Method and device for automatically configuring a virtual switching system

A method for self-configuration of a virtual switching system which is formed from a plurality of switching systems and at least one central entity, comprising:

• prompting the at least one of the plurality of switching systems, with an incoming call allocated thereto, to make a routing decision for a desired destination;
• if the desired destination is not known to the allocated switching system, interrogating at least one central entity about the at least one other switching system, and the at least one central entity returns a piece of information about the at least one other switching system based on a topology criteria and sets up and handles the call;
• and
• in the instance of failure, interrogating the at least one central entity and said the at least one central entity uses information carried in the call to identify the self-induced misallocation of the at least one other switching system and corrects the self-induced misallocation of the at least one other switching system based on a topology criteria and makes a repeat attempt via the remaining plurality of switching systems until at least one of the plurality of switching systems is found to be competent.