System and method for interfacing a broadband network and a circuit switched network

A method for interfacing a broadband network and a circuit switched network using a gateway device, the method comprising:

• intercepting a request to establish a call, wherein the request is prevented by the gateway device from arriving at a first device associated with the broadband network or a second device associated with the circuit switched network;
• processing the request at the gateway device to determine a destination of the call;
• accessing at least one of the first or second devices to route the call to the destination, wherein each of the first and second devices is accessed only if needed to route the call;
• and
• routing the call to the destination.

A telecommunications system for managing a call, the system comprising:

• a broadband network associated with a first device;
• a circuit switched network associated with a second device;
• an interface device operable to communicate with both the first and second devices to route the call, wherein the interface device accesses the second device only if the call is to be routed through the circuit switched network;
• and
• software executable on the interface device, wherein the software includes instructions for:
• intercepting a call request sent by the first device to the second device;
• determining a path by which to route the call;
• accessing the second device only if the path includes the circuit switched network;
• and
• routing the call via the path, wherein resources associated with the second device and circuit switched network are not used unless the path includes the circuit switched network.