Patent ID: 8126468

Claim:
A method for managing calls, the method comprising: detecting a call attempt for a priority call on an originating wireless network by an access terminal; transferring, if the priority call has a higher priority than an active call, when a transfer threshold is exceeded, the active call between a transferring terminal and the originating wireless network to a first alternative technology wireless network in response to the detecting of the call attempt for the priority call, the active call having a first priority level, the priority call having a second priority level greater than the first priority level, wherein the transferring of the active call of the transferring terminal is performed also responsive to first network conditions pertaining to the first alternative technology network, the first network conditions reported by the transferring terminal to the originating wireless network; attempting to establish the priority call through the originating wireless network after the transferring of the active call to the first alternative technology wireless network; determining if the priority call has been established through the originating wireless network; if the priority call has not been established through the originating wireless network, determining if the access terminal has communication capabilities to support establishing the priority call on at least one of the first alternative technology wireless network and a second alternative technology wireless network, the determining being responsive to second network conditions reported by the access terminal to the originating wireless network, the second network conditions pertaining to the at least one of the first alternative technology wireless network and the second alternative technology wireless network; and transferring the priority call to the at least one of the first alternative technology wireless network and the second alternative technology wireless network, if the access terminal has the communication capabilities to support the establishing of the priority call on the at least one of the first alternative technology wireless network and the second alternative technology wireless network.