Patent ID: 6219338
Filing Date: 2001-04-17
Classification: H04Q

Abstract:
A method of establishing a connection wherein a requesting terminal (TEA) signals a call request (CALL) to a control unit of a first communications network (NET1), wherein the terminal (TEA) has parameters (assigned to it which are stored in a database (DB), the parameters containing a profile specific to the terminal (TEA) including information with respect to priority of the terminal for using second communications networks (NET2, NET3, . . . ) to provide a connection to an other terminal (TEB) within the first communications network (NET1) if sufficient capacity is not available in the first communications network (NET1), comprising the steps of:1) determining via the control unit whether sufficient capacity is available in the first communications network (NET1) for establishing the connection requested by the call request to another terminal (TEB) within the first communications network (NET1);2) if sufficient capacity is not available in the first communications network (NET1), retrieving the parameters (for the requesting terminal (TEA) from the database (DB);3) determining which one of the second communications networks (NET2, NET3, . . . ) to use based upon the parameters (retrieved for the specific requesting terminal (TEA); and4) initiating an alternative establishment of the requested connection through the determined second communications networks (NET2, NET3, . . . ) based on the parameters (specifically assigned to the requesting terminal (TEA) so as to establish a connection to the other terminal (TEB) in the first communications network (NET1).