| 摘要 |
A system and method for electronic communications; more specifically, a system and method for transmitting real-time or non-real-time voice and facsimile electronic data across both circuit-switched and packet-switched networks. The system may include a gatekeeper server capable of communicating with a system subscriber across a packet-switched network and a network node capable of communicatively interconnecting a circuit-switched network, such as the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), and a packet-switched network utilizing the Internet Protocol for transmission. If a subscriber is not available to receive an electronic communication at his primary telephone number or IP address, the system may be capable of re-directing the communication to additional telephone numbers or IP addresses across either the circuit-switched or packet-switched networks, according to the subscriber's preferences. The system may also include media servers, databases, notification servers, and other hardware and software to impart functionality to the communications system. A subscriber to the system is preferably identified by a single subscriber identifier, which may be associated with the subscriber's dynamic IP address, and is able to send and receive voice calls, facsimiles, and other electronic messages to and from both subscribers and non-subscribers on the same or other communications networks. The system may also provide for non-real-time voice messaging in the event an immediate direct connection is not available or desired. The system components are preferably designed to be scalable, redundant and adapted to be replaced and upgraded while the system is running.
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