How your VoIP phone and Computer relay information over the Internet.

Whether you are sending an email, making a phone call, or making a video call everything you do on your computer or phone is transmitted in similar way. An internet connection provides you with the complex tools and devices to send and receive information to the precise locations. Being in the Telecom business we feel that having knowledge of how your VoIP system works can help you better understand and diagnose your needs and possible issues.  It may seem like a complicated process but really it’s just like sending a letter through the Postal system.

The internet is just like an online postal service. The only difference is it's quicker online. Your desk (computer) has an IP address. It sends your letter (email) to a switch (walk to your mailbox) which directs your message to your server (mailbox). The mailman delivers your message (via Ethernet cable/fiber) to the post office (router). Then your message is sent via highway or airmail (cable or wireless) to the next office (another router) on its way to the destination. The process of relaying your message from office to office is called the Cloud (or router backbone). Then the letter is delivered to the address (recipients’ mailbox) and a switch determines which device inside the house or office should receive the message. Once it arrives to the recipients’ computer the process ends.

Here is how it breaks down even further:

• All information is broken into smaller bits called data packets. (Breaking your letter into smaller letters)
• These packets get labels attached to them that indicate the final destination. (Each letter is given the same address).
• These labels (with addresses) are sent through routers. These Routers determine the best way to send the information and sometimes split up the packets to travel different paths. (Think like this: your mini letters individually find the quickest way to San Francisco from New York by avoiding cities that are too busy. Instead of going through Chicago one may go through Des Moines.)
• Once they arrive at the final destination they are all reassembled in proper order for you to view or hear.

This is just a basic explanation of how your internet and phone connection works. There are many different models of routers, switches, servers and additional security measures like firewalls.  You can also send secure information with encryptions; those require additional processes to decode like sending a letter via Certified mail or having to provide a signature to receive a package. The general structure of a connection is a little more complicated than the postal system but is a good comparison when trying to understand how it works. This knowledge can help you to diagnose and resolve any system errors in your phone or internet connections. A quick synopsis of how things work will encourage you along your path to finding solutions.