Patent ID: 7664036
Filing Date: 2010-02-16
Classification: H04L,H04M,H04W

Abstract:
1. An apparatus, comprising: a first network interface coupled to service packetized communications with at least one Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) terminal within a first network; a second network interface coupled to service the packetized communications with the at least one VoIP terminal via a second network; a processor coupled to the first network interface and to the second network interface; and a programmable codec, coupled to the processor, that employs a corresponding coding scheme to encode or decode each of the packetized communications; and wherein: the processor determines a communication signature for each of the packetized communications; the processor determines, based upon a corresponding communication signature, whether a packetized communication is a real-time communication; when the packetized communication is the real-time communication, the processor initially directs packetized communications with the at least one VoIP terminal to be serviced within the first network using the first network interface and monitors a first service level at which the real-time communication is supported within the first network; when the first service level is below a minimal service level within the first network, the programmable codec changes from a first coding scheme by which the real-time communication is encoded or decoded therein to a second coding scheme; the processor monitors a second service level at which real-time communication is supported within the first network using the second coding scheme; and when the second service level is below the minimal service level within the first network, the processor directs packetized communications with the at least one VoIP terminal to be serviced within the second network using the second network interface.