METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING TRAFFIC ENTRY IN A MANAGED PACKET NETWORK

A method for control of real-time traffic entry of a managed packet network includes the step of receiving, from a border element processor, a first message indicative of a new active registration request associated with a client. The border element processor is one of a plurality of border element processors at an edge of a managed packet network controlling packets (e.g., relating to real-time multimedia traffic) entering the managed packet network. The method also includes the step of load balancing, by a load balancing engine, the new active registration request across the plurality of border element processors and assigning the client to a designated border element processor. A second message is generated in response to the new activation registration request. The second message includes a parameter identifying the designated border element processor assigned to the client.