System and method for using centralized network performance tables to manage network communications

A system for centrally controlling packet network communications, said system comprising:

• an input/output (I/O) unit configured to communicate data packets over a first packet network, the first packet network owned by a first communications carrier;
• a processing unit in communication with said I/O unit and configured to execute instructions to communicate with network communications devices on the first packet network;
• said processing unit configured to execute instructions to:
• receive and store in memory network performance information associated with the first packet network;
• initiate routines on network communications devices on a second packet network owned by a second communications carrier in which the data packets traverse for determining network performance information associated with the second packet network;
• store the network performance information associated with the second packet network;
• compare the network performance information to a plurality of operational status ranges for determining an operational status of a network node of at least one of the first packet network and second packet network, wherein a first operational status range indicates operation of the node segment is normal, a second operational status range indicates operation of the node segment as impaired, and a third operational status range indicates operation of the node segment as congested;
• and
• control network communications of the data packets over node segments of the first packet network and the second packet network based on the network performance information stored in the memory;
• said processing unit further configured to execute instructions to:
• determine origination and destination end-points for a call in response to receiving a request for the call to be set up;
• determine a first set of node segments between the origination and destination end-points over which the call could to be communicated;
• determine operational status of the first set of node segments by accessing the network performance information associated with the node segments in the first set of node segments;
• and
• in response to a determination that the operation status of the first set of node segments are determined to be operational, initiate the call between the end-points over the first set of node segments, otherwise determine a second set of node segments between the origination and destination end-points over which the call could be communicated that are operational and initiate the call between the origination and destination end-points and over the second set of node segments.