Patent ID: 8687640

Claim:
A method of enabling media bypass for a media gateway in a telecommunications network which includes a plurality of media gateways via which a signaling path for transfer of signaling information for setup of a communication session between endpoint devices can be established and via which a media path for transfer of media data between said endpoint devices during said communication session can be established, said method comprising: receiving, at said media gateway, an inbound communication session setup request message requesting setup of a communication session between an originating endpoint device and a terminating endpoint device in said telecommunications network, said inbound communication session setup request message being transmitted along an inbound signaling path to said media gateway; transmitting, from said media gateway, an outbound communication session setup request message in response to receiving said inbound communication session setup message, said outbound communication session setup request message being transmitted along an outbound signaling path from said media gateway; and including preceding device connectivity data in said outbound communication session setup request message, said preceding device connectivity data indicating at least one media connectivity setting for at least one preceding device which is located before said media gateway in said inbound signaling path, the at least one media connectivity setting identifying one or more other devices to which the preceding device is configured to be connectable in said media path, to enable bypass of said media gateway in said media path if an ensuing device in said outbound signaling path determines that such bypass should be conducted.