| 摘要 |
In a communications network, a count (82) is maintained of the number of calls made to a selected number. The number may be that of an answering centre (6) or of any other destination which has the capacity to handle a multiplity of calls simultaneously. The count is automatically updated when calls are admitted to the number and when they are terminated. If a new call would take the number of calls in progress above a stored value for the maximum capacity of the number, then the call is rejected. In one implementation, resources are allocated dynamically on an Overload Control Server (66) to a particular destination number only when congestion occurs. The stored value for the capacity may be amended automatically depending on the response of the network to admitted calls. The value for the capacity may initially be estimated as a function of the holding times for calls to the destination number. |
