Method and apparatus for managing resource allocation conflicts in a communications systems

摘要

A conflict resolution center (130 FIG. 1) is used to manage and resolve resource allocation conflicts in communications system (100) including a number of semi-autonomous communications nodes (SACNs). SACN (110) operates semi-autonomously because SACNs cannot independently allocate and de-allocate resources but rather operate within the confines of at least one local neighborhood. SACNs (110) allocate and de-allocate resources locally based on local neighborhood information. A conflict occurs when at least two SACNs try to allocate the same resource. Conflict resolution center (130) resolves conflicts using a number of different procedures. When a conflict can be resolved, conflict resolution center (130) provides resource reallocation data to at least one SACN (110). When a conflict cannot be resolved, conflict resolution center (130) notifies a system administrator.