Table of Contents:

Definition and Overview

1. Gatekeeper Environment

2. Mandatory Features

3. Optional Features

4. Practical Applications

5. Current Role

6. Future

Self-Test

Glossary

PDF of this tutorial

Since the ITU H.323 protocol and gatekeeper specification became commercially available, the IP communications revolution has taken hold, and real-time voice and video communication over converged networks is being deployed globally in enterprise and carrier environments. Today, there are hundreds of thousands of people around the world using gatekeeper-enabled IP–telephony products and services. As the number of IP–connected devices and people grows and reaches critical mass, IP–centric communications will be commonplace, and the gatekeeper will continue to play an increasingly important role as the heart of a host of compelling new applications and services for converged networks.