Abstract: A method of controlling call traffic in a telecommunication system by dynamically altering the rate at which offered calls are accepted includes the steps of successively determining the offered call rate, and accepting calls from the offered calls, at a lower rate, as the offered call rate increases. For accepting the offered calls, at least two call-gapping intervals are used. The method includes selecting the shorter gapping interval whenever the offered call rate is below a threshold value and the longer gapping interval whenever it is above that value.

Abstract: A method of volume screening signalling messages in a communications signalling system, in which control orders from a centralized control are distributed so as to provide equitable volume screening of selected signalling messages being sent over each available communications link of a plurality of links within link sets that interconnect signal transfer points (STPs) of the system. This is achieved by dynamically apportioning the acceptance rate of the selected signalling messages from each available link, in the same proportion as that of the total signalling messages being sent over that available link.