises equipment  102  using real time protocol connections over, for example, a user datagram protocol (UDP). Thus, the multimedia gateway control protocol may be utilized to request the voice gateway  232  to initiate, cancel, and/or otherwise modify connections in order to set up and tear down RTP media streams. A similar procedure may also be utilized to request continuity tests and results. 
   In exemplary embodiments, it may be desirable to adapt the IP network to carry signaling system 7 (SS7) Transaction Capabilities Application Part (TCAP) messages over the IP network  120  and/or the ATM/frame/cell relay network  185 . The transport of signaling system 7 (SS7) transaction capabilities application part (TCAP) messages over the packet networks allows signaling operations to be supported by multiple connections to the same host, multiple host connections, and distributed processing of call set-up information using, for example, multiple call managers  218  in the broadband network  1 . Thus, the IP network  120  and/or ATM/frame/cell relay network may be utilized to interconnect a plurality of ESS switches to transport signaling information, voice, and/or data. In embodiments where the signaling gateway (SG)  234  is configured to support signaling system 7 (SS7) signaling transport using transaction capabilities application part (TCAP) messages, it may be desirable to include a translator for converting between multimedia gateway control protocol (MGCP) messages and transaction capabilities application part (TCAP) messages and/or ISDN User Part (ISUP) messages. 
   The point where ISUP and TCAP messages are terminated at a signaling system 7 (SS7) signaling gateway is defined as a Service Switching Point (SSP) to the signaling system 7 (SS7) network  170 . The call manager  218  may be configured with a standardized Application Programming Interface (API) to allow interaction with the signaling system 7 (SS7) by, for example, sending and/or receiving ISUP and TCAP messages from a service switching point (SSP). Full class 5 signaling system 7 (SS7) functionality may be included in the call manager  218  including the ability to provide all of the information necessary for billing as defined in the GR-246-Bellcore standard. The signaling gateway  234  may be arranged to perform: signaling system 7 (SS7) message handling (message discrimination, message distribution, and message routing); signaling link management (e.g., link activation, deactivation); signaling route management (managing Point Code [PC] route status based on route received management messages such as Transfer Prohibited, Transfer Allowed, Transfer Restricted, etc.); and signaling traffic management (diversion of traffic based on unavailability, availability, restriction of signaling link, route, and Point Code.) The signaling system 7 (SS7) architecture supports the necessary redundancy component scheme for system reliability and availability during scheduled maintenance and/or software/hardware upgrades. The signaling gateway  234  may be configured to directly provide for lower level signaling system 7 (SS7) processing. 
   In exemplary embodiments, the signaling gateway  234  interacts with the call manager  218  using an appropriate open interface (e.g., Common Object Request Broker Architecture (COBRA)). In these embodiments, it may be desirable for translation software in the signaling gateway  234  to add Message Transfer Part (MTP) layer information to the ISUP and/or TCAP data to create a complete signaling system 7 (SS7) message. The complete signaling system 7 message may then be sent to the Signaling Transfer Point (STP) in the external signaling system 7 (SS7) network  170 . Conversely, the signaling gateway  234  may be configured to remove ISUP or TCAP application layer data from the signaling system 7 (SS7) messages received from the STP prior to converting the information to an appropriate open interface (e.g., COBRA) and forwarding the information to the call manager  218  via the central router  210 . 
   The accounting gateway (AG)  240  may be configured to receive messages representing events from the call manager  218  via a suitable transport mechanism such as the central router  210 . Typically, two messages are received for each call, the first when the call is established, and second when the call terminates. In the case of unsuccessful calls, only the failure message will be logged. The messages provide details about the calling and called parties, the timing of the call set-up, the duration and the quality of the call. Accounting gateway  240  may be duplicated using a redundant computer, with each gateway having dual-mirrored disks. The accounting gateway  240  stores usage records and may then distribute them to linked destinations (e.g., billing centers) for processing. Billing centers typically include bill processors that receive accounting information from the accounting gateway  240  and generate appropriate on-line or paper billing to customers. The accounting gateway may be configured to accommodate multiple days worth of accounting records such as the records for one day, two days, three days, four days, a week, or a month. The period in which the data is retained in the accounting gateway may be dependent on business needs, hardware restrictions, and/or the billing cycle. For example, as the end of the billing cycle nears, it may be desirable to shorten the period the accounting gateway holds the data such that calls placed the day the bills are printed are included on the bills. Further, the accounting gateway may both retain and forward data to the billing centers. In this manner, if the equipment at the billing center fails, the accounting gateway  240  may serve as a backup. Similarly, the billing center may act as a backup where the accounting gateway  240  fails. 
   An Automatic Message Accounting (AMA) format is typically used by circuit-switching systems, packet-switching systems, and other network elements to provide billing usage measurements data (e.g., the Bellcore® Automatic Message Accounting Format (BAF)). This data may be utilized either to permit charging the customer for use of network resources or to permit charging other carriers (e.g., InterExchange Carrier (EEC) and other Local Exchange Carrier (LEC)) for assistance in placing call connections. The accounting gateway  240  may be configured to convert this information into an Automatic Message Accounting Format (AMA) Format (e.g., BAF) records and send these records to the external billing systems using, for example, a TFTP (trivial file transfer protocol). Time-stamp accuracy is typically based on the accuracy of the call manager  218  clock which may be derived from the TOD  212  server. To create appropriate AMA records, the event information produced by the call manager  218  preferably has appropriate information for the telephone service specified such as phone number of the calling party (customer), phone number of the called party (customer), time of call, duration of the phone call, and use of any discretionary features. Different AMA structures may be generated between On-Net calls (defined as within a network service provider IP network  120 ) vs. Off-Net calls (defined as outside of service provider IP network—e.g. public switched telephone network) for billing purposes. 
   The element management gateway (EMG)  238  may provide system management functionality that includes, for example: a) status and performance monitoring for the Operation Administration, Maintenance, and Provisioning center, to gauge the ongoing operation of applications; b) extensive information exchange with a network operations center responsible for ongoing maintenance of one or more applications; c) customizable operations interface to allow the network operations center to view only information required, thus reducing the time spent filtering information; d) centralize distributed application configuration allowing for the centralized configuration of objects residing on a plurality machines; e) proactive network management capabilities to remove the need for constant operator intervention making the day-to-day operations more efficient; and/or f) intelligent display of status information to separate critical issues from low-priority problems allowing the operation center to assign resources to the right problems at the right time. 
