Hierarchical data collection network supporting packetized voice communications among wireless terminals and telephones

• US 7,760,703 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2004
• Issued: 07/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Morris, Michael D., Kubler, Joseph J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pezzlo; John
• Application Number:
  US10/783,883
• Publication Number:
  US 20040174843A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,342 Days
• Field of Search: 370352-356, 370/400, 370/401, 370/252, 379/88.17
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/0225 User interface arrangements, e.g. keyboard, display; Interfaces to other computer systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisions for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10702 Particularities of propagating elements, e.g. lenses, mirrors G06K7/10831 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10841 Particularities of the light-sensitive elements semiconductor devices H01L
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10851 Circuits for pulse shaping, amplifying, eliminating noise signals, checking the function of the sensing device basic electronic circuitry H03
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1098 the scanning arrangement having a modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/12 using a selected wavelength, e.g. to sense red marks and ignore blue marks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/343 Cards including a counter
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/02 by keys or other credit registering devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0045 with a code reader for reading of an identifying code of the article to be registered, e.g. barcode reader or radio-frequency identity [RFID] reader
• CPC Class Codes: H03C 3/0908 using a phase locked loop
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/04 Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/1615 Switching on; Switching off, e.g. remotely battery saving circuits associated with selective call operation H04W52/00; details of power consumption reduction in a PLL, H03L7/0802, H03L7/14, H03L2207/08, H03L2207/18; muting amplifiers by gain control see H03G3/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0802 using antenna selection H04B7/0868 takes precedence; antenna beam directivity switching H01Q3/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/10 Polarisation diversity; Directional diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0002 : by adapting the transmission rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0003 : by switching between different modulation schemes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0025 : Transmission of mode-switching indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0032 : Without explicit signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1671 : the supervisory signal being transmitted together with control information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1685 : the supervisory signal being transmitted in response to a specific request, e.g. to a polling signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/12 : Modulator circuits; Transmitter circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/14 : Demodulator circuits; Receiver circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/156 : with demodulation using temporal properties of the received signal, e.g. detecting pulse width
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 : Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/48 : Routing tree calculation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 : Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/103 : in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/104 : in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 : Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1083 : In-session procedures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1095 : Inter-network session transfer or sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 : Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 : Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/32 : Architecture of open systems interconnection [OSI] 7-layer type protocol stacks, e.g. the interfaces between the data link level and the physical level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 : Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 : adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/14 : including a card reading device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 : Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/14 : using intermediate storage
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 : Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/00 : Communication routing or communication path finding
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 : Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 : Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0261 : managing power supply demand, e.g. depending on battery level
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/04 : TPC
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/38 : TPC being performed in particular situations
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/46 : in multi hop networks, e.g. wireless relay networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/12 : Wireless traffic scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 : Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 : Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/22 : Manipulation of transport tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 : Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/10 : Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 : adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 : Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 : Inter-networking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A packet-based, hierarchical communication system, arranged in a spanning tree configuration, is described in which wired and wireless communication networks exhibiting substantially different characteristics are employed in an overall scheme to link portable or mobile computing devices. The network accommodates real time voice transmission both through dedicated, scheduled bandwidth and through a packet-based routing within the confines and constraints of a data network. Conversion and call processing circuitry is also disclosed which enables access devices and personal computers to adapt voice information between analog voice stream and digital voice packet formats as proves necessary. Routing pathways include wireless spanning tree networks, wide area networks, telephone switching networks, internet, etc., in a manner virtually transparent to the user. A voice session and associate call setup simulates that of conventional telephone switching network, providing well-understood functionality common to any mobile, remote or stationary terminal, phone, computer, etc.

Claims

1. A packet voice communication system comprising:

at least one processor capable of detecting an off-hook condition of a first telephony device;

the at least one processor capable of receiving, from the first telephony device, information identifying a second telephony device;

the at least one processor capable of determining whether a packet network address corresponding to the information identifying the second telephony device is available;

the at least one processor capable of prompting a user of the first telephony device for a packet network address corresponding to the second telephony device, if it is determined that a packet network address corresponding to the information identifying the second telephony device is not available; and

the at least one processor capable of establishing voice communication between the first telephony device and the second telephony device via a packet network, if the packet network address corresponding to the information identifying the second telephony device is available.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the first telephony device is a conventional telephone.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the second telephony device is a conventional telephone.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

the at least one processor capable of prompting a user of the first telephony device for information identifying a second telephony device.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein prompting comprises:

