Patent ID: 7761577

Claim:
A method of terminating a communication session between first and second communication devices over a communication network, the method comprising: receiving, at said first device, media packets transmitted by said second device including a last media packet transmitted by said second device; transmitting a first probe through said network from said first device to said second device when an amount of time since the receipt at said first device of the last media packet transmitted by said second device exceeds a first predetermined time period; if no response to said first probe is received at said first device from said second device within a second predetermined time period following the transmission of said first probe, terminating the communication session at said first device; and in the event a response to said first probe is received from said second device at said first device within said second predetermined time period following transmission of said first probe: transmitting a second probe from said first device to said second device when said amount of time since the receipt at said first device of the last media packet transmitted by said second device exceeds a third predetermined time period; and if no response to said second probe is received at said first device from said second device within said second predetermined time period following transmission of said second probe, terminating said communication session at said first device.