Patent ID: 7751326

Claim:
A mobile communications system comprising a radio access network having a multiplicity of network sites, and a traffic flow management system for controlling the routing of traffic flows through the network, wherein the management system is adapted to trade resources at the various network sites against a plurality of user Quality of Service parameters to achieve required contractual levels of commitment to a multiplicity of mobile users as defined in a user contract, wherein the management system has a Networks Layer organized as a hierarchical structure of three separate entities including a Flow Controller (FC) entity responsible for flow within the network, a plurality of Connection Controller (CC) entities each responsible for a specific link, and a plurality of Medium Resource Manager (MRM) entities, each MRM entity being responsible for a specific air interface, and wherein the FC is configured to tender the user contract among the CCs and, in response to tendering of the user contract, the CCs are configured to interrogate the MRM entities to estimate available resources and resources required to provide a requested service to the user; the MRM entities are configured to respond to the CC entities with air interface connection options along with a level of commitment based on the available resources and radio channel quality to a mobile device of the user; wherein the CC entities choose a most suitable and cost effective option and make a bid back to the FC entity to handle the flow, whereupon the FC entity selects the CC that serves the user requirements with a lowest cost level taking into account the commitment offered.