Patent ID: 7269658

Claim:
In a media gateway having switching facilities and at least two virtual media gateways, wherein each of the virtual media gateways has a corresponding media gateway controller, a method for connecting a call between virtual media gateways within the media gateway, comprising the steps of: receiving a call set-up request in an originating virtual media gateway from its corresponding media gateway controller; creating a shortcut token in the originating virtual media gateway to identify a shortcut in the media gateway; transporting the shortcut token and the call set-up request from the originating virtual media gateway to the terminating virtual media gateway; determining in the terminating virtual media gateway whether the shortcut can be supported; where the shortcut can be supported by the media gateway, appending call identification information to the shortcut token, returning the shortcut token and the call set-up request to the originating virtual media gateway, setting up the call using the shortcut.