Patent ID: 7301940

Claim:
A system for communicating signals in a packet telephony distribution system comprising: a gateway coupled to a service provider for dynamically controlling communication to a plurality of communication devices and to a plurality of data network and analog lines, the plurality of communication devices being coupled to the gateway and configured to make outgoing calls and receive incoming calls via the plurality of data network and analog lines; and a plurality of adapters coupled to the gateway and further coupled to the plurality of communication devices, wherein one of each of the plurality of adapters is configured to dynamically select between a derived line and an analog line on the plurality of data network and analog lines; wherein each of the plurality of adapters comprises: a networking interface coupled to the plurality of data network and analog lines, the networking interface configured to operate according to a networking standard; a digital signal processor coupled to the networking interface, the digital signal processor configured to process telephony signals and streaming audio; a codec coupled to the digital signal processor; a SLIC coupled to the codec and further coupled to the digital signal processor for electrical signaling on the plurality of data network and analog lines; a bypass relay coupled to the data networking and analog lines and further coupled to the SLIC and the digital signal processor wherein the bypass relay switches access between the derived line and the analog line on the plurality of data network and analog lines; and a hook state detector coupled to the communication device and the digital signal processor for determining the hook state of the communication device.