Patent ID: 7558256

Claim:
A system for completing a voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) call comprising: a voice gateway that links a public switched telephone network (PSTN) to an IP network, the voice gateway including a client component to transmit a message requesting a connection over the IP network to a second voice gateway, where the message includes information indicating a minimum quality of service level requested by the voice gateway for the requested connection; and an edge router in the IP network, the edge router including a server component to receive and respond to the message requesting the connection over the IP network based on the minimum quality of service level, the server component including: a first table to store a list of other voice gateways in the IP network, and a second table to store valid IP connections in the IP network and bandwidth and latency information associated with the valid IP connections, where the edge router uses the first and second tables to manage IP circuits on behalf of the voice gateway.