Patent ID: 7016314

Claim:
A method for transferring an asynchronous transfer mode call, wherein a first asynchronous transfer mode call is established between a first party and a second party and a second asynchronous transfer mode call is established between the second party and a third party, wherein the first asynchronous transfer mode call includes a plurality of segments that are coupled to a plurality of asynchronous transfer mode switches to provide a virtual connection, and wherein the second asynchronous transfer mode call includes a plurality of segments that are coupled to a plurality of asynchronous transfer mode switches to provide a virtual connection, the method comprising the steps of: an asynchronous transfer mode switch coupled to the second party receiving a message to transfer the first asynchronous transfer mode call to the second asynchronous transfer mode call to connect the first party and the third party; the asynchronous transfer mode switch connecting a first segment of the first asynchronous transfer mode call to a first segment of the second asynchronous transfer mode call; the asynchronous transfer mode switch releasing a second segment of the first asynchronous transfer mode call that extends from the asynchronous transfer mode switch to the second party; the asynchronous transfer mode switch releasing a second segment of the second asynchronous transfer mode call that extends from the asynchronous transfer mode switch to the second party; wherein the second party is coupled to the asynchronous transfer mode switch by a media access gateway and the media access gateway sends the message to the asynchronous transfer mode switch; wherein the media access gateway is coupled to a call control entity that receives a request from the second party to transfer the first asynchronous transfer mode call to the second asynchronous transfer mode call and wherein the media access gateway generates the message under control of the call control entity in response to the request from the second party; and wherein the media access gateway maintains control over a connection between the first segment of the first asynchronous transfer mode call and the first segment of the second asynchronous transfer mode call after the second segment of the first asynchronous transfer mode call and the second segment of the second asynchronous transfer mode call are released.