Abstract: Congestion problems in networks are alleviated with a method that works toward insuring the unused capacity will always exist in elements of a network that are resources which are shared by a plurality of users and which, consequently, can be overloaded. In response to each a request to establish a connection over a path in the network, pursuant to a predetermined algorithm method either services the request, declines to service the request, or services the request after dropping an established connection. In one embodiment, when unused cavity on the path is above a preselected level, all requests are services. What unused capacity falls below a preselected threshold, a probabilistic approach is taken as to service the request or not, and as whether to drop an existing call in order to service the request.

Abstract: A method that alleviates congestion problems in prior art networks by insuring that selected classes of calls have a reserved capacity, thus insuring a capability to service at least the selected level of traffic. In an illustrated embodiment, a selected capacity is reserved for voice calls, in contrast to data calls. When a connection request is made and there is unoccupied capacity, a voice call is always serviced, but a data call is serviced only if the number of established data connections is less than capacity of the path required for establishing a connection for the request, minus the capacity reserved for voice call.