Abstract: A communication network includes a number of network nodes linked together by transmission paths. A network manager controls acceptance of calls onto transmission paths by classifying an incoming call and selecting from the database an appropriate mean to peak bit rate distribution. This selected distribution is then used with the monitored transmission path load to determine a posterior distribution which reflects the load. The decision to accept or reject the call is made on the basis of the posterior distribution by a call acceptance algorithm considering the effective bandwidth for example.

Abstract: A method of controlling acceptance of a call by a network node in a communication network having a required quality of service includes the steps of determining an infimum of a function of the probability of the node being overloaded if the call if accepted and determining from that infimum the effective bandwidth of the calls to the node if that call should be accepted and determining a corresponding quality of service. The corresponding quality of service is then compared with a quality of service that is required for satisfactory operation of the network. If the quality if maintained or exceeded then the call is accepted for the node.