transmitting an audio signal to the first telephony device.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the audio signal comprises at least one tone.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein the audio signal comprises prerecorded speech.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the information identifying the second telephony device comprises a conventional telephone number.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein determining comprises:

comparing the information identifying the second telephony device to at least one entry in a table, the at least one entry comprising information identifying a telephony device and a corresponding packet network address.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the packet network address comprises an Internet protocol (IP) address.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the packet network is the Internet.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein establishing comprises:

sending a call setup request to the packet network address corresponding to the second telephony device;

determining whether an acceptance of the call setup request is received within a predetermined amount of time;

notifying the user of the first telephony device, if an acceptance of the call setup request is not received within the predetermined amount of time; and

transmitting digitized voice packets to the packet network address corresponding to the second telephony device, if an acceptance of the call setup request is received within the predetermined amount of time.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein transmitting comprises:

converting voice signals from the first telephony device to produce digitized voice information; and

packetizing the digitized voice information to produce digitized voice packets.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the packetizing comprises:

determining whether voice activity of the user of the first telephony device is below a predetermined level;

changing the contents of packets sent to the packet network address corresponding to the second telephony device, if voice activity of the user of the first telephony device is determined to be below the predetermined level; and

refraining from changing the contents of packets sent to the packet network address corresponding to the second telephony device, if the voice activity is determined not to be below the predetermined level.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein establishing comprises:

sending a call setup request to the packet network address corresponding to the second telephony device;

determining whether an acceptance of the call setup request is received within a predetermined amount of time;

notifying the user of the first telephony device, if an acceptance of the call setup request is not received within the predetermined amount of time; and

accepting digitized voice packets from the packet network address corresponding to the second telephony device, if an acceptance of the call setup request is received within the predetermined amount of time.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein accepting comprises:

depacketizing digitized voice packets from the packet network address corresponding to the second telephony device, to produce digitized voice information; and

converting the digitized voice information to voice signals for delivery to the first telephony device.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein converting comprises:

buffering digitized voice packets for an adjustable period of time in order to minimize gaps in the voice signals.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the adjustable period of time is based upon a propagation delay of the packet network.

19. A computer-readable medium, having stored thereon a computer program having a plurality of code sections for communicatively coupling a first telephony device and a second telephony device via a packet network, the code sections executable by a processor for causing the processor to perform the operations comprising:

receiving information identifying the second telephony device from the first telephony device;

determining whether a packet network address corresponding to the second telephony device is available;

sending a call setup request to the packet network address corresponding to the second telephony device, if it is determined that a packet network address corresponding to the second telephony device is available; and

establishing voice communication between the first telephony device and the second telephony device via the packet network, if an acceptance of the call setup request is received within a predetermined amount of time.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the operations further comprise:

notifying a user of the first telephony device, if an acceptance of the call setup request is not received within the predetermined amount of time.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the operations further comprise:

prompting a user of the first telephony device to enter a packet network address corresponding to the second telephony device, if it is determined that a packet network address corresponding to the second telephony device is not available.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 21 wherein prompting comprises:

transmitting an audio signal to the first telephony device.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 22 wherein the audio signal comprises at least one tone.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 22 wherein the audio signal comprises prerecorded speech.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 19 wherein the first telephony device is a conventional telephone.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 19 wherein the second telephony device is a conventional telephone.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 19 wherein the information identifying the second telephony device comprises a conventional telephone number.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 19 wherein determining comprises:

comparing the information identifying the second telephony device to at least one entry in a table, the at least one entry comprising information identifying a telephony device and a corresponding packet network address.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 19 wherein the packet network address comprises an Internet protocol (IP) address.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 19 wherein the packet network is the Internet.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 19 wherein the establishing comprises:

accepting voice packets comprising voice information from the second telephony device;

buffering the voice packets for a period of time based upon a propagation delay of the packet network; and

converting the voice packets to analog voice signals.

32. The computer-readable medium of claim 19 wherein the establishing comprises:

converting analog voice signals from the first telephony device to voice packets for transmission to the packet network address corresponding to the second telephony device;

determining voice activity of a user of the first telephony device; and

reducing the volume of voice packets for transmission to the packet network address corresponding to the second telephony device, based upon the determined voice activity.

