Multi-mode endpoint in a communication network system and methods thereof

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and communication network system that allows an endpoint to be simultaneously registered with more than one communications server is described. In one embodiment, the communication network system includes a network, a plurality of communications servers that are coupled to the network, and a plurality of endpoints coupled to the network. Each endpoint is capable of being simultaneously registered with more than one communications server. A communication method for an endpoint involves registering a first logical line of the endpoint with a first communications server, and registering a second logical line of the endpoint with a second communications server. Consequently, flexibility is obtained by allowing an endpoint to choose the registering communications server for each logical line of the endpoint.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A terminal gateway, comprising:
 at least one communication interface;   at least one processor coupled to the communication interface; and   at least one storage element storing instructions for execution by the at least one processor, the instructions comprising:   instructions executable to register a first communication terminal coupled to the terminal gateway with a first communication server and to register the first communication terminal with a second communication server differing from the first communication server;   instructions executable to establish a first communication session between the first communication terminal and a second communication terminal by exchanging signaling with the first communication server; and   instructions executable to establish a second communication session between the first communication terminal and a third communication terminal by exchanging signaling with the second communication server during the first communication session.   
     
     
         2 . The terminal gateway of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions executable to establish the second communication session comprise instructions executable to establish the second communication session when the second communication session is initiated by the third communication terminal. 
     
     
         3 . The terminal gateway of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions executable to establish the second communication session comprise instructions executable to interrupt the first communication session to establish the second communication session. 
     
     
         4 . The terminal gateway of  claim 3 , wherein the instructions executable to interrupt the first communication session to establish the second communication session are executable in response to signaling received from the first communication terminal. 
     
     
         5 . The terminal gateway of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions executable to establish the first communication session by exchanging signaling with the first communication server comprise instructions executable to exchange signaling with a telephony server when the first communication server is a telephony server. 
     
     
         6 . The terminal gateway of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions executable to establish the second communication session by exchanging signaling with the second communication server comprise instructions executable to exchange signaling with a telephony server when the second communication server is a telephony server. 
     
     
         7 . The terminal gateway of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions executable to establish the first communication session comprise instructions executable to establish a telephone call. 
     
     
         8 . The terminal gateway of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions executable to establish the second communication session comprise instructions executable to establish a telephone call. 
     
     
         9 . The terminal gateway of  claim 2 , wherein the instructions executable to establish the second communication session comprise:
 instructions executable to receive, at the terminal gateway from the second communication server, signaling indicating that the third communication terminal is attempting to establish the second communication session with the first communication terminal;   instructions executable to send, from the terminal gateway to the second communication server, signaling indicating that the first communication terminal is prepared to establish the second communication session; and   instructions executable to receive, at the terminal gateway from the second communication terminal, signaling effective to set up a communication path between the third communication terminal and the first communication terminal.   
     
     
         10 . The terminal gateway of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions executable to establish the first communication session between the first communication terminal and the second communication terminal by exchanging signaling with the first communication server comprise instructions executable to exchange telephony signaling with the first communication server to establish a first telephone call. 
     
     
         11 . The terminal gateway of  claim 10 , wherein the instructions executable to exchange telephony signaling with the first communication server comprise instructions executable to exchange signaling with a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) telephony switch. 
     
     
         12 . The terminal gateway of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions executable to establish a first communication session between the first communication terminal and the second communication terminal by exchanging signaling with the first communication server comprise instructions executable to exchange packet telephony signaling with the first communication server to establish a telephony over packet call. 
     
     
         13 . The terminal gateway of  claim 12 , wherein the instructions executable to exchange packet telephony signaling comprise instructions executable to exchange at least one of Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), H.323 signaling and Media Gateway Control Protocol (MGCP). 
     
     
         14 . The terminal gateway of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions executable to establish the second communication session between the first communication terminal and the third communication terminal by exchanging signaling with the second communication server comprise instructions executable to exchange telephony signaling with the second communication server to establish a second telephone call. 
     
     
         15 . The terminal gateway of  claim 14 , wherein the instructions executable to exchange telephony signaling with the second communication server comprise instructions executable to exchange signaling with a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) telephony switch. 
     
     
         16 . The terminal gateway of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions executable to establish the second communication session between the first communication terminal and the third communication terminal by exchanging signaling with the second communication server comprise instructions executable to exchange packet telephony signaling with the second communication server to establish a telephony over packet call. 
     
     
         17 . The terminal gateway of  claim 16 , wherein the packet telephony signaling comprises one of Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), H.323 signaling and Media Gateway Control Protocol (MGCP). 
     
     
         18 . The terminal gateway of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions executable to register a first communication terminal coupled to the terminal gateway with the first communication server and to register the first communication terminal with the second communication server differing from the first communication server comprise:
 instructions executable to register a first logical communication channel associated with the first terminal at the first communication server; and   instructions executable to register a second logical communication channel associated with the first terminal at the second communication server.   
     
     
         19 . The terminal gateway of  claim 18 , wherein the first and second logical communication channels are logical lines. 
     
     
         20 . The terminal gateway of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one storage element stores information associated with the first communication terminal, the stored information being accessible to the first and second communication servers and comprising at least one of:
 a telephone number associated with the first communication terminal;   a logical communication channel identifier associated with the first communication terminal;   an Internet Protocol (IP) address associated with the first communication terminal; and   a Media Access Control (MAC) address associated with the first communication terminal.