Patent ID: 8077703

Claim:
A user terminal for communication over a telecommunications network, the user terminal comprising: a circuit-switched (CS) telephony device configured to receive and transmit CS-based telephony signals over a circuit-switched bearer service, wherein the CS telephony device receives a CS-alert signal from the network for an incoming call; a packet-switched (PS) data processing device configured to receive over a packet switched bearer service, a PS signal within a predetermined interval of time following receipt of the CS-alert signal by the CS telephony device, wherein the PS signal is associated with the CS-alert signal and includes information indicating an answering mode for the user terminal; wherein the PS data processing device is configured to pass a control signal to the CS telephony device causing the CS telephony device to switch to an automatic answering mode; and wherein the CS telephony device is configured to transmit a CS-answer signal to the network in response to the control signal.