Load balancing in a mobile communication network

A method of operation of a cellular access point amongst a plurality of interconnected cellular access points, the method comprising:

• receiving from a first user equipment a connection attempt that, together with previously connected user equipments, would cause the access point to exceed a first predetermined capacity threshold;
• in response to receiving the connection attempt from the first user equipment, selecting one of the previously connected user equipments and an associated one of the plurality of interconnected cellular access points, the selection being made based on a likelihood that said one of the previously connected user equipments will be accepted for hand-in by said associated one of the plurality of interconnected cellular access points;
• in response to receiving the connection attempt from the first user equipment, initiating a handover of the selected one of the previously connected user equipments to the associated one of the plurality of interconnected cellular access points when an additional load balancing handover criterion is met;
• and
• after initiating the handover, establishing a connection with the first user equipment.

A method of operation of a cellular access point amongst a plurality of interconnected cellular access points, the method comprising:

• receiving from a first user equipment a connection attempt that, together with previously connected user equipments, would cause the access point to exceed a first predetermined capacity threshold;
• in response to receiving the connection attempt from the first user equipment, selecting one of the previously connected user equipments and an associated one of the plurality of interconnected cellular access points;
• in response to receiving the connection attempt from the first user equipment, initiating a handover of the selected one of the previously connected user equipments to the associated one of the plurality of interconnected cellular access points when an additional load balancing handover criterion is met;
• after initiating the handover, establishing a connection with the first user equipment;
• and
• thereafter, allowing a handover of the selected one of the previously connected user equipments from the associated one of the plurality of interconnected cellular access points to said cellular access point only after a timer has expired.