Patent ID: 7522607

Claim:
A packet communication system, comprising: a packet network; an end communication device coupled to the packet network and configured to receive a call request message for a call, and transmit the call request message over the packet network, the call request message having a header that includes priority information for the call; and a call processing system coupled to the packet network and configured to receive the call request message, process the priority information in the header of the call request message to determine if the call request message is for a high priority call, and transmit a response message over the packet network indicating a state of congestion in the call processing system responsive to a determination that the call request message is not for a high priority call; the end communication device is configured to receive the response message and perform call blocking on call requests received by the end communication device to be handled by the call processing system responsive to the response message; wherein the call processing system is further configured to transmit a message indicating that the call processing system is no longer in the state of congestion; and wherein the end communication device is further configured to stop performing call blocking responsive to the message indicating that the call processing system is no longer in the state of congestion.