Abstract: An IP Packet Access Gateway (IP PAG) system manages an IP bearer path between communicating IP endpoints. The system includes an IP PAG having a first IP bearer connection termination for terminating a first bearer connection with a first IP endpoint, and a second IP connection termination or terminating a second bearer connection with a second IP endpoint. A call control entity is associated with the IP PAG and communicates call control instructions thereto. The call control instructions include instructions for logically concatenating the connections into an active IP bearer path extending between the first IP endpoint and the second IP endpoint. A bearer traffic IP packet handler in the IP PAG moves bearer traffic IP packet payloads over the active IP bearer path.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for transferring an ATM call. A first ATM call (124) is established between a first party (120) and a second party (116) and a second ATM call (128) is established between the second party (116) and a third party (118). The first and second ATM calls both include a plurality of segments (124a–d, 128a–d) or connections that are coupled to a plurality of ATM switches (208, 210, 212, 214) over ATM facilities to provide virtual connections. The transfer is accomplished by sending a message to the ATM switch over the ATM facility (109) to request the transfer of the first party to the third party. The message identifies the first ATM call and the second ATM call. The switch makes a new connection (220) between the first ATM call and the second ATM call and releases the segments of the first and second ATM calls that connect the ATM switch to the second party. As a result, the first party and the third party are connected for communication.

Abstract: An ATM Packet Access Gateway (ATM PAG) system manages an ATM bearer path extending between ATM endpoints participating, for example, in a VoATM call. The system includes an ATM PAG having a first ATM bearer connection termination for terminating a first bearer connection with a first ATM endpoint, and a second ATM connection termination for terminating a second bearer connection with a second ATM endpoint. A call control entity is associated with the ATM PAG and communicates call control instructions thereto. The call control instructions include instructions for logically concatenating the first and second ATM bearer connections into an active ATM bearer path extending between the first ATM endpoint and the second ATM endpoint. A Media Access Gateway (MAG) function of the ATM PAG is responsible for establishing the connections that form the ATM bearer path. An ATM switch function of the ATM PAG moves bearer traffic ATM packet payloads over the active ATM bearer path.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for transferring an ATM call. A first ATM call (124) is established between a first party (120) and a second party (116) and a second ATM call (128) is established between the second party (116) and a third party (118). The first and second ATM calls both include a plurality of segments (124a-d, 128a-d) or connections that are coupled to a plurality of ATM switches (208, 210, 212, 214) over ATM facilities to provide virtual connections. The transfer is accomplished by sending a message to the ATM switch over the ATM facility (109) to request the transfer of the first party to the third party. The message identifies the first ATM call and the second ATM call. The switch makes a new connection (220) between the first ATM call and the second ATM call and releases the segments of the first and second ATM calls that connect the ATM switch to the second party. As a result, the first party and the third party are connected for communication.

Abstract: An ATM Packet Access Gateway (ATM PAG) system manages an ATM bearer path extending between ATM endpoints participating, for example, in a VoATM call. The system includes an ATM PAG having a first ATM bearer connection termination for terminating a first bearer connection with a first ATM endpoint, and a second ATM connection termination for terminating a second bearer connection with a second ATM endpoint. A call control entity is associated with the ATM PAG and communicates call control instructions thereto. The call control instructions include instructions for logically concatenating the first and second ATM bearer connections into an active ATM bearer path extending between the first ATM endpoint and the second ATM endpoint. A Media Access Gateway (MAG) function of the ATM PAG is responsible for establishing the connections that form the ATM bearer path. An ATM switch function of the ATM PAG moves bearer traffic ATM packet payloads over the active ATM bearer path.

Abstract: Signaling information is communicated over an ATM link or other packet-based communication link using packet headers. The information may be, for example, telephony signaling information such as an on-hook/off-hook indicator, a ring/no-ring indicator, or any other type of information used in establishing, maintaining, terminating or otherwise configuring a telephony-based communication. In an illustrative embodiment, a single bit of signaling information is incorporated into a low order bit of a packet type indicator field in a header of an ATM user data cell. This low order bit, which is generally used as an End of Message (EOM) indicator in a cell which is part of a multi-cell message, can be used to transmit the signaling information in packets corresponding to single-cell messages.