An improved automatic congestion control algorithm for telecommunications signaling networks

In a signaling network, the Automatic Congestion Control (ACC) algorithm is used during switch overloads to maintain network throughput. Previous stud ies have shown that the present (standardized) algorithm performs poorly an d suggest that switch throughput can be improved by turning off the algorit hm. We propose enhancements to the ACC algorithm which result in significan t improvement in network throughput under switch overload. These enhancemen ts can be easily implemented and do not require any changes in the way ACC messages are exchanged between switches (but do require changes in the way a switch throttles calls to an overloaded switch). In this paper we present our enhanced algorithm and illustrate, through analysis and simulations, i ts effectiveness.