Method of allocating resources efficiently in a system which does not permit switching in real time

A communications system which provides common resources to meet resource requests of a plurality of nodes which must be satisfied faster than the resources can be configured, comprising:

• means for preconfiguring at least a plurality of resources before a resource request arises, said preconfigured resources being idle when not being used for a call, wherein any remaining resources are held back as an uncommitted reserve;
• means for assigning each node a reserve of preconfigured resources;
• means for receiving a resource request;
• means for assigning the call an idle preconfigured resource from the preconfigured reserve of the node handling the resource request;
• means for configuring uncommitted reserved channels to replenish the nodes reserve of preconfigured resources, wherein new resources are configured when the sum of preconfigured idle resources and already ordered but still configuring resources minus any ordered but still deconfiguring resources for the preconfigured reserve at a node drops below a first threshold;
• means for releasing said resource to said reserve of preconfigured resources after a resource request ends;
• and
• means for deconfiguring resources in said reserves of preconfigured resources when the number of idle resources exceeds a second threshold.