Abstract: A residential access node (RAN) running a RAN platform 112 which includes means for interfacing a plurality of peripheral equipment such as analog (POTS) phones 114, standard televisions 116, computers 118, IP telephones 120, and high definition televisions 122 to a packet data network 100. The Network Access Provider RAN platform 124 manages sessions among Customer Premises RAN platforms 112 and Application Service Provider RAN platforms 110 over high bandwidth connections. The Customer Premises RAN platform 112 also determines the number and type of data packets entering or departing via the packet data network 100. Such an architecture allows for the efficient transfer of services (data content) from Application Service Providers to individual network access subscribers by seamlessly accommodating various data types and providing an integrated metering and billing mechanism managed by the Network Access Provider.

Abstract: The present invention provides an architecture for a media gateway to identify and register with multiple media gateway controllers for various types of voice and data services, along with having the media gateway appear to each of these media gateway controllers as a single, dedicated control entity. A logical layer, referred to as a virtualizer, is associated with each media gateway and appears to the media gateway as a single media gateway controller. To each media gateway controller the virtualizer supports, the virtualizer appears as a single media gateway. In essence, the virtualizer is a protocol manager and message router. The virtualizer supports the registration of multiple media gateways and then creates virtual gateways based on requirements of the media gateway controllers serving these virtual gateways. Preferably, subscribers associated with endpoints handled by the media gateway are grouped into a virtual gateway being served by a select media gateway controller or group thereof.