diff --git a/app/Http/Controllers/InterviewController.php b/app/Http/Controllers/InterviewController.php
index a5cd4ef..45ca34d 100644
--- a/app/Http/Controllers/InterviewController.php
+++ b/app/Http/Controllers/InterviewController.php
@@ -533,6 +533,14 @@ public function getActiveCalls(Request $request)
         $activeCalls = [];
 
         foreach ($accessible as $interview) {
+            // Auto-terminate call session if interview timeline has expired
+            if ($interview->isExpired()) {
+                if ($interview->call_status === 'active') {
+                    $interview->update(['call_status' => 'ended']);
+                }
+                continue;
+            }
+
             if ($interview->call_status === 'active') {
                 $starterName = 'Panelist';
                 if ($interview->call_started_by) {
@@ -570,6 +578,14 @@ public function getPollData($id)
             ->where('id', $id)
             ->orWhere('submission_unique_id', $id)
             ->firstOrFail();
+
+        // Enforce expiration: ended call status if timeline is expired
+        if ($interview->isExpired()) {
+            if ($interview->call_status === 'active') {
+                $interview->update(['call_status' => 'ended']);
+            }
+        }
+
         $formattedRecordings = $this->getFormattedRecordings($interview);
 
         $starterName = $interview->callStarter ? $interview->callStarter->name : null;
@@ -580,7 +596,7 @@ public function getPollData($id)
 
         return response()->json([
             'status' => $interview->status,
-            'call_status' => $interview->call_status ?? 'idle',
+            'call_status' => $interview->isExpired() ? 'ended' : ($interview->call_status ?? 'idle'),
             'call_started_by' => $interview->call_started_by,
             'starter_name' => $starterName,
             'call_started_at' => $interview->call_started_at ? $interview->call_started_at->toIso8601String() : null,
diff --git a/resources/views/interview/index.blade.php b/resources/views/interview/index.blade.php
index 361e7e0..80d5350 100644
--- a/resources/views/interview/index.blade.php
+++ b/resources/views/interview/index.blade.php
@@ -1029,17 +1029,24 @@ class CallRingtoneEngine {
         const endedCallIds = new Set();
         const currentUserId = {{ Auth::id() }};
         const globalCallChannel = new BroadcastChannel('global_call_alerts');
+        const adminPageLoadTimestamp = Date.now();
 
-        function triggerIncomingCallRing(callData) {
+        function triggerIncomingCallRing(callData, isRealtimeBroadcast = false) {
             if (endedCallIds.has(callData.id) || dismissedCallIds.has(callData.id)) return;
             if (iAmTheCaller && currentInterviewId == callData.id) return;
             if (interviewerLocalStream && currentInterviewId == callData.id) return;
 
-            // Check ring 10-second threshold based on call_started_at
+            // Only play ringtone for real-time fresh calls initiated within the last 8 seconds
             if (callData.call_started_at) {
                 const startedTime = new Date(callData.call_started_at).getTime();
                 const elapsedMs = Date.now() - startedTime;
-                if (elapsedMs > 10000) return;
+                if (elapsedMs > 8000 && !isRealtimeBroadcast) {
+                    dismissedCallIds.add(callData.id);
+                    return;
+                }
+            } else if (!isRealtimeBroadcast) {
+                dismissedCallIds.add(callData.id);
+                return;
             }
 
             activeIncomingCall = callData;
@@ -1048,13 +1055,13 @@ function triggerIncomingCallRing(callData) {
             document.getElementById('incoming-call-modal').classList.add('active');
             callRingtone.start();
 
-            // Set 10-second auto-stop ring timeout
+            // Set 8-second auto-stop ring timeout
             if (ringTimeoutTimer) clearTimeout(ringTimeoutTimer);
-            let remainingMs = 10000;
+            let remainingMs = 8000;
             if (callData.call_started_at) {
                 const startedTime = new Date(callData.call_started_at).getTime();
                 const elapsedMs = Date.now() - startedTime;
-                remainingMs = Math.max(1000, 10000 - elapsedMs);
+                remainingMs = Math.max(1000, 8000 - elapsedMs);
             }
 
             ringTimeoutTimer = setTimeout(() => {
@@ -1073,7 +1080,7 @@ function triggerIncomingCallRing(callData) {
                     submission_unique_id: data.submission_unique_id,
                     starter_name: data.starter_name,
                     call_started_at: data.call_started_at || new Date().toISOString()
-                });
+                }, true);
             } else if (data.type === 'call_ended') {
                 endedCallIds.add(data.interview_id);
                 dismissedCallIds.add(data.interview_id);
@@ -1111,8 +1118,16 @@ function pollGlobalActiveCalls() {
                 });
 
                 if (incoming) {
+                    // Check if call was started before page refresh
+                    const startedTime = incoming.call_started_at ? new Date(incoming.call_started_at).getTime() : 0;
+                    if (startedTime > 0 && startedTime < (adminPageLoadTimestamp - 4000)) {
+                        // Ongoing call from before page reload: silent status update without ringtone
+                        dismissedCallIds.add(incoming.id);
+                        return;
+                    }
+
                     if (!activeIncomingCall || activeIncomingCall.id !== incoming.id) {
-                        triggerIncomingCallRing(incoming);
+                        triggerIncomingCallRing(incoming, false);
                     }
                 } else if (activeIncomingCall) {
                     declineIncomingCall(true);
@@ -1121,8 +1136,8 @@ function pollGlobalActiveCalls() {
             .catch(() => {});
         }
 
-        // Poll for active calls every 1 second for instant ring notification
-        setInterval(pollGlobalActiveCalls, 1000);
+        // Poll for active calls every 1.5 seconds
+        setInterval(pollGlobalActiveCalls, 1500);
 
         function acceptIncomingCall() {
             callRingtone.stop();