Patent ID: 8804697

Claim:
A system for controlling the routing of VoIP calls that originate at subscriber sites, the system comprising: a network information server (NIS) located at a provider site distinct from the subscriber sites, the NIS having a database of information helpful to optimally routing calls to their respective destinations; an analog telephone adapter (ATA) located at a subscriber site, the ATA having a network connector to allow the ATA to receive calls from and place calls to a packet network, the ATA being configured to: communicate, via the network connector, a call destination to the NIS; receive, via the network connector, information from the NIS relevant to routing of the call, the information including a plurality of possible routes; thereafter, determine the ultimate route of the call based on the plurality of possible routes derived from the information from the NIS and at least one other possible route not derived from information from the NIS; and initiate the call using the preferred routing.