Patent ID: 7471951

Claim:
In a hybrid network comprising means for switching circuit traffic and packet traffic, a method for controlling allocation of an additional channel to a call between a first and a second multi-task call (MTC) terminal, comprising the steps of: during a call in progress sending a request for an additional channel from said first MTC terminal to a first multi-task communicator signaling module connected to a switch serving said first MTC terminal; responsive to receipt of the request, searching for a channel between said first and said second MTC terminal by using said first multi-task communicator signaling module, an MTC signaling network having access to the switches of said hybrid network and a second multi-task communicator signaling module connected to a switch serving said second MTC terminal and said second multi-task communicator signaling module; and said first and second multi-task communicator signaling modules responsive to information received from said switches of said network over said signaling network, selecting a channel in said hybrid network for being responsive to said request; sending signaling information over said signaling network to assign said channel to said call.