Abstract: Methods and apparatus for dynamically loading signaling definition files for operations involving multiple signaling variants. Transmission links that transmit communications corresponding to one of several signaling variants are associated with one of several signaling definition files, where each signaling definition file corresponds to one of the signaling variants and, thus, can be employed during switching, signaling, and other processing of the communications without requiring such processing to be specifically hard-coded, or even designed, for each individual signaling variant.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods, systems, and computer program products for distributed resource allocation between media gateways (MGs) in a cluster of MGs. According to one method, available resources provided by each MG in a cluster of MGs controlled by a media gateway controller (MGC) are communicated between the MGs in the cluster. At the media gateways, resources required for a call are identified, rules are applied to select resources for the call from the available resources, and the selected resources are allocated to process the call.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for dynamically loading signaling definition files for operations involving multiple signaling variants. Transmission links that transmit communications corresponding to one of several signaling variants are associated with one of several signaling definition files, where each signaling definition file corresponds to one of the signaling variants and, thus, can be employed during switching, signaling, and other processing of the communications without requiring such processing to be specifically hard-coded, or even designed, for each individual signaling variant.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods, systems, and computer program products for distributed resource allocation between media gateways (MGs) in a cluster of MGs. According to one method, available resources provided by each MG in a cluster of MGs controlled by a media gateway controller (MGC) are communicated between the MGs in the cluster. At the media gateways, resources required for a call are identified, rules are applied to select resources for the call from the available resources, and the selected resources are allocated to process the call.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing lawful intercept of a media stream in a media gateway include establishing a call context between a first termination and a second termination and establishing a tap context with at least one tap termination, which refer to the first termination. The call context defines a call media stream between the first and second terminations associated with a call between first and second end users. The tap context defines at least one tap media stream from the first termination to the at least one tap termination. The tap media stream is a one-way media stream that carries either the mouth portion of the call media stream, the ear portion of the media stream, or a combination of the mouth and ear portions of the media stream from the first termination to the at least one tap termination. Multiple tap contexts can be created to support the lawful intercept of the call by multiple law enforcement agencies.

Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling media stream handover in a media gateway includes establishing a call context between a first termination and a second termination in a media gateway. The first and second terminations are capable of bi-directional media stream communications associated with a call between first and second end users. In response to a handover event affecting the first termination, a third termination is added to the context. The third termination is initially capable of receive-only communications. The context is then modified such that the third termination becomes capable of bi-directional media stream communications and the first termination becomes capable of receive-only communications. The first termination is then removed from the context. The media stream handover may be performed using extensions to a media gateway control protocol and without using a conference bridge.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing lawful intercept of a media stream in a media gateway include establishing a call context between a first termination and a second termination and establishing a tap context with at least one tap termination, which refer to the first termination. The call context defines a call media stream between the first and second terminations associated with a call between first and second end users. The tap context defines at least one tap media stream from the first termination to the at least one tap termination. The tap media stream is a one-way media stream that carries either the mouth portion of the call media stream, the ear portion of the media stream, or a combination of the mouth and ear portions of the media stream from the first termination to the at least one tap termination. Multiple tap contexts can be created to support the lawful intercept of the call by multiple law enforcement agencies.

Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling media stream handover in a media gateway includes establishing a call context between a first termination and a second termination in a media gateway. The first and second terminations are capable of bi-directional media stream communications associated with a call between first and second end users. In response to a handover event affecting the first termination, a third termination is added to the context. The third termination is initially capable of receive-only communications. The context is then modified such that the third termination becomes capable of bidirectional media stream communications and the first termination becomes capable of receive-only communications. The first termination is then removed from the context. The media stream handover may be performed using extensions to a media gateway control protocol and without using a conference bridge.