Overload control method for a packet-switched network

A packet-switched telecommunication network comprising:

• a) network nodes (AN I, AN, NI) interconnected by transmission lines (TL1, TL2);
• b) traffic sources (A) for transmitting data packets;
• c) traffic destinations (B) for receiving data packets;
• d) calculating means (TM) for calculating a token number on the basis of a resource condition in at least one of said network nodes (AN I, AN2, NI);
• and
• e) enabling means (TM) for allowing a transmission of data packets carrying acknowledgments from a traffic destination to a traffic source, only if said calculated token number exceeds a token limit,
• wherein the token number is calculated based on a spare capacity of a forward buffer in at least one network node, the forward buffer storing the data units which have been transmitted from the traffic source.

A network node for a packet-switched telecommunication network, comprising:

• a) calculating means (TM) for calculating a token number on the basis of a resource condition in said network node;
• and
• b) enabling means (TM) for allowing a transmission of data packets carrying acknowledgments from a traffic destination (B) to a traffic source (A) only if said calculated token number exceeds a token limit,
• wherein the token number is calculated based on a spare capacity of a forward buffer in at least one network node, the forward buffer storing the data units which have been transmitted from the traffic source.