Patent ID: 7289491

Claim:
An interface arrangement for providing telephonic communication between a calling party and another party, the interface arrangement comprising: first means, including a first output port, for coupling to a standard switched telephone communications network; second means, including a second output port, for coupling to an internet communications network; and processing means for: receiving from the calling party a telephone number designating a telephonic communications addressee; communicating with an internet appliance to determine whether the telephonic communications addressee is accessible via internet protocol telephonic communications as a function of internet connectivity status of the telephonic communications addressee; in response to determining that the telephonic communications addressee is not accessible via internet protocol telephonic communications, telephonically connecting audio information from the calling party to the other party via the first output port to establish standard telephonic communications between the calling party and the other party using the standard switched telephone communications network; and in response to determining that the telephone number is accessible via internet protocol telephonic communications, telephonically connecting audio information from the calling party to the other party via the second output port to establish internet telephonic communications between the calling party and the other party using the internet communications network.