Patent ID: 8472342

Claim:
A method performed by a first telephony device for conducting an Internet protocol (IP) telephony communication with a second telephony device via a data network, wherein the IP telephony communication is routed, at least initially, through an element of a data network that is in communication with the second telephony device, comprising: receiving a setup request at the first telephony device, the setup request indicating that an IP telephony communication is to be established between the first telephony device and the second telephony device; sending a first stream of data packets bearing the media of the telephony communication from the first telephony device to the element of the data network that is in communication with the second telephony device via a first path through the data network; sending a second stream of data packets bearing the media of the telephony communication from the first telephony device to the element of the data network in communication with the second telephony device via a second path through the data network, wherein the second stream of data packets is sent via the second path at substantially the same time that the first stream of data packets is sent via the first path; determining which of the first and second paths was the fastest to initially communicate a stream of data packets bearing the media of the telephony communication to the element of the data network in communication with the second telephony device; and conducting an initial stage of the telephony communication by sending data packets bearing the media of the telephony communication to the element of the data network in communication with the second telephony device via the path which was the fastest to initially communicate data packets to the element of the data network in communication with the second telephony device.