Patent ID: 7634577

Claim:
In a network device, a method comprising: storing in physical memory of the network device first data representing a first logical grouping of a first plurality of media gateways into a first virtual media gateway, each media gateway of the first plurality being communicatively coupled with the network device via a communication network, and the first data including, for each media gateway of the first plurality, a network address and media gateway attribute; associating a first identifier with the first logical grouping, the first identifier being a virtual network address; and intermediating communications between a media gateway controller and the first plurality of media gateways based on at least the first identifier, the media gateway controller being communicatively coupled with the network device via the communication network, wherein intermediating communications between the media gateway controller and the first plurality of media gateways based on at least the first identifier comprises receiving a media gateway control message from the media gateway controller, the media gateway control message including the virtual network address associated with the first virtual media gateway, a sub-command, and an attribute.