33. A method for communicatively coupling a first telephony device and a second telephony device via a packet network, the method comprising:

receiving, from the first telephony device, information identifying the second telephony device;

determining whether a packet network address corresponding to the second telephony device is available;

sending, to the packet network address corresponding to the second telephony device, a call setup request, if it is determined that a packet network address corresponding to the second telephony device is available;

receiving, from the packet network address corresponding to the second telephony device, status information for the second telephony device; and

notifying a user of the first telephony device of a busy condition, if status information indicating a busy condition is received.

34. The method of claim 33 further comprising:

prompting a user of the first telephony device for a packet network address corresponding to the second telephony device, if it is determined that a packet network address corresponding to the second telephony device is not available.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein prompting comprises:

transmitting at least one of a tone and prerecorded speech to the first telephony device.

36. The method of claim 33 wherein the first telephony device is a conventional telephone.

37. The method of claim 33 wherein the second telephony device is a conventional telephone.

38. The method of claim 33 wherein the information identifying the second telephony device comprises at least one digit.

39. The method of claim 33 wherein determining comprises:

comparing the information identifying the second telephony device to at least one entry in a table, the at least one entry comprising information identifying a telephony device and a corresponding packet network address.

40. The method of claim 33 wherein the packet network address comprises an Internet protocol (IP) address.

41. The method of claim 33 wherein the packet network is the Internet.

42. The method of claim 33 further comprising:

establishing voice communication between the first telephony device and the second telephony device via the packet network, if status information indicating acceptance of the call setup request is received; and

wherein establishing comprises;

sending, to the packet network address corresponding to the second telephony device, voice packets comprising digitized voice information; and

receiving, from the packet network address corresponding to the second telephony device, voice packets comprising digitized voice information.

43. The method of claim 42 wherein sending and receiving comprise:

communicating digitized voice information using modem signals.

44. The method of claim 42 wherein establishing further comprises:

buffering the received voice packets for a period of time based upon a propagation delay of the packet network; and

converting the digitized voice information in the received voice packets to analog voice signals.

45. The method of claim 42 wherein the establishing further comprises

determining voice activity of a user of the first telephony device;

and

adjusting the number of voice packets sent to the packet network address corresponding to the second telephony device, based upon the determined voice activity.

46. The method of claim 33 wherein the notifying comprises:

transmitting, to the first telephony device, at least one of a tone and prerecorded speech.

47. At least one circuit for use in a telephony device, the at least one circuit operational to, at least:

send information to a communication system, where the sent information comprises information identifying a second telephony device;

receive information from the communication system, where the received information corresponds to the sent information; and

if the received information comprises first particular received information, cause prompting a user of the telephony device for a packet network address corresponding to the second telephony device.

48. The at least one circuit of claim 47, where the first particular received information is indicative of the communication system not presently having a packet network address corresponding to the second telephony device.

49. The at least one circuit of claim 48, where the first particular received information is indicative of the communication system not finding a table entry associating a packet network address with the second telephony device.

50. The at least one circuit of claim 47, where the at least one circuit is further operational to, if the received information comprises second particular received information, establish voice communication with the second telephony device via the communication system.

51. The at least one circuit of claim 50, where to establish voice communication with the second telephony device via the communication system, the at least one circuit is operational to cause the communication system to:

send a call setup request to the packet network address corresponding to the second telephony device;

determine whether an acceptance of the call setup request is received within a predetermined amount of time;

notify the telephony device, if an acceptance of the call setup request is not received within the predetermined amount of time; and

transmit digitized voice packets to the packet network address corresponding to the second telephony device, if an acceptance of the call setup request is received within the predetermined amount of time.

52. The at least one circuit of claim 51, where the at least one circuit is operational to cause the communication system to transmit digitized voice packets by, at least in part, causing the communication system to:

receive voice signals from the telephony device;

convert the received voice signals to produce digitized voice information; and

packetize the digitized voice information to produce digitized voice packets.

53. The at least one circuit of claim 50, where to establish voice communication with the second telephony device via the communication system, the at least one circuit is operational to cause the communication system to:

send a call setup request to the packet network address corresponding to the second telephony device;

determine whether an acceptance of the call setup request is received within a predetermined amount of time;

notify the telephony device, if an acceptance of the call setup request is not received within the predetermined amount of time; and

accept digitized voice packets from the packet network address corresponding to the second telephony device, if an acceptance of the call setup request is received within the predetermined amount of time.

