A routing service method in a public switched telephone network (PSTN)
system uses a stand-alone gateway interworking with disparate central
office lines. The stand-alone gateway checks whether a call service can
be provided over the Internet with reference to an internal database
having periodically updated call service state information in response to
a call service request from a calling private branch exchange (PBX)
connected to the stand-alone gateway via a central office line. If the
call service cannot be provided over the Internet, the stand-alone
gateway transmits a call service request, together with a public switched
telephone network (PSTN) rerouting control request, to the calling PBX.
The calling PBX transfers the call to a called party over the PSTN in
response to the PSTN rerouting control request.