Methods and apparatus for controlling allocation of traffic channels in macrocell/microcell telecommunications networks

A processor-readable storage medium for storing instructions for execution by a processor, said instructions comprising instructions for responding to a request for a number of microcell traffic channels in a particular microcell by:

• a) determining whether at least said number of microcell traffic channel is available in said particular microcell;
• b) if not, determining whether said number of microcell traffic channels in said particular microcell can be made available by decreasing the number of channels allocated to existing data calls, and if so then making said channels available;
• c) allocating said number of microcell traffic channels in said particular microcell if said number of channels is available;
• and
• d) sending a message to a remote processor when said number of microcell traffic channels are not available in said particular microcell.

A method for controlling allocation of traffic channels in a telecommunications network having macrocells and microcells within said macrocells, the method comprising:

• (a) receiving a request for a number of microcell traffic channels in a particular microcell;
• (b) determining whether there are insufficient microcell traffic channels available in said particular microcell;
• (c) allocating said requested number of microcell traffic channels if sufficient microcell channels are available;
• (d) responsive to step (b) determining that insufficient microcell channels are available:
• i) determining whether sufficient macrocell traffic channels are available in said macrocell;
• ii) allocating macrocell channels if sufficient channels are available;
• and
• iii) sending a message indicating insufficient channels are available if sufficient channels are not available;
• wherein step (b) comprises determining whether additional microcell traffic channels can be made available by throttling down the number of microcell channels allocated to existing data calls.

A wireless telecommunications network comprising

• microcells;
• macrocells;
• basestations for communicating with terminals within said cells;
• controllers for said basestations;
• and
• a mobile switching centre (MSC);
• wherein said controllers and MSC contain processors for carrying out a Call admission control scheme at a microcell which includes throttling the channels already assigned to existing data and video calls and allowing only blocked microcell-to-microcell handoff traffic to overflow to the macrocell;
• and carrying out a Call admission control scheme at a macrocell which includes throttling the channels already assigned to existing data and video calls and also controlling the number of macrocell channels that can be used for supporting overflow microcell-to-microcell handoff traffic.