# US 5,708,974 A · Method of allocating resources efficiently in a system which does not permit switching in real time > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,708,974 A - Document ID: US5708974A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/537,230 - Filed: 1995-09-29 - Granted: 1998-01-13 - Earliest claimed: 1995-09-29 - Assignees: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson - Inventors: David Anthony Smith - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5708974A ## CPC - H04W 72/044: based on the type of the allocated resource - H04Q 11/0478: {Provisions for broadband connections} - H04W 28/16: Central resource management; Negotiation of resources or communication parameters, e.g. negotiating bandwidth or QoS [Quality of Service] - H04W 28/26: Resource reservation - H04W 92/12: between access points and access point controllers - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - H04Q: SELECTING (switches, relays, selectors H01H; wireless communication networks H04W) ## Abstract A method for establishing connections between one node and a plurality of other nodes sharing transmission resources is disclosed. A small subset of the total channels available is switched through (preconfigured) from the common node to each of the plurality of remote nodes, without any specific use for these channels being apparent, i.e., the preconfigured channels are idle. All remaining channels being retained as unswitched reserves which are as yet uncommitted. These preconfigured channels act as a buffer stock of transmission resources, which decouples the need to be able to use a connection rapidly from the time taken to configure that connection. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of providing common resources to meet resource requests of a plurality of nodes which must be satisfied faster than the resources can be configured, comprising the steps of: 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; assigning each node a reserve of preconfigured resources; receiving a resource request; assigning the call an idle preconfigured resource from the preconfigured reserve of the node handling the resource request; 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 until configuring resources minus any ordered but still deconfiguring resources for the preconfigured reserve at a node drops below a first threshold; releasing said resource to said reserve of preconfigured resources after a resource request ends; and deconfiguring resources in said reserves of preconfigured resources when the number of idle resources exceeds a second threshold. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein preconfigured idle resources with a node are deconfigured when the sum of preconfigured idle resources and ordered but still configuring resources minus any ordered but still deconfiguring resources exceeds the second threshold. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein said common resources are transmission channels from a base station controller in a cellular telephony system. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein said nodes are base stations in a cellular telephony system. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein said common resources are base station common equipment from a base station controller in a cellular telephony system. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein said nodes are transceivers in a cellular telephony system. ### Claim 7 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. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A system according to claim 7, wherein preconfigured idle resources with a node are deconfigured when the sum of preconfigured idle resources and ordered but still configuring resources minus any ordered but still deconfiguring resources exceeds the second threshold. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) A system according to claim 7, wherein said common resources are transmission channels from a base station controller in a cellular telephony system. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) A system according to claim 7, wherein said nodes are base stations in a cellular telephony system. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) A system according to claim 7, wherein said common resources are base station common equipment from a base station controller in a cellular telephony system. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) A method according to claim 7, wherein said nodes are transceivers in a cellular telephony system.