I don't really know anything on this, I think Constantinople just threw money at them (my source is the movie "Attila") Just wanting to know what "plans" He had for if he took it over, how he would have done it, and what where his means to doing so?
Ya pretty much throwing money, although I haven't seen the movie.
In the fifth century Constantinople's defenses were strengthened during the reign of Theodosius II. At this time the Byzantines were facing numerous "Barbarian" threats, particularly the Vandals raiding maritime trade and coasts. Constantinople could fend of these small "barbarians", but would not fare so well against the overwhelming might of the Huns (who also had siege weapons).
Meanwhile, Attila and his forces were paid off, though they remained uncomfortably close to the capital. Eventually, the Huns began their raids again and devastated much of Thrace and surrounding areas. Military efforts against them were ineffective and the Byzantine legions suffered many defeats.
After giving the Byzantines a massive walloping and defeating many well fortified cities, Attila demanded a massive payment. In 443, in exchange for peace, the Byzantines payed about 6000 lbs in gold and had to pay about 2000 lbs in annual tribute.
As for plans for Constantinople, I'm not sure. Attila profited immensely off of the East and even lent his own forces to man their garrisons at times. In 450, Theodosius II died (fell of a horse) and the new emperor, Marcian, refused to continue tributary payments. At this time, Attila had already turned West and was trying to take Orleans. In 454 he died and his empire followed.
He didn't actually HAVE pans to take it. The first steppe people to actually be a real threat to the city were the avars- the huns didn't the the equipment or expertise to threaten such a well protected city, (it was among the largest and best fortified cities on the planet) and the imperial army at the time would have been able to devastate a hunnic force that was fool enough to get caught between the walls of the city and the entire might of the eastern legions. They'd also liekly starve in the attempt.
Thy paid the huns off because it was cheaper than trying to fight them-any force small enough to catch a hunnic raid would be too small to defeat them, and men sent to fend off the huns-who were ultimately raiders, and NOT a civilized empire who may completely destroy the empire-were men NOT fighting the persians. On top of that, the huns could and DID sack lesser cities in the empire, and, due to the differences in mobility between the two powers, nothing could be done about it without stripping the east of its defenders.
At the time, an imperial force could move maybe 20 miles a day, and body of huns could conceivably cover 50, though they'd be limited in where they went by available pasturage.
The empire literally couldn't force them to fight unless the huns wanted it. This alone means trying to fight them is utterly pointless.