Processing signalling information for telephone call attempts in a packet-based telephony service

摘要

Processing signalling information for telephone call attempts in a packet-based telephony service. An overload protection node (12) is introduced to protect a signalling node from an overload of signalling information for telephone call attempts. A characteristic of signalling information for telephone call attempts in the packet-based telephony service is monitored by the overload protection node and on the basis of the monitored characteristic, the overload protection node processes signalling information for telephone call attempts according to one of a number of different modes of operation. A mode of operation may involve transmitting signalling information for a call attempt to the signalling node or selecting one or more call attempts at the overload protection node for the purpose of reducing overload in the signalling node.