MID-CALL REDIRECTION OF TRAFFIC THROUGH APPLICATION-LAYER GATEWAYS

摘要

A method and apparatus are disclosed for redirecting traffic associated withanapplication so that the traffic advantageously traverses (or "hairpins")through anapplication-layer gateway. Because the present invention advantageouslyredirects trafficwithout any participation by routers, no changes to or replacement of routersin a network isrequired. The illustrative embodiment is disclosed in the context of Internettelephony, butis also applicable to other kinds of applications and types of communication(e.g., InternetProtocol Television [IPTV], instant messaging [IM], videoconferencing, etc.)