Patent ID: 6738625
Filing Date: 2004-05-18
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
A method of load sharing between a plurality of radio network controllers (RNCs) in a radio telecommunications network, wherein each of the RNCs controls a plurality of radio base stations (RBSes), said method comprising the steps of:receiving, at a radio network manager, a plurality of load measuring reports from the plurality of RNCs, the plurality of load measuring reports including a measure of the number of call connections handled by each RNC during a given time period; determining whether any of the plurality of RNCs was overloaded at any time during the time period by determining whether, at any time during the time period, the number of call connections handled by each RNC was greater than a first predetermined threshold; upon determining that a first RNC was overloaded, determining whether the first RNC was frequently or constantly overloaded during the time period; upon determining that the first RNC was frequently or constantly overloaded during the time period, automatically transferring control of at least one RBS from the first RNC to a second RNC that was not overloaded; and upon determining that the first RNC was not frequently or constantly overloaded during the time period, automatically shifting a portion of the call connections being handled by the first RNC to a second RNC that was not overloaded.