Multiplex communications – Data flow congestion prevention or control – Control of data admission to the network
Reexamination Certificate
1998-02-12
2001-02-20
Vincent, David R. (Department: 2732)
Multiplex communications
Data flow congestion prevention or control
Control of data admission to the network
C370S232000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06192031
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for controlling call connection in a telecommunications network.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Telecommunication networks are configured from nodes and links. Nodes comprise exchanges, bridgers, routers or other such equipment and links are the transmission paths between the nodes along which calls may be passed. Links are generally formed of optical fibre cable, co-axial cable or where radio or microwave communication is involved the links will not be physical components but logical communication channels.
Every component of a telecommunications network has a finite call carrying capacity. It is important that networks are managed to ensure that nodes and links are efficiently used to avoid overloading. Whether or not a call is routed from one node to another is decided by use of call acceptance methods.
The performance of every node will have an effect on the performance of the overall network and chaos as an example of flow dynamics is exhibited by the interactions between nodes.
Much publicity has been given over the past few years to chaos theory and chaotic phenomena are well known in the scientific community. Chaos is essentially characterised by a notion of sensitivity to initial conditions. A simple system such as a driven pendulum will respond to small differences in initial conditions by tracing trajectories with widely different paths that that may pass through periodic regimes and become chaotic. The resultant trajectory thus becomes unpredictable.
The performance of a network may be degraded in a similar way by small changes in performance of one or more of its components. The present invention arose in an attempt to alleviate this problem.
A call distribution system is known from EP-A-O 421 583 wherein at each node an activity level dependent upon the amount of traffic being handled by that node is calculated, and no node will re-route a call to a node having an activity level above a specific threshold level.
According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a method of controlling call acceptance in a telecommunications network comprising periodically measuring the volume of traffic being handled at a node of the network; for each measurement, identifying a corresponding one of a set of storage locations and incrementing the value stored in the identified location; determining from the stored values in said set an index of variation of measurement distribution; and, in the event that the determined index exceeds a threshold value, intervening to re-route or reject calls for that node. By measuring the volume of traffic and determining an index of variation of measurement distribution it is possible to detect when the network is approaching a chaotic condition, that is to say becoming unstable. The greater the variation of measurement distribution the more chaotic the network is becoming.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus for controlling call acceptance in a telecommunications network, which apparatus comprises means to measure periodically the volume of traffic being handled at a node of the network; a set of storage locations; means to identify, for each measurement, a corresponding one of said set of storage locations and to increment the value stored in the identified location; means to determine from the stored values in said set an index of variation of measurement distribution; means to compare the index with a threshold value and to provide an output indicative of the comparison result; and means responsive to a comparison output indicative that the determined index exceeded the threshold value to re-route or reject calls for the node.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4931941 (1990-06-01), Krishnan
patent: 5042027 (1991-08-01), Takase et al.
patent: 5142570 (1992-08-01), Chaudhary et al.
patent: 421583 (1991-04-01), None
patent: 9115069 (1991-10-01), None
Supercomm/ICC 92, vol. 2, Jun. 14, 1992, Chicago US, pp. 689-693, XP000326766 Verma et al.: “Variation of traffic parameters in ATM networks” see p. 689, left-hand column, paragraph 1-p. 690, left-hand column, paragraph 4.
Carrasco Rolando Antonio
Gell Michael Anthony
Greenwood Dominic Piers
Reeder Anthony Andrew
British Telecommunications public limited company
Nixon & Vanderhye P.C.
Vincent David R.
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