METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ROUTING OF A BEARER PATH IN AN INTERNET PROTOCOL MULTIMEDIA SUBSYSTEM-BASED COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

A communication system (100) routes a bearer path of a communication session between an originating Node B (112) and a terminating Node B (e.g., Node B 122) via an X2 interface (116), bypassing an IMS core network (152), while continuing to route the signaling path to an IMS network (150), thereby allowing the IMS network to retain control of the bearer path while avoiding delay, potential for bearer stream data loss and jitter, and additional backhaul capacity requirements that result from routing the bearer path between the originating and terminating Node Bs via the IMS core network. In determining whether the bearer path may bypass the IMS core network, the communication system determines whether IMS core network bearer associated services are required for the communication session such that a bearer path of the call will need to be routed to the IMS core network in order to provide such services.