Patent ID: 7768909

Claim:
A method for congestion control in an IP network comprising the steps of: determining an overload condition at a first network element; sending a first message, in response to the determination of the overload condition, from the first network element to at least one other network element; receiving, at the first network element, a second message from the at least one other network element sent in response to receiving the first message; sending a third message, in response to receiving the second message, from the first network element to the at least one other network element, the third message comprising an indication that the first network element is overloaded; and receiving, at the first network element, a fourth message from the at least one other network element, the fourth message comprising an acknowledgement of the third message, wherein: the first message is a SIP INVITE message; the second message is a SIP TRYING message; the third message is a SIP CANCEL message; and the fourth message is a SIP OK message.