Patent ID: 7933242

Claim:
An apparatus comprising: a processor; and a memory including computer program code, wherein the memory and the computer program code are configured, with the processor, to cause the apparatus to perform overload control in aid of scheduling operations involving communications by a plurality of user equipment operative in a wireless communications network; to detect a congestion condition in the wireless communications network by determining an operating region of a scheduler using an activity detection principle for a scheduling candidate set; and when the congestion condition is detected, to perform prioritization of user equipment in the scheduling candidate set based on a cost associated with each user equipment, wherein the prioritization comprises performing fast bearer prioritization through filtering the user equipment in the scheduling candidate set that are seeking to perform communications operations in the wireless communications network, where filtering uses at least one predetermined criterion; wherein the fast bearer prioritization operates according to a framework that combines an activity detection approach with a per-bearer cost function when making prioritization decisions.