   The multimedia gateway (MG)  230  may be configured to connect to the public switched telephone network  160  and to convert IP based multimedia packets into standard public switched telephone network  160  traffic. The multimedia gateway  230  may include an intelligent trunking interface that communicates with the call manager  218  for automatic trunk sizing and allocation between the IP network  120  and the public switched telephone network  160 . For example, when an system user at the customer premises is using a PC and/or a multimedia phone to communicate with a traditional public switched telephone network  160  user, the communication session involves the transmission of video and audio data. The bandwidth that is required for this type of communication is much greater than that required for a PSTN-to-PSTN voice call or an IP-to-PSTN voice call. The multimedia gateway  230 , as the interface between two systems, may negotiate a larger bandwidth to facilitate the call if the called party is also video enabled. This bandwidth negotiation process typically occurs with a 5ESS or a Local Digital Switch within the public switched telephone network  160 . Typically, a multimedia call, including live video, audio and data, will require bandwidth ranging from 56K to 1.544 Mbps. However, as the number of users sharing the same link grows, the quality of the transmission deteriorates significantly. The multimedia gateway  230  must be able to monitor bandwidth usage and make appropriate adjustments so as to maintain an acceptable quality of service. Further, it may be desirable for the call manager  218  and the multimedia gateway  230  to communicate between themselves and/or the customer premises equipment  102  to determine whether the user has authorized the additional bandwidth and hence expense of the call. For example, even where a called and/or calling party is video enabled, it may nonetheless refuse to authorize payment for the increased bandwidth necessary for video. 
   The Internet gateway (IG)  236  may be connected to the Internet (e.g., World Wide Web (www)) and provide a means for IP based data packets to be routed between the IP network  120  and the Internet  180 . Alternatively, IP based voice packets may be routed via the Internet  180 . In exemplary embodiments, the Internet gateway  236  routes data-only packets which share the same priority level with other lower priority, non-real-time traffic consistent with computer data communications presently experienced with the Internet  180 . Consequently, low priority and low latency data traffic on the IP network  120  utilize the Internet gateway  236  to communicate with other IP data networks such as the www. Voice packets may be routed through another network such as the ATM/frame/cell relay network  185 , a private IP network  120 , and/or the public switched telephone network  160  where committed information rates may be easily obtained. 
   In exemplary embodiments, the broadband network  1  includes the interfaces which enable connections to existing Operation, Maintenance and Provisioning (OAM&amp;P)  195  systems that support, billing, accounting, provisioning and/or configuration management functions. A Secured Management Data (SMD) Network  190  may be utilized to connect the OAM&amp;P  195  to the accounting gateway  240  and element management gateway  238 . The Secure Management Data network  190  may include a Network Service Division&#39;s NSD Net. The Secure Management Datanetwork  190  helps ensure that only secure communication can occur between the IP central station  200  and the OAM&amp;P  195 . This eliminates one potential means of tampering with the billing and provisioning functions in the OAM&amp;P. The billing systems (OSS)  195  may include the Network Operations Center (NOC). The NOC may include a translation server which includes functions for allowing communications and control of diverse networks. 
   B. Broadband Residential Gateway (BRG) 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , a preferred embodiment for a broadband residential gateway (BRG)  300  will now be described and explained. The broadband residential gateway  300  may be configured as the interface unit between the remainder of the customer premise equipment  102  devices and the external network. The broadband residential gateway  300  may be connected to the remainder of the broadband network  1  using any suitable mechanism such as a gateway directly into an IP network and/or a cable connection. In the most preferred embodiments, a hybrid fiber-coaxial plant connection is utilized such as hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC) plant  112 . The hybrid fiber-coaxial plant  112  allows numerous broadband residential gateways  300  to be included on an existing hybrid fiber-coaxial plant  112  without modification to the plants infrastructure. 
   The broadband residential gateway  300  may be variously configured to, for example, provide high-speed cable modem capabilities to interconnect one or more associated PCs with each other and with the remainder of the broadband network  1 , provide functionality to one or more TVs (using, for example, either an integrated or separate decoder functionality, e.g., set top box  350 ), one or more telephone connections such as plain old telephone service (POTS) phones and/or digital telephones, displays, wireless interfaces, voice processing, remote control interface, display interface, and/or administrative functions. In exemplary embodiments, the broadband residential gateway  300  may a) providing conversion between analog voice and IP voice packets, b) multiplexing/demultiplexing streams of IP voice packets, c) supporting multiplexing/demultiplexing of multiple incoming and outgoing signals including multiple voice, multimedia, data, system administration, and/or TV information signals. 
   Where the elements of the broadband residential gateway  300  are interconnected, the interconnection may be provided by one or more data buses, for example, a high speed bus (HSB)  360 , processor bus  380 , and/or other interconnection system. The high speed bus  360 ,  380  may be configured to provide a flexible conduit for transferring information between the internal hardware, processors and ports. In exemplary embodiments of the broadband residential gateway  300 , the high speed bus  360  may include one or more of the following functional units a) a universal remote control receiver module  365  for receiving wireless (e.g., infrared, and/or RF) signals (e.g., keyboard signals and/or remote control signals) for control of the broadband residential gateway  300  and/or any connected devices, b) a display, display driver, touch screen logic module for driving one or more local and/or remote displays for interfacing with the broadband residential gateway  300  and/or one or more connected devices, c) one or more TV port modules  336  for interconnecting televisions, set-top devices, and/or other audiovisual devices to the broadband residential gateway  300 , d) one or more data port modules  334  for connecting/interconnecting data enabled devices (e.g., personal computers, palm top devices, etc.), e) one or more telephony port modules  332  for interconnecting one or more analog and/or digital telephones, f) one or more peripheral port modules  342  for interconnecting one or more peripheral devices such as disk drives, data storage devices, video cassette recorders, DVD devices, audio devices, video devices (e.g., camcorders, digital cameras, digital video recorders, stereos, etc.), g) one or more external/internal intercom modules  344  for interconnecting remote intercom and/or security monitoring devices, h) one or more wireless interface modules  345  for interconnecting with various wireless extension devices such as wireless TVs, cordless and/or wireless telephones, wireless LANs, etc., i) one or more voice recognition/voice synthesis modules  355  for generating voice announcements, voice messages, and voice prompts and for recognizing voice generated commands and data, j) set-top box module  350  for performing the functions associated with a set-top box locally and/or for communicating with one or more remotely coupled set-top boxes, k) memory  322  (e.g., DRAM, RAM, flash, and/or other memory) for storing information and operating data within the broadband residential gateway  300 , l) transceiver  302  for communicating with one or more external broadband networks m) operating program store  330  (e.g., ROM, flash, etc.) for storing at least portions of the operating programs for the broadband residential gateway  300  and/or interconnected devices, n) security processor, smart card and/or credit card interface module  340  for providing secure processing functions and/or credit card/smart card transaction functions, and/or o) distributed processing controller  306  which may be a microprocessor and/or one or more interconnected distributed processing modules for controlling the broadband residential gateway  300 . Where the distributed processing controller  306  includes one or more distributed processing modules, the modules may include a telephony processing module (P 1 )  308 , data processing module (P 23 )  310 , video processing module (P 3 )  312 , auxiliary processing module (P 4 )  314 , IP processing module (P 5 )  316 , and/or an operations administration maintenance and provisioning processing module (P 6 )  318  interconnected through one or more busses such as processor bus  380 . The processor bus  380  and/or high speed bus  360  may include any suitable interconnect bus including intelligent bus configurations incorporating smart buffer logic (not shown in  FIG. 3 ) to facilitate data transfer between interconnected processors and/or modules. The various modules and/or processing components of the broadband residential gateway  300  may be powered by, for example, a power supply unit (not shown). Each of the individual modules of the broadband residential gateway will now be described in more detail. 
