Importance

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Abstract

The present invention provides a bandwidth management system, a subscriber terminal, and a method for managing calls between a central terminal and a subscriber terminal of a wireless telecommunications system, a number of items of telecommunications equipment being connectable to the subscriber terminal. The subscriber terminal is arranged to pass call data between said items of telecommunications equipment and the central terminal via a wireless link, the wireless link being provided on a frequency channel with a predetermined maximum call data bandwidth for the transmission of said call data. The bandwidth management system comprises a bandwidth manager for maintaining in a storage information about allocation of the predetermined maximum call data bandwidth amongst calls currently being handled on the frequency channel. Further, a bandwidth allocator is provided that, responsive to a request to establish a call, is arranged to allocate, with reference to the information in said storage, a call data bandwidth for the call. The bandwidth manager then uses the call data bandwidth allocated by the bandwidth allocator to update the information in the storage. In preferred embodiments, the type of call to be established is determined, and the bandwidth allocator uses this call type information when allocating the call data bandwidth for the call. Compression may then be applied to the call data dependent on the bandwidth allocated.

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First Claim