Patent ID: 7116767

Claim:
An apparatus for controlling telephone communications through a communication switch during intervals of call traffic volume of extant call traffic in excess of a threshold call traffic volume of extant call traffic; the apparatus comprising: a) a call traffic volume sensing device coupled with said communication switch; said call traffic volume sensing device measuring said call traffic volume during selected intervals; and a threshold call traffic volume; and b) a call traffic control device coupled with at least one of said communication switch and said call traffic volume sensing device; said call traffic control device cooperating with said communication switch to involuntarily terminate selected extant calls through said communication switch when a single parameter is exceeded; said single parameter including said call traffic volume, and a hysteresis such that said call traffic volume is reduced to a volume amount less than a volume amount defined by said single parameter and such that the call traffic volume is less then the threshold call traffic volume by a predetermined hysteresis amount.