   The transceiver  302  may include circuits for converting digital signals to and from RF signals suitable for transmission across a broadband network such as the hybrid fiber-coaxial plant  112 . The transceiver  302  may include one or more input/output ports such as a cable interface (e.g., an F connector cable connection) and/or a fiber optic interface connected to a communication media (e.g., hybrid fiber-coaxial Plant  112 ). The transceiver  302  may be compatible with the DOCSIS 1.0 or later specifications. For signaling purposes, the broadband residential gateway  300  may be compatible with the Media Gateway Control Protocol (MGCP) or other compatible signaling protocol (e.g., SIP or H.GCP) to support telephony applications. The transceiver  302  may serve as a modem, a translator and/or a multiplexor/demultiplexor. Data received from the network may be de-multiplexed and placed on the data bus for dispatch to the appropriate peripherals and/or ports. Data from the various ports and peripherals may be multiplexed together for distribution over one or more broadband networks (e.g., the hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC) plant  112 ). Where a hybrid fiber-coaxial plant  112  is utilized, the data may be multiplexed onto various frequency bands of the hybrid fiber-coaxial plant  112  in a continuous data stream(s) and/or packetized data stream(s). To facilitate data transfer for various networks, the transceiver  302  may be include one or more registers for data queuing and/or IP tunneling of data packets across the broadband network. 
   Although the illustration of a display, display drivers, and touch screen logic device  338  suggests that the a display is integral to the broadband residential gateway  300 , alternative embodiments of the broadband residential gateway  300  may provide a user interface via the TV screen, PC screen, video telephone, and/or other display device in addition to, or in lieu of, a display integral to the broadband residential gateway  300 . 
   The peripheral ports module  342  may include a plurality of ports providing connectivity to external peripherals. Exemplary interfaces include, PCI, Firewire, USB, DB25, etc. Devices which incorporate one or more of these interfaces may utilize the broadband residential gateway  300  to interconnect to the remainder of the broadband network  1 . 
   The external/internal Intercom Module (IM)  344  may include one or more microphones/speakers, voice CODECs, telephony processors, and/or interface ports. Where an intercom module  344  is utilized, the built-in circuitry may be configured to detect, for example, unused plain old telephone system telephone(s) and generates a special intercom tone on these unused telephones. In this manner, existing plain old telephone system telephones, digital phones, and/or other devices may serve as an intercom throughout the residence. The controller  306  (e.g., such as the P 1  telephony processor  308 ) may function to command the intercom module  344  to determine an appropriate intercom path to select an intercom connection between various locations. In exemplary embodiments, the CODEC may be configured to convert the analog voice signal into IP packets for transmission over one or more data ports  334 , TV ports  336 , display modules  338 , telephony ports  332 , peripheral ports  342 , external/internal intercom ports  344 , wireless interface ports  345 , and/or set-top boxes  350 . 
   In yet further embodiments, multiple broadband residential gateways  300  may be configured through, for example, IP tunneling, to set-up an intercom connection between multiple remote broadband residential gateways  300 . In this manner, an administrative assistant at the office may be contacted via an intercom connection present at the users home. Thus, one or more individuals disposed at either local and/or remote locations with diverse types of equipment may communicate as an intercom group without the need to communicate via normal dialing procedures. 
   In addition to intercom services, the intercom module  344  may also configure intercom services for other telephony services (e.g., extension transfer, call conferencing, internal caller ID), high speed data services (e.g., LAN connections), facsimile transmission/reception, e-mail transmission/reception, video conferencing, and/or CATV/HDTV (Cable Television/High Definition Television) using standard industry protocols such as DOCSIS 1.0 or higher and IP tunneling transmissions. These services are advantageous in that once configured, the user may simulate a work environment in his home. 
   Though processing may be accomplished by a single processor performing all functions (e.g., processing controller  306 ), in the preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the architecture employs a distributed processing controller  306 , and a plurality of processors P 1 -P 6   308 - 318 . In the distributed processing architecture, each of the plurality of processors P 1 -P 6  may be configured to have a dedicated function to provide predetermined services or applications. The processors may be coupled together via any suitable mechanism such as the processor bus  380  and/or high speed bus (HSB)  360 . The first processor P 1   308  may include telephony applications such as call set-up, call tear down, and call functions; the second processor P 2   310  may include management functions such as distribution and coordination of data within the various devices of the broadband residential gateway  300 ; the third processor P 3   312  may include video processing functions for configuring control panels, screen displays of attached devices, video conference calls, MPEG decoding functions and other video processing functions; the fourth processor P 4   314  may include an auxiliary processor for off loading special processing functions such as numeric processing; the fifth processor P 5   316  may include interface input/output processing (e.g., text to voice and vise versa) and/or Internet protocol (IP) processing functions for configuring data to communicate with the remainder of the broadband network  1  and/or devices attached to the broadband residential gateway  300  such as IP telephones or IP enable PCs; and the sixth processor P 6   318  may include processing functions for Operation, Maintenance and Provisioning (OAM&amp;P) processing. Each of the above processors may be an entirely separate processing unit with included RAM, ROM, Flash memory, or may share RAM, ROM, and/or Flash memory. Where shared RAM, ROM, and/or Flash memory is utilized, the memory may be located within the distributed processor controller  306  and/or on the processor bus  380 . Alternatively, the memory may be integrated into the operating program store  330  and/or into memory  322 . 
   The Distributed Processing Controller  306  with its associated processors (P 1 -P 6 ) may be coupled to the various elements of the broadband residential gateway  300  so as to enable proper operation of each of the individual components. For example, the distributed processing controller  306  (with any associated processors (P 1 -P 6 )) may also coupled to the security processor, smart card/credit card, and interface module  340 , the peripheral port(s) module  342 , and/or the External/Internal Intercom Module  344  for providing control and coordination among devices coupled to the high speed bus  360 . 
