Method and apparatus for enabling transmission of data packets over a bypass circuit-switched public telephone connection

Claim 1

A method for the transmission of data packets from a source computer coupled to a packet-switched computer network via a first router, to a destination computer coupled to said packet-switched computer network via a second router, said first router and said second router being permanently coupled to the packet-switched computer network via a packet-switched connection and being selectively coupled to a bypass network via a circuit-switched connection, said second router having an address on said bypass network, said method comprising the steps of: (a) designating said data packets as requiring transmission via said bypass network; (b) transmitting said designated data packets from said source computer to said first router; (c) detecting said bypass network data packet designation at said first router; (d) determining said bypass network address of said second router; (e) establishing the circuit-switched connection across the bypass network between said first router and said second router by causing said first router to dial a telephone number associated with said second router while maintaining the packet-switched connection; (f) transmitting said designated data packets from said first router to said second router via said bypass network while maintaining the packet-switched connection; and (g) transmitting said designated data packets from said second router to said destination computer.

Claim 2

A method for the transmission of data packets from a source computer coupled to a packet-switched computer network via a first router, to a destination computer coupled to said packet-switched computer network via a second router, said first router and said second router being permanently coupled to the packet-switched computer network via a packet-switched connection and being selectively coupled to a bypass network via a circuit-switched connection, said second router having an address on said bypass network, said method comprising the steps of: (a) designating said data packets as requiring transmission via said bypass network; (b) transmitting said designated data packets from said source computer to said first router; (c) detecting said bypass network data packet designation at said first router; (d) determining said bypass network address of said second router; (e) establishing the circuit-switched connection across the bypass network between said first router and said second router by causing said first router to dial a telephone number associated with said second router while maintaining the packet-switched connection; (f) transmitting said designated data packets from said first router to said second router via said bypass network while maintaining the packet-switched connection; and (g) transmitting said designated data packets from said second router to said destination computer.

Claim 11

A method for transmitting data packets with minimal network delay time from a source computer coupled to a packet-switched computer network via a first router, to a destination computer coupled to said packet-switched computer network via a second router, said first router and said second router being permanently coupled to the packet-switched computer network via a packet-switched connection and being selectively coupled to a circuit-switched telephone network, said second router having a telephone number corresponding to a connection to said circuit-switched telephone network, said method comprising the steps of: designating said data packets as requiring transmission with minimal delay; transmitting said minimal delay data packets from said source computer to said first router; detecting said minimal delay data packet designation at said first router; determining said telephone number of said second router; establishing the circuit-switched connection across the bypass network between said first router and said second router by causing said first router to dial said telephone number associated with said second router while maintaining the packet-switched connection; transmitting said minimal delay data packets from said first router to said second router via said telephone network while maintaining the packet-switched connection; and transmitting said minimal delay data packets from said second router to said destination computer.

Claim 12

A method for transmitting data packets with minimal network delay time from a source computer coupled to a packet-switched computer network via a first router, to a destination computer coupled to said packet-switched computer network via a second router, said first router and said second router being permanently coupled to the packet-switched computer network via a packet-switched connection and being selectively coupled to a circuit-switched telephone network, said second router having a telephone number corresponding to a connection to said circuit-switched telephone network, said method comprising the steps of: designating said data packets as requiring transmission with minimal delay; transmitting said minimal delay data packets from said source computer to said first router; detecting said minimal delay data packet designation at said first router; determining said telephone number of said second router; establishing the circuit-switched connection across the bypass network between said first router and said second router by causing said first router to dial said telephone number associated with said second router while maintaining the packet-switched connection; transmitting said minimal delay data packets from said first router to said second router via said telephone network while maintaining the packet-switched connection; and transmitting said minimal delay data packets from said second router to said destination computer.