Systems and methods of deciding how to route calls over a voice over internet protocol telephone call routing system

Abstract

A system and method of monitoring Voice over the Internet Protocol (VoIP) and facsimile over Internet Protocol (FoIP) calling over the Internet includes compiling information about each call after the call is terminated. By compiling information about each of the calls immediately after they are terminated, the system can quickly generate billing reports. The system can also quickly react to developing problems.

1 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A method of deciding how to route new telephone calls over a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) call routing system, comprising:
 recording the call state of each telephone call being carried by the VOIP call routing system in a real-time call state database;   updating the call states of the calls listed in the real-time call state database each time a call state changes and immediately after the call state changes; and   deciding how to route a new call over the VOIP call routing system based on the information in the real-time call state database.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the deciding step comprises:
 determining whether a first trunk group of the VOIP call routing system is approaching its call carrying capacity using the information in the real-time call state database; and   routing the new call through a trunk group other than the first trunk group if the determining step indicates that the first trunk group is at or near its call carrying capacity.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the deciding step comprises deciding to route the new call through one of a plurality of Internet service providers. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising receiving information about the call quality of calls currently being routed through a first Internet service provider, and wherein the deciding step comprises deciding route the new call through an Internet service provider other than the first Internet service provider if the received information indicates that calls currently being routed through the first Internet service provider have poor call quality. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the deciding step comprises:
 determining whether a first destination gateway utilized by the VOIP call routing system is approaching its call carrying capacity using the information in the real-time call state database; and   routing the new call through a destination gateway other than the first destination gateway if the determining step indicates that the first destination gateway is at or near its call carrying capacity.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the deciding step comprises deciding to route the new call through one of a plurality of Internet service providers. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising receiving information about the call quality of calls currently being routed through a first Internet service provider, and wherein the deciding step comprises deciding route the new call through an Internet service provider other than the first Internet service provider if the received information indicates that calls currently being routed through the first Internet service provider have poor call quality. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the deciding step comprises deciding to route the new call through one of a plurality of Internet service providers. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising receiving information about the call quality of calls currently being routed through a first Internet service provider, and wherein the deciding step comprises deciding route the new call through an Internet service provider other than the first Internet service provider if the received information indicates that calls currently being routed through the first Internet service provider have poor call quality. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the deciding step comprises deciding to route the new call through one of a plurality of destination service providers. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising receiving information about the quality of service currently being offered by one of the plurality of destination service providers, and wherein the deciding step comprises deciding route the new call through a destination service provider other than the first destination service provider if the received information indicates that the first destination service provider is currently offering poor call quality. 
     
     
         33 . A system for deciding how to route new telephone calls over a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) call routing system, comprising:
 means for recording the call state of each telephone call being carried by the VOIP call routing system in a real-time call state database;   means for updating the call states of the calls listed in the real-time call state database each time a call state changes and immediately after the call state changes; and   means for deciding how to route a new call over the VOIP call routing system based on the information in the real-time call state database.   
     
     
         34 . A system for deciding how to route new telephone calls over a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) call routing system, comprising:
 a recording unit that records the call state of each telephone call being carried by the VOIP call routing system in a real-time call state database;   an updating unit that updates the call states of the calls listed in the real-time call state database each time a call state changes and immediately after the call state changes; and   a routing unit that decides how to route a new call over the VOIP call routing system based on the information in the real-time call state database.   
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the routing unit comprises a capacity determining unit that determines whether a first trunk group of the VOIP call routing system is approaching its call carrying capacity using the information in the real-time call state database, and wherein the routing unit decides to route the new call through a trunk group other than the first trunk group if the determining unit determines that the first trunk group is at or near its call carrying capacity. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the routing unit comprises a determining unit that determines whether a first destination gateway utilized by the VOIP call routing system is at or near its call carrying capacity using the information in the real-time call state database, and wherein the routing unit decides to route the new call through a destination gateway other than the first destination gateway if the determining unit determines that the first destination gateway is at or near its call carrying capacity. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the routing unit decides to route the new call through one of a plurality of Internet service providers. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the routing unit receives information about the call quality of calls currently being routed through a first Internet service provider, and wherein routing unit decides to route the new call through an Internet service provider other than the first Internet service provider if the received information indicates that calls currently being routed through the first Internet service provider have poor call quality. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the routing unit decides to route the new call through one of a plurality of destination service providers. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the routing unit receives information about the quality of service currently being offered by one of the plurality of destination service providers, and wherein the routing unit decides to route the new call through a destination service provider other than the first destination service provider if the received information indicates that the first destination service provider is currently offering poor call quality.