Patent ID: 7936751

Claim:
Switching apparatus for selectively routing data of a data transfer to be transferred between a first end terminal and a second end terminal by switching the data originating from said first end terminal to either a packet switching network or a line switching network, the apparatus comprising: a) a device for providing access to a packet switching network through which data originating from said first end terminal can be sent to a switch for delivery to said second end terminal; b) a device for establishing a line-switched connection through a line switching network through which data originating from said first end terminal can be sent to said switch for delivery to said second end terminal; and c) a control device for selectively routing said data originating from said first end terminal by packet switching through said packet switching network or by line switching through said line switching network, wherein (i) said control device is operable to monitor the data transfer of the data originating from said first end terminal and sent by the device providing access to said packet switching network for delivery to said second end terminal; (ii) said control device is operable to determine whether a real time communications possibility is maintained by the data transfer of the data originating from said first end terminal to be sent by the device providing access to said packet switching network for delivery to said second end terminal; (iii) said control device is capable of causing said device for establishing a line-switched connection to establish a line-switched connection through the line switching network and to route the data transfer of the data originating from said first end terminal through the line-switched connection where said control device determines that a real time communications possibility may not be maintained by the data transfer of the data originating from said first end terminal to be sent by the device providing access to a packet switching network for delivery to said second end terminal; and (iv) said control device is capable of maintaining a real time communications possibility for the data originating from said first end terminal for delivery to said second end terminal where said control device causes said device for establishing a line-switched connection to establish a line-switched connection through the line switching network and to route the data transfer of the data originating from said first end terminal through the line-switched connection.