Patent ID: 7308101

Claim:
A method comprising: receiving a call request over a packet switched network at a first gateway that is located between the packet switched network and a circuit switched network; comparing a phone number included in the call request with entries in a local dial plan located at the first gateway; sending one or more signals from the first gateway to a source endpoint when the phone number included in the request matches one of the entries in the local dial plan, the signals directing the source endpoint to encrypt media packets for the requested call using a protocol for encrypting real-time media; receiving the encrypted media packets from the source endpoint responsive to sending the signals; when a transfer path for the requested call includes a leg traversing the circuit switched network, determining whether a remote second gateway that is located on the transfer path and between the circuit switched network and the same or another packet switched network is configured for end-to-end secure transport; establishing an Internet Protocol (IP) link that traverses the circuit switched network when the second gateway is configured for end-to-end secure transport, the IP link extending from the first gateway to the second gateway; reformatting the encrypted media packets for transport over the IP link when the second gateway is configured for end-to-end secure transport, said reformatting occurring without decrypting an encrypted payload attached to the encrypted media packets; and transferring the reformatted encrypted media packets over the established IP link.