54. The at least one circuit of claim 53, where the at least one circuit is operational to cause the communication system to accept digitized voice packets by, at least in part, causing the communication system to:

depacketize digitized voice packets from the packet network address corresponding to the second telephony device, to produce digitized voice information; and

convert the digitized voice information to voice signals for delivery to the telephony device.

55. The at least one circuit of claim 47, where the telephony device is a conventional telephone.

56. The at least one circuit of claim 47, where the second telephony device is a conventional telephone.

57. The at least one circuit of claim 47, where the at least one circuit is operational to cause prompting the user of the telephony device for information identifying the second telephony device.

58. The at least one circuit of claim 47, where the at least one circuit is operational to cause prompting the user by, at least in part:

receiving an audio signal from the communication network; and

causing presentation of audio information corresponding to the audio signal to the user.

59. The at least one circuit of claim 47, where the information identifying the second telephony device comprises a conventional telephone number.

60. The at least one circuit of claim 47, where the packet network address comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) address.

61. The at least one circuit of claim 47, where the packet network is the Internet.

62. A method for operating at least one circuit for use in a telephony device, the method comprising:

sending information to a communication system, where the sent information comprises information identifying a second telephony device;

receiving information from the communication system, where the received information corresponds to the sent information; and

if the received information comprises first particular received information, causing prompting a user of the telephony device for a packet network address corresponding to the second telephony device.

63. The method of claim 62, where the first particular received information is indicative of the communication system not presently having a packet network address corresponding to the second telephony device.

64. The method of claim 63, where the first particular received information is indicative of the communication system not finding a table entry associating a packet network address with the second telephony device.

65. The method of claim 62, further comprising, if the received information comprises a second particular received information, establishing voice communication with the second telephony device via the communication system.

66. The method of claim 65, wherein establishing voice communication with the second telephony device via the communication system comprises causing the communication system to, at least:

send a call setup request to the packet network address corresponding to the second telephony device;

determine whether an acceptance of the call setup request is received within a predetermined amount of time;

notify the telephony device, if an acceptance of the call setup request is not received within the predetermined amount of time; and

transmit digitized voice packets to the packet network address corresponding to the second telephony device, if an acceptance of the call setup request is received within the predetermined amount of time.

67. The method of claim 66, wherein causing the communication system to transmit digitized voice packets comprises causing the communication system to, at least:

receive voice signals from the telephony device;

convert the received voice signals to produce digitized voice information; and

packetize the digitized voice information to produce digitized voice packets.

68. The method of claim 65, wherein establishing voice communication with the second telephony device via the communication system comprises causing the communication system to, at least:

send a call setup request to the packet network address corresponding to the second telephony device;

determine whether an acceptance of the call setup request is received within a predetermined amount of time;

notify the telephony device, if an acceptance of the call setup request is not received within the predetermined amount of time; and

accept digitized voice packets from the packet network address corresponding to the second telephony device, if an acceptance of the call setup request is received within the predetermined amount of time.

69. The method of claim 68, wherein causing the communication system to accept digitized voice packets comprises causing the communication system to, at least:

depacketize digitized voice packets from the packet network address corresponding to the second telephony device, to produce digitized voice information; and

convert the digitized voice information to voice signals for delivery to the telephony device.

70. The method of claim 62, where the telephony device is a conventional telephone.

71. The method of claim 62, where the second telephony device is a conventional telephone.

72. The method of claim 62, further comprising causing prompting the user of the telephony device for information identifying the second telephony device.

73. The method of claim 62, wherein causing prompting a user comprises:

receiving an audio signal from the communication network; and

causing presentation of audio information corresponding to the audio signal to the user.

74. The method of claim 62, where the information identifying the second telephony device comprises a conventional telephone number.

75. The method of claim 62, where the packet network address comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) address.

76. The method of claim 62, where the packet network is the Internet.

77. At least one circuit for use in a telephony device, the at least one circuit operational to, at least:

send information to a communication system, where the sent information comprises;

information identifying a second telephony device; and

information to cause the communication system to, at least, send a call setup request to a packet network address corresponding to the second telephony device, if the packet network address is available to the communication system.

78. The at least one circuit of claim 77, where the sent information comprises information to cause the communication system to, at least, receive status information for the second telephony device from the packet network address corresponding to the second telephony device.

79. The at least one circuit of claim 78, where the at least one circuit is operational to, at least, establish voice communication with the second telephony device via the communication system, if status information indicating acceptance of the call setup request is received by at least the communication system.

