Intermediate packetizing of voice data for communication between circuit-switched network nodes

摘要

A method for routing voice data includes establishing a first path between a remote originating node and a gateway using a first channel of a circuit-switched network. The gateway is communicatively coupled to the circuit-switched network and a packet-switched network. A second path is established between an answering node and the gateway using a second channel of the circuit-switched network, if the answering node is remote relative to the packet-switched network. Otherwise the second path is established using the packet-switched network, if the answering node is local to the packet-switched network. The gateway converts any first circuit-switched voice data received on a first channel to packet-switched voice data. Any packet designating an associated remote node is converted to second circuit-switched voice data. The second circuit-switched voice data is communicated to its associated remote node on the second channel.