Nortel Networks Corporation

Desne Jean Rose

Roy Harold Mauger

A method for enabling traffic to be carried between devices which may use different communications protocols employs a multimedia service provide, which provides an interface between two devices or between a device and a multimedia network. The service provider enables conversion between the communications protocols used by the two devices by comparing the protocols used by each device and, preferably, carrying out a conversion which minimises the amount of traffic conversion required. If two devices are interfaced to an intermediate network via respective service providers, the service providers preferably negotiate before communication between the devices begins to ensure, if possible, that traffic conversion is only performed by one of the service providers. Each device is connected to the service provider at a network access server of a type matched to the device type and traffic conversion is carried out as required using an Asynchronous Transfer Mode Virtual Channel switch controlled by a multimedia server.

Communications method and apparatus

Exchange for communication network

Interconnection of a multimedia terminal ( ) of a narrowband, LAN-type network ( ) to an exchange ( ) and thence to an end-point ( ) is orchestrated through an intermediate network ( ), as shown in FIG. . A route ( ) to the exchange ( ) is initially established by a call handler ( ) in responsive to a called party number of the end-point, before a connection supervisor ( ), coupled to the call handler ( ), sets up a control channel across the intermediate network ( ). The control channel supports the communication of control messages between the multimedia terminal ( ) and the end-point ( ), which control messages are intercepted and interpreted by the connection supervisor ( ). The connection supervisor ( ) then establishes media paths through the intermediate network ( ) dependent upon types of control message sent across the control channel, which media paths are used to transfer traffic components across the intermediate network.

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St. Albans, United Kingdom

Desne Jean Rose