   The display  338  may include, for example, an interactive LED/LCD module positioned in a suitable location such as within or attached to the broadband residential gateway  300 . The display  338  may include an interface to notify, display and receive user inputs and processing status. The display  338  may be configured to display various informational status such as multimedia mail, called ID, call logs, call in progress and associated information, call waiting information, call conferencing, and/or other call related information. The display  338  may provide a display of real time status of the various devices connected to the broadband residential gateway  300  as well as any current connections, calls, and/or data transfers. The display  338  may also include touch screen capabilities that allow information to be input via a plurality of interrelated on-screen prompts, on-screen icons, and/or a keypad (e.g., an alphanumeric keyboard). The keypad may be a remote control, numeric keyboard, and/or alphanumeric keyboard. 
   In one embodiment of the display  338  operation, a user may touch an icon representing a pending voicemail and/or multimedia mail message. The panel may be configured to send an electronic signal to the processing controller  306  and/or an attached processor such as the telephony processor. On receiving the signal, the P 1  telephony processor  308  may be configured to generate an IP packet via the transceiver  302  across portions of the broadband network  1  to the multimedia server  222  in IP central station  200 . The multimedia server  222  may authenticate the request by, for example, verifying location of the request and/or the identity of the requesting party. Where identity of the calling party is being verified, the user enter an access password by an audio and/or keyboard request. Where an audio request is generated, the user may utilize the external/internal intercom module  344  of the broadband residential gateway  300 , or via a text message entered into the display  338 . The user may then enter the appropriate access code via the onscreen soft keypad, microphone, and/or keyboard. Alternatively, the message could be stored locally in the broadband residential gateways  300  memory  322  and depending on whether there is a password lock on the broadband residential gateway  300 , the user may not have to enter a password to access the message. Where the message is stored locally in the broadband residential gateways  300  memory  322  rather than IP central station, the display  338  simply recalls the message from memory and presents to the user to provide one-touch instant message retrieval. 
   In embodiments where the broadband residential gateway  300  supports multiple mailboxes, the icons on the LCD/LED may be personalized to show the identity of the owner of the message. Each user may have a different password to ensure privacy of access. An activity log which tracks past and present messages and/or archives multimedia messages may be presented on display  338 . The archive may be stored locally, or at a remote location such as IP central. The archive may be utilized by the user to recall messages which have long since been erased from local storage but may be retrieved from IP central on tape and/or disk storage. This is preferably an optional feature for those users who are less security conscious. The multimedia messages need not be displayed only on display  338 . In alternate embodiments, any of the peripheral devices attached to the broadband residential gateway  300  are capable of receiving the multimedia messages. 
   The memory  322  may be variously configured to include one or more field-upgradeable card slots for permitting memory expansion. Certain users may wish to enable higher end applications such as near video on demand (e.g., pausing of shows via buffering in memory), video conferencing of multiple users, multi-party conferences, call waiting for multiple parties, etc. Accordingly, the use of a broadband residential gateway  300  allows the user to upgrade memory via inserting additional cards. Alternatively, the user may use system memory in IP central and buffer data remotely. 
   Operating program store  330  may be configured to receive updates. This may be accomplished by having the user replace one or more memory cards or automatically by the IP central station downloading new operating code into one or more residential gateways  300 . 
   As previously indicated, smart buffer logic (SBL) may be coupled to the telephony port(s)  332 , data port(s)  334 , TV port(s)  336 , peripheral port(s)  342 , and/or the distributed processing controller (DPC)  306 . Where the smart buffer logic is utilized, it may function to buffer the IP packets for delivery over the communication network such as the hybrid fiber-coaxial plant  112 . In addition, the smart buffer logic may include selectable switching and routing algorithms based on services and applications associated with each port. Depending on the destination of the IP traffic, the smart buffer logic may multiplex signal from various devices to effect faster information transfer. The smart buffer logic may also allow direct memory access between memory  322  and one or more of the devices and/or ports coupled to the high speed bus  360 . 
   The telephony port(s)  332  may include various interface circuitry (e.g., analog interface, logic and firmware for interfacing with the Plain Old Telephone (POTs) telephones). Also the telephony port(s)  332  may also be configured to include user interface logic, voice processing logic, voice activity detector logic, voice CODECs, and DTMF (dual tone multi-frequency) tone sensing logic. Echo cancellation and automatic gain control may also be utilized in the telephony port(s)  332  circuitry. In one embodiment, RJ-11 connectors for a plurality of lines (e.g., 4) are provided for connection to one or more existing plain old telephone system  110  telephone units. However, the broadband residential gateway  300  may contain any number of telephone connection ports. In this manner, any number of existing user phone may connected directly to the broadband residential gateway  300  without modification. Alternatively, the broadband residential gateway can be configured to support, in addition to or as alternative to the plain old telephone system telephone units, ISDN telephones and/or other digital phones (e.g., IP telephones) using an appropriate interface. 
   The data port(s)  334  interface may be variously configured. In one configuration, the data ports include high speed data service connections to, for example, a personal computer (PC) using a LAN connection. For example, the data ports  334  may include an Ethernet 802.3 connection compatible with category  5  unshielded twisted pair (UTP) cable and a RJ-45 connector. The data port(s)  334  may include the necessary interface circuitry for coupling to remote computers. 
   The TV port(s)  336  may include an interface for conventional television, HDTV and/or CATV services. The TV port(s)  336  typically have one or more F-connectors used for coaxial cable connection to a TV set(s). The TV ports may be configured to connect to a set top box (STB) via the F-connector or directly to a remote television. In embodiments where the settop box is co-located with the television, the data supplied over the TV ports may be either analog and/or digital information. Where the settop box is integrated into and/or comprises the broadband residential gateway  300 , the TV ports may be analog or compatible with HDTV signals. 
   The broadband residential gateway  300  need not necessarily be limited to home use and is intended to also be utilized in business applications. In some configurations, the broadband residential gateway  300  may serve the same functions and operate as a private branch exchange (PBX). Where greater capacity is desired, one or more broadband residential gateways  300  may be disposed on a PC card and combined in a PC, rackmount, and/or server to create an expandable private branch exchange type system that enables intra-premises calling between telephones connected to various telephone connectors on the broadband residential gateway  300 . 
