Patent ID: 6363065
Filing Date: 2002-03-26
Classification: H04L,H04M

Abstract:
Apparatus for a telephony gateway for routing a telephony call through either a public-switched telephone network (PSTN) or a data network to a peer telephony gateway, comprising:(A) a processor; (B) a memory, connected to the processor and storing computer executable instructions therein; and (C) circuitry, controlled by and connected to the processor, for interfacing the gateway to the PSTN and the data network; (D) wherein the processor, in response to performing the executable instructions: (D1) establishes, through the interface, a connection, through one of the PSTN and the data network, with the peer gateway and over which the call is to be carried; (D2) exchanges call specific data with the peer gateway, the data containing both a call identifier common to both the gateway and the peer gateway, the call identifier uniquely distinguishing the call from all other calls then being handling by the gateway or the peer gateway wherein both the gateway and the peer gateway form a same association between the call and the call identifier; (D3) dynamically measures at least one predefined characteristic of a data network connection extending from the gateway to the peer gateway, throughout a duration of the call so as to define quality of service (QoS); and (D4) in response to a sufficient increase or decrease in the QoS, issues an appropriate message, containing the call identifier, to the peer gateway and, as a result thereof, interacts with the peer gateway to establish a connection through the other one of the PSTN and the data network and then switches the call between the PSTN and the data network, such that the call is alternately and automatically switched back and forth between the PSTN and the data network through interactions of the gateway and the peer gateway responsive to dynamic changes in the QoS.