Patent ID: 7212622

Claim:
Apparatus for routing a telephone call by a caller to a called telephone, to a data network, the apparatus comprising: (a) a memory for storing a category of telephone numbers representing telephone calls to be placed over a data network in packet switched format; (b) processing means for accepting a dialed telephone call directly from a device initiating said call, and for determining whether a called number of said call is within said category, and for routing said call through an originating gateway to said data network if so; and (c) means for selecting, after said called number of said dialed call is determined to be within said category, said originating gateway from plural originating gateways each being capable of conveying said call to said data network, wherein said processing means determines whether said call is routed more economically over said data network or over a telephone network, and wherein said called telephone is accessable over either network.