Abstract: A method for routing calls in a packet-based network includes receiving a call request at a first call manager from a device that is coupled to the packet-based network. The call request includes a telephone number associated with a plurality of telephony devices that are coupled to the packet-based network and that are controlled by a number of call managers. The method also includes determining a line control process associated with the telephone number that is included in the call request and communicating the call request to the line control process. The method further includes determining a device process controlling each telephony device that is associated with the telephone number included in the call request and communicating the call request from the line control process to the device processes.

Abstract: A communication system includes a communication network, and an originating telephony device, a target telephony device, and a call manager coupled to the communication network. The call manager signals the target telephony device to indicate an incoming call from the originating telephony device. The call manager includes an alternate number list that identifies at least one alternate telephony device to be signaled in response to the incoming call directed to the target telephony device. The call manager additionally includes one or more mapping tables associating a packet network address with each identified alternate telephony device.

Abstract: A method for routing calls in a packet-based network includes receiving a call request at a first call manager from a device that is coupled to the packet-based network. The call request includes a telephone number associated with a plurality of telephony devices that are coupled to the packet-based network and that are controlled by a number of call managers. The method also includes determining a line control process associated with the telephone number that is included in the call request and communicating the call request to the line control process. The method further includes determining a device process controlling each telephony device that is associated with the telephone number included in the call request and communicating the call request from the line control process to the device processes.

Abstract: A call manager receives a call setup request for a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoP) call from a phone having an associated call originator. The call manager then determines whether sufficient bandwidth exists for the VoP call over a link using a bandwidth table. If insufficient bandwidth exists on the link for the VoP call, the call manager presents a plurality of call completion options to the call originator. One of the call completion options is a public switched telephone network (PSTN) option. In response to the selection of the PSTN option, the call manager routes the VoP call over a PSTN.

Abstract: A communication system includes a communication network, and an originating telephony device, a target telephony device, and a call manager coupled to the communication network. The call manager signals the target telephony device to indicate an incoming call from the originating telephony device. The call manager includes an alternate number list that identifies at least one alternate telephony device to be signaled in response to an incoming call directed to the target telephony device. The call manager additionally includes one or more mapping tables associating a network address with each identified alternate telephony device.

Abstract: A system (10) provides a user of a communication device with the ability to control an audio quality of the audible sound generated by the communication device, and includes several telephones (30-32) coupled to a communication network (20) of the type through which computers (35-36) can communicate. The telephones exchange electrical communications that represent audible sounds. Each telephone has the ability to either increase or decrease an audio quality of the audible sound generated by that telephone in response to manual activation of a respective one of two buttons (76-77). Upon activation of one such button (76), the telephone can facilitate an increase in the audio quality by signaling another telephone to decrease the size of electrical communications being sent through the communication network, and/or by buffering the audio information in successive electrical communications before beginning to convert the audio information into audible sound.