Patent ID: 6574216
Filing Date: 2003-06-03
Classification: H04L,H04M,H04Q

Abstract:
A method of controlling voice communication between calling and called telephone stations each connected through a respective switch to a public switched telephone network (PSTN) region and remotely located from each other, comprising the steps of:routing a voice call carrying two-way voice communication between said calling and called stations in digital packet format through a path of the Internet; changing the routing of said call between said calling and called stations from the Internet path to a non-packet data format voice telephone network voice path without terminating the call, thereby bypassing said packet data network while maintaining the voice communication call; and wherein said changing step comprises: monitoring said packet data network during the course of transmission of said voice call through said packet data network path to determine a quality of performance level; comparing the performance level determined in said monitoring step with a predetermined threshold level; rerouting the call to said voice telephone network voice path if the performance level of said packet data network as monitored in said monitoring step is below said predetermined threshold: and wherein the Internet interfaces with a plurality of PSTN regions through respective Internet modules, and said rerouting step comprises: transmitting a signal from an Internet module connected with the PSTN region of the calling station to the calling station switch; in response to said signal, establishing a connection for said call from said calling station switch through the PSTN to a second switch coupled to the called station; bridging the voice call at each of said switches to the established connection; and terminating communication of said call through said packet data network path.