Method and apparatus for automatic transfer of a call in a communications system in response to changes in quality of service

A method in a communications system for routing a voice call, the method comprising:

• detecting a voice call for a subscriber being routed over a first path of a packet based network;
• monitoring a quality of service for the voice call, wherein the voice call is currently routed over the first path of the packet based network;
• and
• responsive to the quality of service failing to meet a level, changing the routing of the voice call to a second path in response to an event, wherein the event includes a user input containing an identifier specifying the second path.

A data processing system for use in a communications system comprising:

• detection means for detecting a voice call for a subscriber being routed over a first path of a packet based network;
• monitoring means for monitoring a quality of service for the voice call, wherein the voice call is currently routed over the first path of the packet based network;
• and
• rerouting means, responsive to the quality of service failing to meet a level, rerouting of the voice call to a second path in response to an event, wherein the event includes a user input containing an identifier specifying the second path.

A communications system comprising:

• a switched circuit network;
• a packet based network connected to the switched circuit network;
• a first terminal connected to the switched circuit network, wherein calls routed to the first terminal are routed through the switched circuit network;
• and
• a second terminal connected to the data processing system network, wherein the call to the second terminal are routed through the packet based network;
• wherein the second terminal receives a call routed through the packet based system network;
• responsive to a quality of service of the call failing below a level, the user at the second terminal is queried to change the routing of the call;
• responsive to the user requesting a change in the routing of the call, routing the call to the first terminal, wherein the user request to change the routing of the call includes an identifier specifying a path to the first terminal.

An computer comprising:

• a communications unit configured for connection to a packet based network;
• a processing unit;
• and
• a memory unit containing applications including a monitoring application, wherein the monitoring application detects a call using a packet based network involving a user;
• obtains a quality of service threshold in response to detecting the call;
• monitors the quality of service for the call using the quality of service threshold, sends an alert to the user to decide whether to transfer the call using the communications unit in response to the quality of service being below the quality of service threshold, and initiates a transfer of the call in response to an indication by the communications unit from the user to transfer the call, wherein the indication by the communications unit includes an identifier specifying a path through which the user indicates the call is to be routed.

An apparatus comprising:

• a communications unit configured for connection to a packet based network;
• a processing unit;
• and
• a memory unit containing applications including a transfer application, wherein the transfer application receives through the communications unit a request to transfer a call in response to a determination that a quality of service of the call has failed to meet a predetermined threshold, receives routing information input by a user of the apparatus, in response to the determination that the quality of service of the call has failed to meet the predetermined threshold, to route the call using a new path, and executes commands to transfer the call to the new path.

A communications system for routing a voice call associated with a user, the communications system comprising:

• monitoring means for monitoring a quality of service for the voice call being routed through a first path in a packet based network;
• sending means, responsive to the quality of service for the call failing to meet a quality of service threshold in the packet based network, for sending a signal to the user requesting a change in a routing of the voice call;
• and
• routing means, responsive to a response from the user to change routing of the voice call from the user, for routing the call through a second path, wherein the response from the user includes an identifier specifying the second path through which the call is to be routed.

A communications system for routing a voice call, the communications system comprising:

• detecting means for detecting a voice call for a subscriber being routed over a first path of a packet based network;
• monitoring means for monitoring a quality of service for the voice call, wherein the voice call is currently routed over the first path of the packet based network;
• and
• changing means, responsive to the quality of service failing to meet a level, for changing the routing of the voice call to a second path in response to an event, wherein the event includes a user input containing an identifier specifying the second path.

A computer program product in a computer readable medium for routing a voice call in a communications system, the computer program product comprising:

• first instructions for monitoring a quality of service for the voice call being routed through a first path in a packet based network in association with a user;
• second instructions, responsive to the quality of service failing to meet a quality of service threshold in the packet based network, for sending a signal to the user requesting a change in a routing of the voice call;
• and
• third instructions, responsive to a response from the user to change routing of the voice call from the user, for routing the call through a second path, wherein the response from the user includes an identifier specifying the second path trough which the call is to be routed.

A computer program product in a computer readable medium for routing a voice call in a communications system, the computer program product comprising:

• first instructions for detecting a voice call for a subscriber being routed over a first path of a packet based network;
• second instructions for monitoring a quality of service for the voice call, wherein the voice call is currently routed over the first path of the packet based network;
• and
• third instructions, responsive to the quality of service failing to meet a level, for changing the routing of the voice call to a second path in response to an event, wherein the event includes a user input containing an identifier specifying the second path.