   C. Integrated Broadband IP Based Communication System 
     FIG. 4  shows an exemplary embodiment of the broadband network  1  shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , with like components identified with identical numbers. At the extremities of the integrated communications system is the customer premises equipment unit (CPE)  102 , e.g., one or more customer premise equipment  102  at each customer location. The customer premise equipment  102  may be configured to include an integrated communication interface device such as the broadband residential gateway  300 . Other customer premise equipment  102  devices such as one or more televisions (TV)  106 , personal computers (PC)  108 , and telephones  110 , etc., may be connected to the broadband residential gateway  300  via various ports as discussed above. The customer premise equipment  102  could include multiple TVs  106 , telephones  110 , and PCs  108  connected to a single and/or multiple broadband residential gateway  300 . Further, in certain embodiments, it may be desirable to divide the broadband residential gateway  300  into more than one physical package. In this manner, certain interface circuitry may be located outside of the home while various processing circuitry may be located near a peripheral device such as in a settop. 
   Where the broadband residential gateway  300  is coupled to the hybrid fiber-coaxial plant  112  in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it may be configured to provide the user with both information data (e.g., through an Ethernet interface), telephony access, and TV service (e.g., HDTV, Digital TV and/or CATV services). In exemplary embodiments, the hybrid fiber-coaxial plant  112  typically includes both coaxial cable and optical fiber networks, though, where desired, the network may include only coaxial cable or optical fiber. The hybrid fiber-coaxial plant  112  may be coupled to a head-end hub (HEH)  115 . The head end hub  115  may provide an interconnection point to gather and/or transform external services (e.g., off air and satellite video, public switched telephone network voice, and Internet data) into a format suitable for distribution on the hybrid fiber-coaxial plant  112  for use with the customer premise equipment  102 . The head-end hub  115  may include one or more cable modem termination systems (CMTS)  116  coupled between the hybrid fiber-coaxial plant  112 , a Head-end (HE)  117  and/or an Edge Router (ER)  118 . The edge router  118  may be coupled to the cable modem termination system  116  and to one or more ultra high speed routers (UHR)  121 . One or more ultra high speed routers  121  may be interconnected to each other and/or through a centralized mechanism such as an IP network database to form a high speed network. The high speed packet network  120   n  is one example of the network  120  (e.g., IP network) shown in  FIG. 1 . 
   In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , the high speed network  120   n  includes the ultra high-speed routers (UHR)  121  configured in a ring configuration. Although this embodiment shows the use of the IP network database (IND)  122 , other configurations are also suitable. Where an IP network database  122  is utilized, it may be desirable to incorporate one or more data sets such as: a IP local number portability database (IP LNP)  122   a  which may be utilized for transferring local DN among service providers when a user changes their service provider; an IP caller name database (IP CNAME)  122   b  which may be utilized to provide a database of names relating to IP addresses and/or domain names; an IP line information database (IP LIDB)  122   c  which may provide alternative billing and allow flexibility in determining who pays for a call; and an IP 1-800 Database (IP 8YY)  122   d  which may provide a database of 1-800 numbers relating to the IP network  120   a . Alternatively, the IP local number portability database may be located at another location, such as at an IP central station (IP Central)  200 . Where desired, a local service management system (LSMS)  150  may be arranged to provide management of the IP local number portability database. Where a local service management system  150  is utilized, a plurality of local service order administration (LSOA) units  152  may be coupled to the local service management system by, for example, a number portability administration center (NPAC)  151 . In this manner, directory numbers may be transported among different service providers. In such a case, a NPAC  151  is generally coupled to the LSMS  150  and uses the LSMS  150  to synchronize the numbering databases and to coordinate the porting process. 
   As indicated above, the broadband network  1  may include a plurality of interconnected high performance networks  120   n . Each high performance network  120   n  may include a separate IP central station  200  and/or share a single IP central station. Having distributed IP central stations located throughout the broadband network  1  provides improved performance and quicker response time for an individual user. Although not illustrated, each high performance network  120 ,  120   n  may be connected to multiple head-end hubs  115 , each head-end hub  115  may be connected to multiple hybrid fiber-coaxial plants  112 , and each hybrid fiber-coaxial plant  112  may be connected to a plurality of customer premises equipment  102 , each containing one or more broadband residential gateways  300 . The plurality of high performance networks  120   n  may be configured as an interconnected network for routing packetized information from point-to-point in accordance with a desired destination. 
   The high performance network  120   n  may be configured to provide connectivity for and between a plurality of head-end hubs  115  and/or a plurality of broadband residential gateways  300  and other networks such as the Internet, e.g., www  180 , the public switched telephone network (PSTN)  160  and/or various signaling systems such as the SS7 network  170  for end-to-end voice over IP applications. The IP central station  200  may be configured to provide seamless integration and control of the high performance network  120  (e.g., an IP based communication system) interface with the public switched telephone networks (PSTN)  160 , signaling system seven (SS7)  170 , and/or the Internet  180  so that packetized data, voice calls, and other signaling information is properly transferred between the broadband residential gateway  300  and the public switched telephone network  160  and Internet  180 . In certain configurations, the hybrid fiber-coaxial  112 , head-end hub  115 , and high performance network  120 , provide a signal conduit for packetized voice and data which may, with the coordination of the IP central station  200 , be provided in the appropriate format between the broadband residential gateway  300 , the public switched telephone network  160 , and/or the www  180 . 
   D. General Operation of Integrated Communication System 
   The typical home user is currently required to purchase multiple intelligent data conduits such as multiple set-top boxes, a plurality of conventional, DSL and/or ISDN phones, cable modems, HDTV receivers, satellite receivers, home PC LANs, etc. The integrated communication system of the present invention provides a user friendly versatile communication system that enables voice over IP telephony, information data (e.g., PC and Internet), and television services in a system with one intelligent customer premise equipment  102  interface, the broadband residential gateway  300 . The broadband residential gateway  300  in conjunction with the IP central station  200  provides a flexible communication system that can provide any number of integrated communication service features and functions without requiring the user to become familiar with numerous, diverse types of equipment. 
   In one exemplary application of the voice over IP operations, the broadband residential gateway  300  digitizes the analog telephony signal using, for example, G.711μ law coding (64 KBPS Pulse Code Modulation). The digital samples may then be packetized in, for example, the broadband residential gateway  300  into IP packets. The broadband residential gateway  300  may be configured to encapsulate the IP packets into, for example, DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specifications) frames for transmission back to the head-end hub (HEH)  115  over the hybrid fiber-coaxial plant  112 . The hybrid fiber-coaxial plant  112  may then be configured to transport signals for both upstream (to head-end hub  202 ) and downstream (to the broadband residential gateway  300  and customer premise equipment  102 ) directions. Although the DOCSIS protocol is utilized in this example, any future protocol may also be used for the digitizing and packeting of data. Where the protocol changes, it may be desirable to download new operating code from, for example, IP central station  200  to the individual broadband residential gateways  300 , to update the communication protocols dynamically. When new protocols are adopted, the IP central station may utilize, for example, the system management server  216  to download new protocol data into, for example, the protocol manager in the call manager  218  and the program store  330  in the broadband residential gateway  300 . 
