Patent ID: 7668158

Claim:
A packet voice switch voice comprising: a telephony interface for connection to a circuit-switched network; a packet data interface for connection to a packet-switched network; means, in communication with the packet data interface, for converting voice data from a circuit-switched format to a packet-switched format and for converting voice data from the packet-switched format to the circuit-switched format; means for routing calls between the telephony interface and the means for converting voice data; and means for selecting whether to route calls received at the telephony interface through the packet-switched network via means for converting voice data to the packet data interface or back through the circuit-switched network via telephony interface, where the means for selecting further comprises a means for determining a current utilization of the means for converting and where the means for selecting, selects the packet data interface or the telephony interface based on the current utilization of the means for converting; where the means for routing calls is coupled to; means for computing a first figure of merit for a connection over the packet-switched network; means for computing a second figure of merit for a connection over the circuit-switched network; and means for comparing the first figure of merit with the second figure of merit; and where the means for selecting depends, at least in part, on the comparison of the first figure of merit and the second figure of merit.