A method for managing calls of various relative priority levels in an IP
network includes polling at least one location in the network to obtain
information indicative of a level of utilization said at least one
location and computing a status of utilization of said at least one
location based on said polled information and assigning a decision policy
to said status. A priority level of a new voice call requesting to enter
the network is then assessed against relative to priorities of existing
calls on the network and the decision policy is invoked on the new voice
call according to its relative priority level to the existing calls on
the network and the decision policy in effect at the time the new voice
call requests entry to the network.