Patent ID: 8175083

Claim:
Apparatus for routing data of a voice telephone call, comprising: (a) an input device for receiving data of a voice telephone call from a first end terminal; (b) an IP switch for forwarding data of said voice telephone call from said input device to a first network for packet-switched communication to a second end terminal, said first network being a connection-less, non-ISDN packet switching network; (c) a line switch for forwarding data of said voice telephone call from said input device to a second network for line-switched communication to said second end terminal, said second network being independent of said first network; and (d) a control device for selectively routing said data of said voice telephone call from said input device to said IP switch or said line switch after receiving data corresponding to a dialed number of said second end terminal; said control device being operable to (i) route first data of said voice telephone call to said IP switch; (ii) monitor the bandwidth of an existing transfer of said first data of said voice telephone call to said second end terminal; (iii) generate a change-over control signal during said existing transfer of said first data of said telephone call when said monitored bandwidth understeps or exceeds a certain bandwidth; (iv) change over the routing of said existing transfer from said IP switch to said line switch without interrupting said voice telephone call; and (v) route second data of said voice telephone call to said line switch as a result of said changing over of said routing.