Patent ID: 8732248

Claim:
A method of processing multi-media service requests received at a multi-media services provider computer system including a media gateway controller having a processor, the method comprising: receiving a first message in a first format by the processor of the media gateway controller from a first one of a plurality of communication devices; processing the first message by the processor of the media gateway controller for generating an instruction message that is communicated to the media server, wherein the instruction message is for causing a media server to communicate a predetermined announcement to the first communication device, for allowing the media server to receive predetermined account-information in the first format from the first communication device in response to the predetermined announcement, and for allowing the media server to process the predetermined account-information in the first format to generate a validation message in a second format including the predetermined account-information; and receiving the validation message in the second format including the predetermined account-information by the processor of the media gateway controller over a direct communication coupling, wherein the receiving the validation message in the second format over the direct communication coupling increases a rate at which user requests is processed.