Patent ID: 8077700

Claim:
A method for dynamically adjusting a characteristic for a communication using a gateway, the method comprising: allowing a communication between a first end device and a second end device at the gateway, the communication being routed from the first end device through a first network and from the second end device through a second network, the first network being different from the second network; receiving a first indication at an adjuster of the gateway the first indication identifying a first characteristic to be adjusted for the communication and indicating an increase or decrease in the first characteristic, the first indication originating from one of the first and second end devices and sent to the gateway in response to monitoring of at least one characteristic for the communication at the respective first or second end device; adjusting the first characteristic at the gateway during the communication in response to and based on the first indication, the adjustment causing the first characteristic to change at the first end device and the second end device during the communication without making a local change to the first characteristic by the first end device or the second end device; receiving a second indication at the adjuster of the gateway from a third end device identifying a second characteristic to be adjusted for the communication and indicating an increase or decrease in the second characteristic, wherein the first characteristic and the second characteristic are different, wherein the third end device is coupled with the gateway through one of the first network or the second network, wherein the third end device participating in the communication between the first end device and the second end device, and wherein the second indication originates at the third end device and is sent to the gateway in response to monitoring of at least one characteristic for the communication at the third end device; and adjusting the second characteristic at the gateway during the communication in response to and based on the second indication, the adjustment causing the second characteristic to change at the first end device, the second end device, and the third end device during the communication without making a local change to the second characteristic by the first end device, second end device, or third end device.