Methods and apparatus for setting up telephony connections between two address domains having overlapping address ranges
First Claim
1. A method of initiating a media call over a packet-switched network comprising:
- (a) issuing a call set-up request at a first terminal having an address in a first address range, the call set-up request being destined for a second terminal in a separate network having an address in a second address range which overlaps with the first address range, (b) passing the call set-up request to a first call server communicatively coupled to the first address range, (c) passing the call set-up request from the first call server to a second call server communicatively coupled to the second address range, (d) causing the call servers to negotiate a port at each respective addresses of the terminals for subsequent communication once the call is set-up, (e) providing a first address translator having a first range address in the first address range, (f) providing a second address translator having a second range address in the second address range, (g) causing the first call server to provide the first terminal with the first range address of the first address translator as its destination address for the call, (h) causing the second call server to provide the second terminal with the second range address of the second address translator as its destination address for the call, (i) arranging for the first address translator to pass data received at the first range address from the first terminal at the negotiated port to the second address translator for onward communication to the address of the second terminal at the negotiated port, and (j) arranging for the second address translator to pass data received at the second range address from the second terminal at the negotiated port to the first address translator for onward communication to the address of the first terminal at the negotiated port, whereby two-way communication is established between the first and second terminals via the first and second address translators.
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Accused Products
Abstract
IP addresses are presently becoming a scarce resource, even in private IP address domains. Commonly therefore network address translators are used to map a large number of private addresses to a relatively small number of public IP address, or even map addresses between two different IP address domains. However, network address translators do not readily pass voice set-up protocols such as SIP and VoIP packets. By modifying a call server and providing an intelligent network address translator, conventional media gateways may be caused to use the intelligent address translator to route VoIP packets between IP domains having overlapping address spaces.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of initiating a media call over a packet-switched network comprising:
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(a) issuing a call set-up request at a first terminal having an address in a first address range, the call set-up request being destined for a second terminal in a separate network having an address in a second address range which overlaps with the first address range, (b) passing the call set-up request to a first call server communicatively coupled to the first address range, (c) passing the call set-up request from the first call server to a second call server communicatively coupled to the second address range, (d) causing the call servers to negotiate a port at each respective addresses of the terminals for subsequent communication once the call is set-up, (e) providing a first address translator having a first range address in the first address range, (f) providing a second address translator having a second range address in the second address range, (g) causing the first call server to provide the first terminal with the first range address of the first address translator as its destination address for the call, (h) causing the second call server to provide the second terminal with the second range address of the second address translator as its destination address for the call, (i) arranging for the first address translator to pass data received at the first range address from the first terminal at the negotiated port to the second address translator for onward communication to the address of the second terminal at the negotiated port, and (j) arranging for the second address translator to pass data received at the second range address from the second terminal at the negotiated port to the first address translator for onward communication to the address of the first terminal at the negotiated port, whereby two-way communication is established between the first and second terminals via the first and second address translators. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A call server for setting up VoIP calls over a packet-switched network comprising:
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(a) a terminal controller arranged to receive a call set-up request from an originating terminal, (b) an address translator controller arranged to provide to an address translator, the IP address of the originating terminal as derived from a call set-up request received by the terminal controller. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 10)
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9. An address translator comprising:
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(a) a terminal port for communicating with a terminal, (b) a translator port for communicating with another address translator, and (c) a control port for communicating with a call server.
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11. A control signal for generating a mapping in an address translator between an originating terminal and another address translator which is in communication with a desired destination terminal.
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12. A control signal for generating a mapping in an address translator between a destination terminal and another address translator which is in communication with an originating terminal.
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13. A packet-switched network having a call server, a terminal and an address translator, the call server being arranged to control the address translator and to generate a mapping in the address translator between the address of the terminal in the said first network and the address of another network address translator outside the first network, the address translator being arranged to communicate with the other address translator to allow communication with another terminal in another network having an IP address range which overlaps with that of the first network.
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14. A method of setting up a call between two packet-switched networks having overlapping address ranges comprising:
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(a) receiving a call setup request from a terminal in a first of the networks, the call being destined for a terminal in the second network, (b) providing the terminal with the address of an address translator in the first network for use as the terminal'"'"'s destination address, (c) notifying the address translator of an address to which data received from the terminal, should be passed.
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15. Software for a call server which when executed on suitable hardware causes the hardware to carry out the steps of:
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(a) receiving a call setup request from a terminal in a first of the networks, the call being destined for a terminal in the second network, (b) providing the terminal with the address of an address translator in the first network for use as the terminal'"'"'s destination address, (c) notifying the address translator of an address to which data received from the terminal, should be passed.
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16. A method of translating addresses between terminals in first and second packet-switched networks having overlapping address ranges comprising:
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(a) receiving notification from a call server of the address of a terminal which will be sending data, (b) receiving notification of an address to which data should be sent when received for the terminal. (c) receiving data from the terminal and forwarding the data to the notified destination address.
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17. Software for an address translator which when executed on suitable hardware causes the hardware to carry out the steps of:
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(a) receiving notification from a call server of the address of a terminal which will be sending data, (b) receiving notification of an address to which data should be sent when received for the terminal. (c) receiving data from the terminal and forwarding the data to the notified destination address.
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Specification