   Where voice packets are sent over constant bit rate (CBR) channels using unsolicited grants, additional packet data channels may be used to support signaling messages (e.g., SGCP, Simple Gateway Control Protocol), high-speed cable modem service and/or other upstream packet data services. The upstream packet data services may be sent using available bit rate (ABR) channels such that the voice channels not impacted by data traffic. 
   E. TV Signal Reception 
   The head-end  117  may originate CATV signals for transmission over the distribution network. However, in alternate embodiments, signals may be inserted at other points in the distribution network, such as at various hubs or may arise at remote locations in the network such as IP central. Down stream channels may be utilized to facilitate the transmission of signals from the head-end or other input distribution point to the subscriber premise. Where analog RF signals arrive at the broadband residential gateway  300  of the customer premise equipment  102 , typically, the transceiver circuitry  302  will detect if the signal is addressed to this broadband residential gateway  300 . If so, the transceiver will allow reception of the RF signal. Upon conversion to a digital format, the signal is typically output over the high speed bus (HSB)  360  to one or more associated devices for processing. For example, where the signal is a TV signal, the signal may be output directly to the TV port  336  and/or processed by the settop box  350  prior to outputting to the TV ports  336  and/or display  338 . Where user channel selection is preformed directly in the broadband residential gateway  300 , channel selection may be preformed by remote control receiver  365  using an external device such as a remote control. The remote control receiver may receive a plurality of individually coded remote control commands from different receivers and process the signals for only one associated device in accordance with the received commands. Alternative channel inputs include the display  338  and/or any associated keypad. Authorization to certain channels may be controlled by security processor  340 . 
   Where a remote settop box is utilized, the box may be coupled directly to the HFC for individual frequency tuning and/or receive a digital feed from the broadband residential gateway  300  after decoding the digital signal. For example, where hybrid fiber-coaxial plant  112  contains fiber connections to locations near the individual homes, it may be desirable to download one or more simultaneous individually requested programming stream(s) and/or digital data stream(s) to the broadband residential gateway  300 . In this manner, the number of channels, movie selections, and/or entertainment options available to the user are unlimited. Cost is minimized since only a single intelligent user interface is used in the home and all televisions, phones, computers, and/or other user interface devices use the same intelligent user interface to the broadband network  1 . In this manner, the broadband network  1  may offer premium television, voice and/or data services to multiple conventional televisions, phones, and PCs without the use of multiple set boxes, modems, and external connections. Thus, the users are provided a single unified interface to satisfy their external data needs. 
   F. Exemplary Call Flow of an On-Network Call to an Off-Network Call, with the Off-Network Call initiating the Dropping. 
     FIG. 5  illustrates an exemplary call processing sequence for an on-net call (e.g., an IP based call) to an off-net call (e.g., a public switched telephone network based call), in which the off-net party initiates the drop call sequence. The exemplary call processing sequence operates as follows: 
   Once the broadband residential gateway  300  detects an off hook condition, the broadband residential gateway  300  may generate an off hook signal  508  to the call manager (CM)  218 . The off hook signal acts as a dial tone request to the call manager  218 . Alternatively, the broadband residential gateway  300  may collect all dialed digits before activating the off hook condition. This alternative may be desirable to save resources at the call manager  218  where multiple incoming lines are available to handle any additional calls. Thus, even though one phone is off-hook, the broadband residential gateway  300  determines that other lines are available and does not initiate the off-hook signal until all dialing digits have been collected. 
   Where the call is managed entirely by the call manager, the call manager  218  will issue a dial tone message  509  to the requesting broadband residential gateway  300  in order for the broadband residential gateway  300  to generate a dial tone to the associated phone. Where the broadband residential gateway  300  shares management of the call, the broadband residential gateway  300  generates the dial tone in response to the off-hook condition. 
   Where the call is managed entirely by the call manager  218 , the call manager  218  will then enter a state where it polls and collects the dialed digits  510  from the broadband residential gateway  300 . The dialed digits may then be transferred to the call manager  218  one at a time as they are entered. Alternatively, where the call set-up control process is shared between the broadband residential gateway  300  and the call manager  218 , the broadband residential gateway  300  collects the dial digits and transfers these, together with the off-hook signal to the call manager  218 . This transfer may be facilitated by combining this data into a single data packet. 
   On receiving the dialed digits, the call manager  218  will determine whether local number portability has been enabled. Where local number portability has been enable, the call manager  218  may issue a local number portability (LNP) query  511  to the IP local number portability database  122 . The IP local number portability database  122  may then supply the call manager  218  with a routing number  512  if the dialed digits form a valid sequence. Where the dialed digits do not form a valid sequence, the call manager  218  will return an error indication to the broadband residential gateway  300 . The error designation may include a tone and/or a more detailed error message for display on, for example, display  338 . 
   Where the call sequence is valid, the call manager  218  may issue a first call proceeding message  513  to the broadband residential gateway  300  indicating that the number is valid and the call is proceeding (e.g., a valid on-hook condition). 
   Next, the call manager  218  typically determines whether adequate network resources are available to carry the call. In embodiments where the broadband residential gateway  300  is connected to a hybrid fiber-coaxial plant  112 , the call manager  218  may send an open gate allocation request  514  to the cable modem transmission system  116 . In this event, it is often desirable for the cable modem transmission system  116  to provide a gate allocation acknowledgement  515 . A gate allocation acknowledgement may be utilized to verify that the necessary gate resources have been allocated. 
   The call manager  218  may send an open connection request  516  to the voice gateway (VG)  232  in order to provision the connection. Once the connection is provisioned, the VG  232  may provide an open connection acknowledgement  517  back to the call manager  218 . 
   For off network connections, it is often necessary to enter a second phase of the connection process involving the appropriate link signaling to establish a call. For example, the call manager  218  may send an ISUP IAM (Initial Address) message  518  containing the directory number (DN) of the called party to the signaling gateway (SG)  234 . This process is often utilized to allocate the appropriate voice trunk for communication. The call manager  218  may also send an alerting message  519  t the broadband residential gateway to produce an alerting signal, e.g., a ringing tone. The signaling gateway  234  may make the appropriate connections when the trunk has been allocated and acknowledge the request with an ISUP A call manager (Address Complete) message  520 . 
   Once the called party has answered the call and connection is established, the signaling gateway  234  may send an ISUP ANM (Answered) message  521  to the call manager  218  indicating that the called party has answered. 
   The call manager  218  may then send a call start message  522  to the accounting gateway (AG)  240 , indicating the start of the call. The AG  240  may use this information for billing purposes. 
