Patent ID: 7382767

Claim:
A method for managing packet communications over a network of distributed systems, each said distributed system being connected to a public communications network through at least one common contact point, each said common contact point being assigned a private direct inward dial (DID) number, communications from said public communications network being directable to users on each of said distributed systems through a selected said common contact point, said method comprising the steps of: a) receiving a communications packet at first distributed system, said communications packet being directed to a user of a connected second distributed system; b) checking network traffic to determine if said communications packet may be received over said network by said user at a selected quality level; and c) routing communications through the public communications network to said connected second distributed system in response to a determination that packets cannot be passed over said network at said selected quality level, routine said communications comprising the steps of: i) retrieving from a subscriber/line table a distributed system index corresponding to said second distributed system, ii) identifying said DID number for said second system in response to said distributed system index, iii) assigning an alternate route to said packet, and iv) providing said packet and packet related information to said common contact point at said DID number for said second distributed system.