Patent ID: 7584472

Claim:
A method for processing call signaling messages, the method comprises the steps of: a) receiving a plurality of call signaling messages; b) comparing a queue occupancy level of a call processing queue with a first queue occupancy threshold; and c) when queue occupancy level compares unfavorably with the first queue occupancy threshold, enqueuing the plurality of call signaling messages into the call processing queue based on types of call signaling messages, wherein the types of call signaling messages include dispensable messages and indispensable messages, wherein step (c) further comprises: when a call signaling message of the plurality of call signaling messages is a dispensable message, deleting from the call processing queue a previously queued dispensable message when the previously dispensable message exists; enqueuing the call signaling message into the call processing queue when the previously queued dispensable message is deleted; and when the call signaling message is an indispensable message, enqueuing the call signaling message into the call processing queue; and when the previously queued dispensable message does not exist and when the call signaling message is a dispensable message, dropping the call signaling message.