System and method of communicating a priority indication in a call control/bearer control telecommunication system

1. In a separated call control, bearer control telecommunications network, a method of communicating a call control level priority indication between a first telecommunications node and a second telecommunications node via the bearer network including the steps of:

determining a call control level priority indication for a call request;

assigning a bearer level priority indication to a priority indication field in a bearer network protocol message for the call request in accordance with a priority level mechanism of a bearer network protocol based on the determined call control level priority indication; and

transmitting the bearer network protocol message via the bearer network from the first telecommunication node towards the second telecommunication node.

2. In a telecommunication system having separated Call Control and Bearer Control architecture a method for enabling transmission of a call control level priority indication along at least a portion of a path of communication established between a first telecommunication node and a second telecommunication node, the path of communication including at least one bearer network node, the method including:

mapping, in accordance with a dedicated relationship, a call control level priority indication to a bearer priority indication in a bearer network protocol message field in accordance with the following steps:

determining a Bearer Independent Call Control priority value for a call request; and

determining a priority level in a bearer network for a message associated with the call request to be communicated in the bearer network based on the determination of the Bearer Independent Call Control priority value.

3. In a telecommunication system, the system including a separated Call Control and Bearer Control architecture between a first telecommunication node and a second telecommunication node, an improvement including:

call control level priority determining means adapted to determine a call control level priority indication for a call request;

logic means adapted to logically map the call control level priority indication to a priority indication field in a bearer network message for the call request in accordance with a priority level mechanism of a bearer network protocol; and

a transmitter adapted to transmit the bearer network protocol message within a bearer network via the bearer network from the first telecommunication node towards the second telecommunication node.

4. In a separated call control, bearer control telecommunications network, a method of communicating a call control level priority indication between a first telecommunications node and a second telecommunications node via a bearer network including the steps of:

determining a bearer network priority level of a bearer network protocol message for a call request; and

assigning a call control level priority indication to a call established with the call request, the call control level priority indication being related to the bearer network priority level,

wherein the call control level priority indication is assigned in accordance with a dedicated relationship to a bearer level priority indication.

5. In a telecommunication system, the system including a separated Call Control and Bearer Control architecture between a first telecommunication node and a second telecommunication node, an improvement including:

priority determining means adapted to determine a bearer network priority level of a bearer network protocol message for a call request; and

call control level priority assigning means adapted to assign a call control level priority indication to a call established with the call request, the call control level priority indication being related to the bearer network priority level,

wherein the call control level priority indication is assigned in accordance with a dedicated relationship to a bearer level priority indication.