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

1. A method of optimizing system resources in

a network using packetized voice telephony comprising:

determining that a packetized voice call from an originating gateway terminates at a non-human voice interface system, wherein the packetized voice call is assigned a specified high priority level;

determining that the packetized voice call has not been answered at a terminating gateway intended to be a terminating end of the packetized voice call within a prescribed number of rings at the terminating gateway; and

responsively transmitting signaling to cause the originating gateway to transmit the packetized voice call to the non-human voice interface system at a lower priority than the specified high priority level.

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 non-human voice interface system comprises an interactive voice response system.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting signaling to cause the originating gateway to compress the packetized voice call.

5. 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.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining that the packetized voice call has not been answered at a terminating gateway comprises detecting whether an absence of an offhook at the terminating gateway within the prescribed number of rings at the terminating gateway.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the responsively transmitting step comprises automatically transmitting the signaling to cause the originating gateway to transmit the packetized voice call to the non-human voice interface system at the lower priority than the specified high priority level.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the responsively transmitting step comprises selectively transmitting the signaling to cause the originating gateway to transmit the packetized voice call to the non-human voice interface system at the lower priority than the specified high priority level.

9. A system for optimizing system resources in a network using packetized voice telephony comprising:

means for determining that a packetized voice call from an originating gateway terminates at a non human voice interface system, wherein the packetized voice call is assigned a specified high priority level;

means for determining that the packetized voice call has not been answered at a terminating gateway intended to be a terminating end of the packetized voice call within a prescribed number of rings at the terminating gateway; and

means for responsively transmitting signaling to cause the originating gateway to transmit the packetized voice call to the non-human voice interface system at a lower priority than the specified high priority level.

10. The system of claim 9 further comprising means for transmitting signaling to cause the originating gateway to compress the packetized voice call.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the means for responsively transmitting comprises means for automatically transmitting the signaling to cause the originating gateway to transmit the packetized voice call to the non-human voice interface system at the lower priority than the specified high priority level.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the means for transmitting comprises means for responsively transmitting the signaling to cause the originating gateway to transmit the packetized voice call to the non human voice interface system at the lower priority than the specified high priority level.