Patent ID: 8300792

Claim:
A method comprising: connecting an active call initiated by equipment of a first party to equipment of a second party, the call connected according to a pre-established priority level of the first party; determining that the pre-established priority level should be changed; receiving a request from equipment of the first party, that the active call be changed to a new priority level; determining if the request can be granted; changing a priority level of the active call from the pre-established priority to the new priority level; propagating information concerning the new priority level for the active call to nodes and switching points in the telecommunications system, wherein the new priority level is honored to prevent the active call from early termination of the call connection; continuing call activity until the active call is terminated by either first equipment of the first party or second equipment of the second party; and upon termination of the call, resetting the new priority level back to the pre-established priority level, wherein resetting the new priority level back to the pre-established priority level comprises resetting the new priority level in the nodes and switching points in the telecommunications system.