   At this point, the link has been established and the conversation  523  can proceed over the communications path. Note that although signaling system 7 (SS7) signaling is used herein to illustrate the present invention and is a well known signaling protocol utilized in the art of telephony telecommunication, the instant invention is not limited to the use of signaling system 7 (SS7) signaling for call establishment of an off-network call; the use of signaling system 7 (SS7) signaling is merely illustrative. As such, other methods of signaling may be substituted for signaling system 7 (SS7). 
   When the called public switched telephone network user terminates the link, an on hook signal may be sent to the appropriate public switched telephone network switch, such as a 5ESS. The signaling network may then send a call termination message (not shown) to the signaling gateway  234  as notification of the call termination status. 
   The signaling gateway  234  may then generate a release  524  signal to the call manager  218 . 
   Upon receipt of the release  524  signal, the call manager  218  may a) initiate the relinquishment of the provisioned network resources by issuing a close connection  525  message to the voice gateway (VG)  232  and a release complete  526  message to the signaling gateway  234 , b) inform the accounting gateway that the call has been terminated, for billing purposes via, for example, sending a call end  527  message to the accounting gateway  240 . 
   With reference to the close connection  525  message, the voice gateway may respond by issuing a report message  528  to the call manager  218  containing the current status of the call. 
   On receiving the call status report  528 , the call manager  218  may issue a delete connection  529  message to the broadband residential gateway  300 . 
   The broadband residential gateway  300  may then releases its resources and sends a status report  530  to the call manager  218 . In addition to the report  530 , the broadband residential gateway  300  may also send an on hook  531  status report to the call manager  218 . 
   The call manager  218  may then inform the broadband residential gateway  300  to report the next off hook condition via message  532 . 
   Where a cable modem transmission system is utilized, the call manager  218  may then issues a release gate  533  message to the cable modem transmission system  116  so that all the modem resources can be relinquished. Once the gate resources have been released, the cable modem transmission system  118  sends a release gate complete  534  message to the call manager  218 . At this point, all resources pertaining to the call have been relinquished. 
   G. Exemplary Call Flow of an On-Network Call to another On-Network User, Under One Call Manager Control 
     FIG. 6  illustrates an exemplary call flow of an on-network call to another on-network user, with the call being handled by a single call manager (CM)  218 . In alternate embodiments, different portions of the call set-up sequence may be handled by more than one call manager  218  in the IP network  120 . The exemplary “on-network” call processing sequence operates as follows: 
   Once the broadband residential gateway  300 A detects and off hook condition of, for example, a telephone, the broadband residential gateway  300 A may generate an off hook signal  607  to the call manager (CM)  218 . The off hook signal may act as a dial tone request to the call manager  218 . 
   The call manager  218  may then issue a dial tone message  608  to the requesting near-side broadband residential gateway  300 A in order for the broadband residential gateway  300 A to generate a dial tone. 
   The call manager  218  may then enter a state where it polls and collects the dialed digits  609  from broadband residential gateway  300 A. The dialed digits are transferred to the call manager  218  one at a time. In a similar fashion to the subject matter discussed above, in embodiments where the call setup is shared between the call manager  218  and the broadband residential gateway  300 A, the broadband residential gateway may manage the call set-up and transfer both the off-hook signal and the dialed digits to the call manager  218  within one or more. 
   On receiving the completed dialed digits, the call manager  218  may issue a local number portability query  610  to the IP local number portability database  122 . The IP local number portability database  122  may then supply the call manager  218  with a routing number  611  if the dialed digits constitute a valid sequence. 
   The call manager  218  may then ensure that adequate network resources are available to accommodate the call. 
   Where adequate resources are available, the call manager  218  may issue a first setup message  612  to whatever mechanism couples the far side broadband residential gateway  300 , e.g., the cable modem transmission system  116 B, to allocate transmission resources on the far side. 
   A call proceeding message and a report on hook condition message  613  may then be sent to the broadband residential gateway  300 A. 
   A gate allocation message  614  may then be sent from the call manager  218  to the cable modem transmission system  116 A, where the broadband residential gateway  300 A is coupled via a cable modem transmission system. In this environment, a gate allocation  614  message may be utilized to set up the relevant modem resources. 
   Where a cable modem transmission system is utilized and receives the setup message  612  from call manager  218 , the cable modem transmission system  116 B may then send a connection request  615  message to the far side broadband residential gateway  300 B. 
   Where a cable modem transmission system  116 B is utilized, the cable modem transmission system may then sends a setup acknowledgement  616  to call manager  218 . Once the resources are allocated by the cable modem transmission system  116 A, the cable modem transmission system may then send a gate allocation acknowledgement message  617  back to the call manager  218 . 
   Once the call manager  218  receives the setup acknowledgement  616  along with the gate allocation acknowledgement message  617 , the far-side broadband residential gateway  300 B may then send a ringing message  618  to the far-side cable modem transmission system  116 B where this connectivity is utilized. 
   In these embodiments, the far-side cable modem transmission system  116 B may then issue an alerting message  619  to the call manager  218 . 
   The call manager  218  may then convey the alert via an alerting message  620  to the broadband residential gateway  300 A, to produce a indicating signal such as a ringing signal indicating that the call is going through. 
   The cable modem transmission system  116 B may then issue a connect message  622  to the call manager  218  in response to the far-side broadband residential gateway  300 B sending an off hook message  621  to the far-side cable modem transmission system  116 B. At this point, the end-to-end communication path is established and conversation  623  can be facilitated. 
   Assuming that the calling party hangs up first, the broadband residential gateway  300 A may initiate an on hook sequence  624  message which may be communicated to the near-side cable modem transmission system  116 A. 
   The cable modem transmission system  116 A may then issue a disconnect message  625  to the call manager (CM)  218 . The call manager  218  may then issue a first delete connection request  626  to the near-side broadband residential gateway  300 A and then a second delete connection request  627  to the far-side broadband residential gateway  300 B. 
   The near-side broadband residential gateway  300 A may respond to the call manager  218  with a report message  628  containing the connection status, as well as an on hook message  630  to verify that the calling party at near-side broadband residential gateway  300 A has terminated the call. 
   The far-side broadband residential gateway  300 B may respond to the call manager  218  with a report message  629  containing the connection status, as well as an on hook message  631  indicating that the called party connection has now been terminated. 
   At this point, the call manager  218  may issue release gate messages  634  and  635  to the near-side cable modem transmission system  218  and far side cable modem transmission system  116 B, respectively, so as to release the modems associated with the call. Once all the resources have releases, the cable modem transmission system  116 A and the cable modem transmission system  116 B may issue gate release complete messages  636  and  637  respectively to the call manager  218 . 
