Patent ID: 6212389
Filing Date: 2001-04-03
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
A method for controlling allocation of traffic channels in a telecommunications network having macrocells and microcells within said macrocells, the method comprising:receiving a request for a number of microcell traffic channels in a particular microcell; andallocating said number of macrocell traffic channels in a macrocell containing said particular microcell when and only when:(a) insufficient microcell traffic channels are available in said particular microcell;(b) sufficient macrocell traffic channels are available in said macrocell; and(c) the requested microcell traffic channels are requested to implement a microcell to microcell handoff;wherein step (a) comprises the step of determining whether sufficient microcell traffic channels can be made available by throttling down the number of microcell channels allocated to existing data calls, and if so, then throttling down the number of microcell channels allocated to existing data calls until sufficient microcell channels are made available to satisfy said request.