Patent ID: 8081985

Claim:
A cellular communication system comprising: a first Mobile Management Entity, MME; a plurality of base stations coupled to the first MME and arranged to support user equipments over an air interface; load means for determining an MME load characteristic for the first MME for each base station of the plurality of base stations in response to a measured operating characteristic of each base station; selection means for selecting a subset of base stations from the plurality of base stations in response to the MME load characteristics; load level means for determining a load level measure for the first MME; and transmitting means for transmitting a load reduction indication for the first MME to the subset of base stations in response to the load level measure for the first MME meeting a first criterion; wherein each of the plurality of base stations is arranged to bias an operation of the base station towards a reduced load level of the first MME in response to receiving the load reduction indication; wherein the transmitting means is arranged to include a base station distribution preference in the load reduction indication; and wherein each of the plurality of base stations is arranged to distribute the load reduction indication to other base stations in response to the base station distribution preference; and wherein at least a first of the plurality of base stations is arranged to prevent forwarding of a load reduction indication received from a second base station in response to a detection that a corresponding load reduction indication received from a third base station has been forwarded.