   For simplicity, the accounting processing is not shown. However, the process used in  FIG. 5  may be utilized as the billing procedure for on-net calls. Such a process might constitute sending a call start message from the call manager  218  to an accounting gateway (AG)  240  after the connect message  622  is sent from the far-side cable modem transmission system  116 B to call manager  218 . The call start message would trigger the start of the billing procedure. A corresponding call end message would then be sent from the call manager  218  to the AG  240  after the near-side cable modem transmission system  116 A sends a the disconnect message  625  to the call manager  218 . This call end message would trigger the ending of the billing procedure for that call. 
   Although the IP voice packets for these calls are typically routed over the IP network  120 , the system may, where appropriate, route IP voice packets over the Internet  180 . 
   II. Call Hold With Reminder and Information Push 
   Referring to  FIG. 7 , a call (such as a real time call) may be established between a first party and a second party (step  701 ). Either of the first and second parties may be using a conventional POTS phone, a personal computer, a videophone, and/or any other audio, video, text, and/or multimedia communications device. If the first party wishes to place the second party on hold, the user may enter a predetermined call hold feature code (step  703 ). This feature code may be entered via the keypad of the first party&#39;s phone (such as phone  110 ), via a keyboard or keypad of the first party&#39;s BRG (such as BRG  300 ), and/or via any other user interface. For example, the call hold feature code may be entered from a standard POTS phone  110  as the star (“*”) key, the pound (“#”) key, or any single key or combination of keys. As another example, the call hold feature may be activated by pressing “*12” and/or deactivated by pressing “#12”. For a more advanced phone (e.g., one with memory and/or display capability), the feature code may be pre-stored in the phone and/or linked to a soft key or programmable button, such that selection of the soft key or programmable button may cause the phone  110  to automatically generate the feature code. The BRG  300  may also have such soft keys and/or programmable buttons for generating the feature code. 
   Where a standard POTS phone  110  is used for entry of the feature code, the BRG  300  may be configured to receive and recognize (utilizing one or more of the many processors of the BRG  300  as shown in  FIG. 3 ) the dual tone multiple frequency (DTMF) tones received from the standard POTS phone  110  via the twisted pair wire interconnecting the BRG  300  with the standard POTS phone  110 . Responsive to the call hold feature code, the BRG  300  may generate and send a call hold request IP message to the CM  218  (step  705 ), requesting that the CM  218  place the second party on hold. The call hold request message may include the IP address of the first and/or second party. In response, the CM  218  may validate whether the first party has subscribed to the call hold feature (step  707 ), and if the call hold feature is subscribed to, then the CM  218  may send a call hold commit IP message to the BRG of the second party (step  709 ). 
   Upon receiving the call hold commit message, the BRG of the second party may acknowledge the call hold commit message and/or stop sending IP packets addressed to the first party (step  711 ). Thus, no network bandwidth is utilized by the second party for the call while the second party is on hold (unless an interrupt is requested by the second party, as discussed below). 
   Responsive to receiving the acknowledgement from the second party&#39;s BRG, the CM  218  may send a call hold granted IP message to the first party&#39;s BRG  300  (step  713 ), thereby informing the BRG  300  that the call has been successfully placed on hold. Further, the CM may start a timer for measuring the length of time that the call is placed on hold (step  715 ). There may be more than one such timer, depending upon how many simultaneous calls are placed on hold by the first party. The timer may also be used to trigger a reminder message to the first party that the call is still on hold. For example, every one or two minutes, the CM  218  may instruct the AS  220  to send a call hold reminder message to the first party (steps  717 , 719 ). The call hold reminder message may be in the form of a voice, a tone, a beep, text, data, video, audio, and/or any other format appropriate for notifying the first party of the call on hold. The type of message and/or the time period between messages may be user-defined by the first party. 
   At this point, the second party has been placed on hold. The first party may be a business or other entity interested in providing parties placed on hold with advertising and/or other information. Such call hold information may be in the form of audio, video, speech, text, data, graphics, multimedia, and/or any other format. For example, if the first party is a doctor&#39;s office, the first party may choose to provide the second party with soothing music videos while on hold. In such a case, the first party may enter a particular feature code using e.g., the keypad of the phone  110  and/or the BRG  300  indicating that the first party would like to provide the second party with call hold information (step  721 ). The feature code may also include data representing a particular type of call hold information. For instance, pressing star-star (“**”) may be the command for providing call hold information, and following that with a digit may indicate the type of information (e.g., “1”=soothing music, “2”=music video, “3”=multimedia presentation, etc.). The BRG  300  may interpret this feature code and send a call hold information request IP message to the CM  218  (step  723 ). In response to the call hold information request message, the CM  218  may send a call hold information push IP message to the MS  222  (step  725 ), which in response may send the multimedia call hold information, if requested (e.g., streamed video and audio), to the BRG of the second party (step  727 ). Alternatively or additionally, the CM  218  may send a call hold information push IP message to the AS  220  (step  729 ), which in response may send audio call hold information, if requested (e.g., audio), to the BRG of the second party (step  731 ). 
   The second party may also send an interrupt and/or information to the first party while the second party is on hold. For example, there may be an emergency wherein the second party must contact the first party immediately without waiting to be taken off hold at the whim of the first party. If the second party wants to send an interrupt to the first party, the second party may enter a particular feature code in a manner similar to that described above (step  733 ), and in response the BRG may send a call hold interrupt IP message to the CM  218  (step  735 ). The CM  218  may then validate that the second party is subscribed to the interrupt feature, and if so, may send an IP message to the AS  220  and/or the MS  222  to stop the call information push (steps  739 ,  741 ). 
   Also responsive to the call hold interrupt IP message from the second party&#39;s BRG, the CM  218  may send a retrieve call hold IP message to the first party&#39;s BRG  300  (step  743 ) and/or the second party&#39;s BRG (step  745 ). The first party&#39;s BRG  300  may indicate to the first party that an interrupt is requested, and the first party may choose to terminate the call hold and/or ignore the request. Alternatively, the first party&#39;s BRG  300  may be configured to automatically acknowledge the retrieve call hold message (step  747 ). 
   If the CM  218  receives acknowledgments from both the first party&#39;s BRG  300  and the second party&#39;s BRG (steps  747 ,  749 ), then the CM  218  may instruct each of the first and second parties&#39; BRGs to direct their IP packets to each other (step  751 ), and thus the original call between the first and second parties would be resumed. If the CM  218  does not receive acknowledgments from both the first and second parties&#39; BRGs, then the CM  218  may allow the second party to remain on hold. Thus, the CM  218  may act as a sort of traffic cop for coordinating between the first and second parties.