Abstract: A method for reducing the paging load in a cellular communication system is described. The cell C with the largest paging load L is first identified. Since this cell is usually included in more than one paging zone, the paging zones including cell C are identified. Thereafter, cell C is removed tentatively from each identified zone and a ratio R calculated which represents the decrease in loading on cell C due to being removed from zone z divided by the maximum increase in loading on any other cell in the network. The zone for which the ratio R is the largest is the best candidate for removing cell C therefrom. After doing so tentatively, the cell C' with the largest paging load L' thereon is identified. If the loading L is greater than L', cell C is removed permanently from the zone having the highest ratio R therefor and the process is repeated until L' is greater than L at which point the process is stopped without removing cell C from the zone with the highest ratio R.

Abstract: Various operational measurements of a network element are determined in real time. These measurements are used to determine the call carrying capacity of the elements and the reaction of the network element to various call loads. Models of the network elements are generated from the operational measurements. Using an element's model, the network's reaction to various changes in a particular element can be determined without complex and expensive engineering work.