Patent ID: 8223949

Claim:
A method for providing communications between a first processing element in a packet switched network and a second processing element in a public switched telephone network (PSTN), said second processing element being arranged to process messages from said first processing element, said method comprising the steps of: a) receiving a first message in accordance with a packet switched network protocol from a first processing element in a packet switched network, said first message identifying a second processing element in a PSTN network for processing said first message; b) extracting at least one element from said first message, said at least one element being associated with the packet switched network protocol and not being associated with a PSTN protocol; c) selecting a message type from the PSTN protocol; d) building a second message, in accordance with said selected message type and encapsulating said at least one extracted element in said second message; and e) sending said second message to said second processing element.