Abstract: A method and system for controlling overload at a network processor in a communications system. Messages relating to a plurality of types of calls, functions or processes (collectively, “calls”) received at a processor seeking access to processor resources are granted normal access when the delay in processing such messages does not exceed threshold values. When such delay exceeds a threshold, messages are blocked in numbers relating to, among other things, the number of messages allowed in a reference interval, message delay, the total number of blocked calls, the number of blocked calls of each type, the number of calls allowed in one or more preceding intervals and preferences between types of calls.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separately transporting each monomedia stream of a composite multimedia signal across a network, such as an ATM network, is disclosed. The transport of monomedia traffic over different network segments, which may or may not support all multimedia components, is disclosed. Each monomedia component, n, such as video, voice and data, of the multimedia session is separately transmitted over a connection having a capacity, Cn. The capacity, Cn, is generally specified in number of units of information, such as the bandwidth that should be allocated to the respective monomedia component for the duration of the call, or the number of ATM cells per unit time for the duration of the call. In an illustrative ATM network implementation, individual connections can be established for each monomedia component by assigning separate VP/VC identifiers to each monomedia connection. Jitter, due to synchronization problems, is controlled by allocating appropriate bandwidth to each monomedia component.