Patent ID: 7853266

Claim:
A method of managing an overload in a cell of a cellular radio communication network comprising a plurality of user equipments each of which can switch between a plurality of states including a Cell_DCH state and a Cell_FACH state, which method comprises the following steps, for each request (RAB request) for allocation of radio resources to a given user equipment in an initial state, before sending said request, in which initial state no radio resource is allocated to said user equipment: obtaining for said cell a current rate of successful transitions for the change from the Cell_FACH state to the Cell_DCH state; detecting an overload of the Cell_FACH state by analyzing said current rate of successful transitions; if an overload is detected, rejecting said request; if no overload is detected, accepting said request and switching said user equipment from said initial state to a final state in which at least one radio resource is allocated to said user equipment.