Patent ID: 7200110

Claim:
A method for the ordered release of a subset of connections of a number of connections provided on a single logical trunk linking a first network entity and a second network entity, the logical trunk having a variable carrying capacity for said connections, the method comprising the steps of: (a) associating a priority indicator and a traffic rate with each of the connections the priority indicator being selected from a priority hierarchy comprised of a plurality of priority levels which varies from highest priority to lowest priority; (b) upon detection of a reduction of the carrying capacity of the logical trunk to a level sufficient to sustain only a reduced number of said connections, selecting from said number of connections a group of connections to be released having an aggregate capacity at least equal to said reduction in capacity of the logical trunk; and (c) following said selection of connections to be released, releasing every connection of said group of connections in a sequence which corresponds to the priority hierarchy from the highest priority level to the lowest priority level while maintaining the remaining connections in said number of connections not included in said selected group of connections; and wherein the selecting of a group of connections comprises the further steps of: selecting connections for release from said number of connections in a sequence beginning with the connection associated with the lowest priority level, until the aggregate of the capacity of selected connections is greater than or equal to said reduction in capacity of the logical trunk; and compiling an ordered release list enumerating each connection selected for release.