Systems and methods of routing IP telephony data packet communications

A system for modifying a communications channel that is used to communicate data packets bearing the media of an IP telephony communication between a first telephony device and a second telephony device, comprising:

• means for recording the initial requirements for a communications channel that is used to communicate data packets bearing the media of the IP telephony communication between the first telephony device and the second telephony device when the communications channel is first established;
• means for periodically determining the current requirements for the communications channel;
• means for determining if the current requirements for the communications channel are different from the initial requirements for the communications channel;
• and
• means for causing the communications channel to be modified if the determining means determines that current requirements for the communications channel are different from the initial requirements for the communications channel.

A system for modifying a communications channel that is used to communicate data packets bearing the media of an IP telephony communication between a first telephony device and a second telephony device, comprising:

• a communications channel requirements identification unit that records the initial requirements for a communications channel that is used to communicate data packets bearing the media of the IP telephony communication between the first telephony device and the second telephony device when the communications channel is first established, and that periodically determines the current requirements for the communications channel;
• a requirement change identification unit that determines if the current requirements for the communications channel are different from the initial requirements for the communications channel;
• and
• a communication channel modification unit that causes the communications channel to be modified if the requirement change identification unit determines that current requirements for the communications channel are different from the initial requirements for the communications channel.