80. The at least one circuit of claim 78, where the sent information comprises information to cause the communication system to establish voice communication between the telephony device and the second telephony device via the packet network, if status information indicating acceptance of the call setup request is received, where the establishing comprises:

sending, to the packet network address corresponding to the second telephony device, voice packets comprising digitized voice information; and

receiving, from the packet network address corresponding to the second telephony device, voice packets comprising digitized voice information.

81. The at least one circuit of claim 80, where the sending and the receiving comprise communicating digitized voice information using modem signals.

82. The at least one circuit of claim 80, where the establishing comprises:

buffering the received voice packets for a period of time based upon a propagation delay of the packet network; and

converting the digitized voice information in the received voice packets to analog voice signals.

83. The at least one circuit of claim 80, where the establishing further comprises:

determining voice activity of a user of the telephony device; and

adjusting the number of voice packets sent to the packet network address corresponding to the second telephony device, based upon the determined voice activity.

84. The at least one circuit of claim 77, where the at least one circuit is operational to, at least, cause prompting a user of the telephony device for a packet network address corresponding to the second telephony device, if it is determined that a packet network address corresponding to the second telephony device is not available.

85. The at least one circuit of claim 77, where the telephony device is a conventional telephone.

86. The at least one circuit of claim 77, where the second telephony device is a conventional telephone.

87. The at least one circuit of claim 77, where the information identifying the second telephony device comprises a conventional telephone number.

88. The at least one circuit of claim 77, where the sent information comprises information to cause the communication system to determine if the packet network address is available to the communication system by, at least in part, comparing the information identifying the second telephony device to at least one entry in a table, the at least one entry comprising information identifying a telephony device and a corresponding packet network address.

89. The at least one circuit of claim 77, where the packet network address comprises an Internet protocol (IP) address.

90. The at least one circuit of claim 77, where the packet network is the Internet.

91. The at least one circuit of claim 77, where the sent information comprises information to further cause the communication system to notify the telephony device of a busy condition, if the received status information indicates a busy condition.

92. A method for operating at least one circuit for use in a telephony device, the method comprising:

sending information to a communication system, where the sent information comprises;

information identifying a second telephony device; and

information to cause the communication system to, at least, send a call setup request to a packet network address corresponding to the second telephony device, if the packet network address is available to the communication system.

93. The method of claim 92, where the sent information comprises information to cause the communication system to, at least, receive status information for the second telephony device from the packet network address corresponding to the second telephony device.

94. The method of claim 93, further comprising establishing voice communication with the second telephony device via the communication system, if status information indicating acceptance of the call setup request is received by at least the communication system.

95. The method of claim 93, where the sent information comprises information to cause the communication system to establish voice communication between the telephony device and the second telephony device via the packet network, if status information indicating acceptance of the call setup request is received, where the establishing comprises:

sending, to the packet network address corresponding to the second telephony device, voice packets comprising digitized voice information; and

receiving, from the packet network address corresponding to the second telephony device, voice packets comprising digitized voice information.

96. The method of claim 95, where the sending and the receiving comprise communicating digitized voice information using modem signals.

97. The method of claim 95, where the establishing comprises:

buffering the received voice packets for a period of time based upon propagation delay of the packet network; and

converting the digitized voice information in the received voice packets to analog voice signals.

98. The method of claim 95, where the establishing comprises:

determining voice activity of a user of the telephony device; and

adjusting the number of voice packets sent to the packet network address corresponding to the second telephony device, based upon the determined voice activity.

99. The method of claim 92, further comprising causing prompting a user of the telephony device for a packet network address corresponding to the second telephony device, if it is determined that a packet network address corresponding to the second telephony device is not available.

100. The method of claim 92, where the telephony device is a conventional telephone.

101. The method of claim 92, where the second telephony device is a conventional telephone.

102. The method of claim 92, where the information identifying the second telephony device comprises a conventional telephone number.

103. The method of claim 92, where the sent information comprises information to cause the communication system to determine if the packet network address is available to the communication system by, at least in part, comparing the information identifying the second telephony device to at least one entry in a table, the at least one entry comprising information identifying a telephony device and a corresponding packet network address.

104. The method of claim 92, where the packet network address comprises an Internet protocol (IP) address.

105. The method of claim 92, where the packet network is the Internet.

106. The method of claim 92, where the sent information comprises information to further cause the communication system to notify the telephony device of a busy condition, if the received status information indicates a busy condition.