Method to optimally select bandwidth and priority for voice message packets in a voice over IP network

Abstract

A method of, and means for accomplishing the method, optimizing system resources in a network ( 102 ) using packetized voice telephony consists of the following steps: determining ( 302 ) that a packetized voice call from an originating gateway ( 104 ) terminates at a non-human voice interface system ( 108 ), wherein the packetized voice call is assigned a specified high priority level; and transmitting ( 304 ) signaling to cause the originating gateway ( 104 ) to transmit the packetized voice call to the non-human voice interface system ( 108 ) at a lower priority than the specified nigh priority level.

1 . A method of optimizing system resources in a network using packetized voice telephony comprising the steps of: 
 assigning a high priority level to a packetized voice call from an originating user device    determining, that the packetized voice call has not been answered at a recipient user device within a prescribed number of rings; and    if the packetized voice call has not been answered at a recipient user device within a prescribed number of rings, assigning a lower priority level to the packetized voice call; and transmitting the packetized voice call to a non human voice interface system, the lower priority level being a lower priority level than the specified high priority levels,    wherein the packetized voice call utilizes a wireless communication link.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the non-human voice interface system comprises a voice messaging system.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of transmitting the packetized voice call to a non human voice interface system includes the step of determining whether the recipient user device a subscribes to a voice messaging system.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the non-human voice interface system comprises an interactive voice response system.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising transmitting signaling to cause the originating user device to compress the packetized voice call.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the specified high priority level comprises a real time priority level to ensure that the packetized voice call will occur substantially in real time.  
     
     
         7 . (canceled)  
     
     
         8 . (canceled)  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the determining that the packetized voice call has not been answered at a recipient user device includes detecting an absence of an offhook condition at the recipient user device within the prescribed number of rings at the terminating gateway.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of transmitting the packetized voice call to a non human voice interface system comprises automatically transmitting signaling to cause the originating user device to transmit the packetized voice call to the non-human voice interface system at the lower priority level than the specified high priority level.  
     
     
         11 - 24 . (canceled)