Patent ID: 7535850

Claim:
A method for voice path assurance testing through a communication system, the system comprising an originating endpoint in communication with a packet network and a terminating endpoint in communication with the packet network, the method comprising: sending a logical connection request by the originating endpoint, the logical connection request comprising a voice path assurance token; receiving the logical connection request by the terminating endpoint; determining that the token is present in the logical connection request by the terminating endpoint; selectively performing a voice path assurance test on a bearer path between the terminating endpoint and the originating endpoint through the packet network, the performing being initiated by the terminating endpoint and based on the presence of the token, wherein the performing further comprises transmitting data packets from the terminating endpoint to the originating endpoint to be looped-back to the terminating endpoint, wherein the data packets comprise at least one of a timestamp and a sequence number; and, selectively acknowledging the logical connection request by the terminating endpoint based on the result of the voice path assurance test.