Abstract: A controller controls the admit rate of messages passed to a node in a communications system according to a control value that controls the maximum average admit rate. The controller periodically updates the control value in which the updated control value is the lesser of an increasing function of the previous control value; and an increasing function of the previous admit rate. The updated control value is the lesser of an increasing function of the previous control value and the time period since the previous update; and an increasing function of the previous admit rate.

Abstract: A method for provisioning audiovisual works to a client includes maintaining categorization information specifying, for each of multiple audiovisual works, one or more of multiple categories. One or more of the categories are associated with each of multiple delivery slots in response to input from a client. For each of the delivery slots, a first audiovisual work from one of the categories associated with the respective delivery slot is provisioned for delivery to a location associated with the client.

Abstract: A controller controls the flow of messages in a communication system to a node. The controller monitors the rate of message rejection by the node and the rate of messages to the node passed by the controller. The rate at which messages to the node are passed is controlled on the basis of the monitored rejection rate and the monitored admit rate so that the rejection rate tends towards a target value. The maximum rate at which the messages are passed to a control value is limited.

Abstract: A controller for controlling the admit rate of messages passed to a node in a communications system according to a control value that controls the maximum average admit rate, in which the controller comprises means for periodically updating the control value in which the updated control value is the lesser of an increasing function of the previous control value; and an increasing function of the previous admit rate. The updated control value is the lesser of an increasing function of the previous control value and the time period since the previous update; and an increasing function of the previous admit rate.

Abstract: A controller for controlling the flow of messages in a communication system to a node, in which the controller comprises a rejection monitor for monitoring the rate of message rejection by the node; an admit monitor for monitoring the rate of messages to the node passed by the controller; and control means for controlling the rate at which messages to the node are passed on the basis of the monitored rejection rate and the monitored admit rate so that the rejection rate tends towards a target value. The control means limits the maximum rate at which the messages are passed to a control value.

Abstract: In a method of controlling overloads in a telecommunications network, a module 46 for detecting and monitoring overloads is provided at a node 40. The node 40 includes a module 44 for controlling access to terminal resources such as telephones and fax machines. The module 44 also detects failed calls. Upon detecting an initial failed call to a particular called party number, a counter in module 46 is initialized. The counter is incremented for each further failed call to the particular called party number and also decremented at a fixed rate. When the number of calls in the counter rises above a first threshold, the counter goes into an overload state. When the number of calls in the counter falls below a second threshold, the counter goes into a no overload state. The module 46 sends an indication of the state of the counter and the identity of the called number to a module 48 in a node 41 which sets and updates a restriction parameter.