Abstract: A telecommunications network (10) includes a network processor (16) and a plurality of telecommunications switches (12). Each of the plurality of telecommunications switches (12) receives routing recommendations from the network processor (16) based on congestion data supplied by each of the plurality of telecommunications switches (12) to the network processor (16). Congestion data is collected and supplied for each of the plurality of processors (14) within each of the plurality of telecommunications switches (12) within the telecommunications network (10). Each of the plurality of processors (14) routes telecommunications signals within the telecommunications network (10) according to routing recommendations stored in destination node tables (30) as provided by the network processor (16). The network processor (16) continuously updates the routing recommendations within the destination node tables (30) according to changes in congestion states or configuration states of the telecommunications network (10).

Abstract: A telecommunications network (10) includes a plurality of telecommunication switches (12). Each telecommunication switch (12) includes a set of processors (14) in order to provide a distributed architecture. A network processor (16) periodically communicates with each set of processors (14) of each telecommunication switch (12) to collect various switch and network information and respond with routing recommendations. These routing recommendations are provided in response to a switch utilization index determined for each telecommunication switch (12). The switch utilization index provides an up to date picture of the in service trunks and a realistic figure of the global load on the processors (14). The switch occupancy index is based on trunks, call attempts, time, and switch type and is defined as the ratio of new call arrival rate to the maximum call arrival rate for a dynamically controlled routing processing cycle.