Apparatus and method for controlling telephone communications during intervals of high call traffic volume

A method for controlling telephone communications through a communication switch during intervals of call traffic volume of extant call traffic in excess of a threshold call traffic volume of extant call traffic;

• the method comprising the steps of:
• a) ascertaining call traffic volume of extant call traffic to establish an extant call traffic volume;
• b) comparing said extant call traffic volume with a single-threshold call traffic volume;
• c) when said extant call traffic volume is in excess of said single threshold call traffic volume, selecting at least one termination-candidate call from said extant call traffic;
• and
• d) involuntarily terminating said at least one termination-candidate call;
• and
• e) repeating steps (a) through (d) until said extant call traffic volume is not in excess of said single threshold call traffic volume such that the repeating of steps (a) trough (d) has a hysteresis and such that the extant call traffic volume is less that the threshold call traffic volume by a predetermined hysteresis amount.

A method for controlling telephone communications in a communication system during intervals of call traffic volume in excess of a threshold call traffic volume;

• said communication system including a plurality of communication switches interconnected to participate in a communication network;
• the method comprising the steps of, in at least one respective communication switch of said plurality of communication switches:
• a) ascertaining call traffic volume of extant call traffic to establish an extant call traffic volume;
• b) comparing said extant call traffic volume with a single threshold call traffic volume;
• c) when said extant call traffic volume is in excess of said single threshold call traffic volume, select at least one termination-candidate call from said extant call traffic;
• d) ascertaining whether each respective said at least one termination-candidate call is a special call;
• e) if a respective said at least one termination-candidate call is a special call, exempting said special call from involuntary termination;
• f) alerting callers involved with each respective said at least one termination-candidate call not exempted in step (e) before effecting involuntary termination of said respective not exempted termination-candidate call;
• g) involuntarily terminating said at least one not exempted termination-candidate call;
• and
• h) repeating steps (a) through (g) until said extant call traffic volume is not in excess of said threshold call traffic volume such that the repeating of steps (a) through (g) has a hysteresis and such that the extant call traffic volume is less that the threshold call traffic volume by a predetermined hysteresis amount.