Systems and methods of routing ip telephony data packet communciations

A first telephony device configured to conduct an Internet protocol (IP) telephony communication with a second telephony device, wherein the IP telephony communication is routed, at least initially, through an element of a data network that is in communication with the second telephony device, comprising:

• means for receiving a setup request, the setup request indicating that an IP telephony communication is to be established between the first telephony device and the second telephony device through the data network;
• means for initiating the telephony communication by communicating data packets bearing the media of the telephony communication via a first path through the data network that extends between the first telephony device and a first element of the data network that is in communication with the second telephony device;
• means for testing of a quality of the first path and a quality of an alternate path through the data network that extends at least part of the way between the first telephony device and the second telephony device while data packets bearing the media of the telephony communication are traversing the first path;
• and
• means for continuing the telephony communication by communicating data packets bearing the media of the telephony communication via the alternate path based on the results of the testing conducted by the testing means.

A non-transitory computer readable medium bearing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors of a first telephony device enable the first telephony device to conduct an Internet protocol (IP) telephony communication with a second telephony device, wherein the IP telephony communication is routed, at least initially, through an element of a data network that is in communication with the second telephony device, wherein the instructions on the non-transitory computer readable medium cause the one or more processors of the first telephony device to perform a method that comprises:

• receiving a setup request that indicates that an IP telephony communication is to be established between the first telephony device and the second telephony device through the data network,
• initiating the telephony communication by communicating data packets bearing the media of the telephony communication via a first path through the data network that extends between the first telephony device and a first element of the data network that is in communication with the second telephony device;
• testing of a quality of the first path and a quality of an alternate path through the data network that extends at least part of the way between the first telephony device and the second telephony device while data packets bearing the media of the telephony communication are traversing the first path;
• and
• continuing the telephony communication by communicating data packets bearing the media of the telephony communication via the alternate path based on the results of the testing step.