Patent ID: 6990112

Claim:
A method for use by a first gateway device having a voice mode configuration and a data mode configuration, said first gateway device being in communication with a second gateway device over a packet network, said first gateway device being in communication with a first endpoint device over a first telephone line and said second gateway device being in communication with a second endpoint device over a second telephone line, said method comprising: determining, while in said voice mode configuration, whether a signal received by said first gateway device is a voice signal or a data signal; configuring said first gateway device to said data mode configuration if said determining determines that said signal is said data signal; receiving data from said second gateway device; determining whether said data is incorrect or late; if in said data mode configuration, transmitting said data to said first endpoint device if said determining determines that said data is incorrect or late; and if in said voice mode configuration, discarding said data and not transmitting said data to said first endpoint device if said determining determines that said data is incorrect or late.