Telephone network interface bridge between data telephony networks and dedicated connection telephony networks

A method for converting telephony calls between Connection Oriented/Switched Telephony (COST) calls and Data Network Telephony (DNT) calls, comprising steps of:

• (a) connecting a COST trunk line to a trunk-line port and associated circuitry for receiving and placing Dedicated Connection Telephony (COST) telephone calls on a COST network, the trunk line port and associated circuitry in a computerized telephony bridge unit;
• (b) connecting a data network line to a data network port and associated circuitry for receiving and placing Data Network Telephony (DNT) calls on a data network, the data network port and associated circuitry also in the computerized telephony bridge unit;
• (c) receiving a first call from one of the COST network and the data network;
• (d) placing a second call associated with the first call on the network other than the network on which the first call is received;
• and
• (e) dynamically converting data between the two associated calls, thereby proving a continuing and dynamic telephony connection between a COST telephone connected to the COST network and a DNT terminal connected to the DNT network.

A computerized telephony bridge unit, comprising:

• a first port and associated circuitry for receiving and placing calls on a first network, including circuitry for generating data according to a protocol compatible with the first network;
• a second port and associated circuitry for receiving and placing calls on a second network, including circuitry for generating data according to a protocol compatible with the second network;
• conversion circuitry for converting data dynamically between the first network protocol and the second network protocol;
• and
• control routines adapted for managing operations of the telephony bridge unit;
• wherein the control routines are adapted to receive a first call from either the first or the second network, to place a call associated with the received call on the network other than the network on which the call is received, and to dynamically convert data between the associated calls.