System and method for monitoring a connection of an end-user device to a network

1. A method of monitoring a link in a network between a first end-user device and a network, the method comprising:

maintaining a database comprising line state information about a plurality of end-user devices, the plurality of end-user devices comprising the first end-user device, the database comprising information about bandwidth available to the first end-user device, a best route of communication to the first end-user device, and preferences of a user of the first end-user device;

receiving, at a receiving device, performance data pertaining to the link between the first end-user device and the network;

updating the database based on the performance data;

determining, with the receiving device, that a threshold has been reached based on the received performance data, the threshold associated with the link;

transmitting, from the receiving device, a query to the first end-user device in response to the determined reaching of the threshold, the query requesting from a user of the first end-user device a communication action to perform based on the threshold being reached;

receiving, at the receiving device, the communication action from the first end-user device;

determining, with the receiving device, whether a change is to be made to a communication session between the first end-user device and the network based on the received communication action specified by the user of the first end-user device;

responsive to a determination that a change to is to be made to the communication session based on the received communication action, switching, with the receiving device, the communications session from the first end-user device and the network to the first end-user device and a second network selected based at least in part on a location of the first end-user device; and

responsive to a determination that a change to the communication session is not to be made based on the received communication action, maintaining the communications session between the first end-user device and the network unchanged.

2. The method of claim 1 , and further comprising receiving a command entered by a user of the first end-user device.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the communication action is preselected by the user of the first end-user device.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the threshold has been reached comprises determining that an amount of bandwidth has been reached.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the threshold has been reached comprises determining that an amount of packet loss has been reached.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the threshold has been reached comprises determining that an amount of jitter has been reached.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the link between the first end-user device and the network is a wired connection link and the performance data indicates a communication quality of the wired connection link between the first end-user device and the network.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein switching the communications session comprises terminating the communications session and initiating a new communications session between the first end-user device and the second network.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the threshold is established based on previous performance data collected by the first end-user device.

10. A system for monitoring a link in a network between a first end-user device and a network, the system comprising:

a communication interface for receiving performance data pertaining to the link between the first end-user device and the network;

a processor configured to execute instructions to:

maintain a database comprising line state information about a plurality of end-user devices, the plurality of end-user devices comprising the first end-user device, the database comprising information about bandwidth available to the first end-user device, a best route of communication to the first end-user device, and preferences of a user of the first end-user device;

update the database based on the performance data;

determine that a threshold has been reached based on the received performance data, the threshold associated with the link; and

transmit a query to the first end-user device in response to the determined reaching of the threshold, the query requesting from a user of the first end-user device a communication action to perform based on the threshold being reached;

receive, using the communication interface, the communication action from the first end-user device;

wherein the processor is further configured to execute instructions to:

determine whether a change is to be made to a communication session between the first end-user device and the network based on the received communication action specified by the user of the first end-user device;

responsive to a determination that a change to is to be made to the communication session based on the received communication action, switch the communications session from the first end-user device and the network to the first end-user device and a second network selected based at least in part on a location of the first end-user device; and

responsive to a determination that a change to the communication session is not to be made based on the received communication action, maintain the communications session between the first end-user device and the network unchanged.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the processor receives a command entered by a user of the first end-user device.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the communication action is preselected by the user of the first end-user device.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein determining that the threshold has been reached comprises determining that an amount of bandwidth has been reached.

14. The system of claim 10 , wherein determining that the threshold has been reached comprises determining that an amount of packet loss has been reached.

15. The system of claim 10 , wherein determining that the threshold has been reached comprises determining that an amount of jitter has been reached.

16. The system of claim 10 , wherein the link between the first end-user device and the network is a wired connection link and the performance data indicates a communication quality of the wired connection link between the first end-user device and the network.

17. The system of claim 10 , wherein switching the communications session comprises terminating the communications session and initiating a new communications session between the first end-user device and the second network.

18. The system of claim 10 , wherein the threshold is established based on previous performance data collected by the first end-user device.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the communication is generated by the first end-user device based on previously established preferences, and wherein the second network is selected based on the previously-established preferences.

20. The system of claim 10 , wherein the communication is generated by the first end-user device based on previously established preferences, and wherein the second network is selected based on the previously-established preferences.

21. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second network is selected based at least in part on the location of the first end-user device and at least in part on a characteristic of the first end-user device.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the characteristic of the first end-user device includes a state of a battery in a first end-user device.