Patent ID: 7227927

Claim:
A scalable call processing node comprising: (a) a link interface module (LIM) interfacing with SS7 signaling links, receiving SS7 call signaling messages and identifying an SS7 call signaling message relating to establishment of a call as requiring processing by a call server and selecting a call server for processing the SS7 call signaling message based on at least one parameter in the SS7 call signaling message; (b) a first call server module separate from the LIM, the first call server module receiving the SS7 call signaling message from the LIM, the first call server module storing connection status and call state information regarding calls in progress in a media gateway and performing media gateway call management functions for establishing the call in the media gateway, thereby functioning as a primary call server; and (c) a second call server module separate from the LIM, the second call server module storing the connection status and call state information regarding calls in progress through the media gateway and functioning as a backup call server, wherein the second call server module switches operation to become the primary call server for the call in response to failure of the first call server module.