Backup system and method for network data communications

Abstract

A system and method for coupling a communications device to a primary communications network having a first communications format and to a secondary communications network having a second communications format. The system and method can comprise a first port configured for connecting to the communications device, a second port configured for connecting to the primary communications network and facilitating the communication of the data between the primary communications network and the communications device through the first port, and a third port configured for connecting to the secondary communications network and facilitating the communication of the data between the secondary communications network and the communications device through the first port.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A method for coupling a communications device to a primary communications network having a first communications format and to a secondary communications network having a second communications format, the communications device configured for having an assigned device identification and configured for using an assigned network address for use in routing data over the primary communications network, the method comprising the acts of:
 communicating the data to a first port connected to the communications device; and   transforming a format of the data between the first communications format and the second communications format when said selected communication of the data is between said the first port and a third port, a second port connected to the primary communications network for facilitating the communication of the data between the primary communications network and the communications device through the first port, the third port connected to the secondary communications network for facilitating the communication of the call data between the secondary communications network and the communications device through the first port.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  further comprising the act of selecting a communication path of the data between either the first port and the second port or between the first port and the third port. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  further comprising the act of providing operating power to the communications device, such that the operating power is supplied inline through either the second port when coupled to the first port or through the third port when coupled to the first port. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  further comprising the act of coordinating an appropriate power quantity for delivering as the operating power. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  further comprising the act of coordinating said selected communication path as triggered by a trigger event selected from the group comprising: a switching message from a source external to the adapter; determining of a power outage for the operating power; determining of a network interruption in data communication of the call data on the primary communications network; determining an absence of signal; and determining a data communication overload of the primary communications network. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the device identification is a MAC address. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the communications device is selected from the group comprising: an IP phone; a computer configured for IP telephony; a computer configured for network communication; and an analogue phone connected to an ATA. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the data is selected from the group comprising: request messages; response messages; call data including voice data; and call data including voice and video data. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28  further comprising the steps of receiving the transformed data communicated from the communications device and transforming the format of the transformed data back to the original format of either the first communications format or the second communications format. 
     
     
         32 . An adapter for coupling a communications device to a primary communications network having a first communications format and to a secondary communications network having a second communications format, the communications device configured for having an assigned device identification and configured for using an assigned network address for use in routing data over the primary communications network, the adapter comprising:
 a first port configured for connecting to the communications device;   a second port configured for connecting to the primary communications network and facilitating the communication of the data between the primary communications network and the communications device through the first port;   a third port configured for connecting to the secondary communications network and facilitating the communication of the data between the secondary communications network and the communications device through the first port; and   a format module configured for transforming a format of the data between the first communications format and the second communications format when said selected communication of the data is between said the first port and the third port.   
     
     
         33 . The adapter of claim  1  further comprising a switching module coupled to the ports and configured for facilitating a selected communication path of the data between either the first port and the second port or between the first port and the third port. 
     
     
         34 . The adapter of  claim 33 , wherein the first communications format is a packet-based format. 
     
     
         35 . The adapter of  claim 34 , wherein the assigned network address is an IP address dynamically assigned to the communications device when said communications device is connected to the first port. 
     
     
         36 . The adapter of  claim 34 , wherein the second communications format is a two wire format. 
     
     
         37 . The adapter of  claim 36 , wherein the third port is configured to have a dedicated telephone number assigned thereto when coupled to the secondary communications network. 
     
     
         38 . The adapter of  claim 36 , wherein the two-wire format is configured for tip and ring connections for use in communication of the data in the second communications format. 
     
     
         39 . The adapter of  claim 36 , wherein the two wire format is based on a DSL communication format and the packet-based format is an Ethernet format. 
     
     
         40 . The adapter of  claim 32 , wherein the selected communication path is done on a per packet basis.