call admission control
Home > Unified Communications Definitions - Call admission control
SearchUnifiedCommunications.com Definitions (Powered by WhatIs.com)
EMAIL THIS
LOOK UP TECH TERMS Powered by: WhatIs.com
Search listings for thousands of IT terms:
Browse tech terms alphabetically:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z #

call admission control


DEFINITION -

Call admission control (CAC) is the practice or process of regulating traffic volume in voice communications, particularly in wireless mobile networks and in VoIP (voice over Internet Protocol, also known as Internet telephony). Call admission control can also be used to ensure, or maintain, a certain level of audio quality in voice communications networks, or a certain level of performance in Internet nodes and servers where VoIP traffic exists.

Most CAC algorithms work by regulating the total utilized bandwidth, the total number of calls, or the total number of packets or data bits passing a specific point per unit time. If a defined limit is reached or exceeded, a new call may be prohibited from entering the network until at least one current call terminates. Alternatively, a graceful degradation methodology can be implemented. This means that the audio quality of individual calls can deteriorate to a certain extent before new calls are denied entry. Another method involves the regulation of calls according to defined characteristics such as priority descriptors. Still another method prevents new calls from entering the network only if the resources of the central processing unit (CPU) of a particular computer or server would be overburdened by such calls.

Call admission control can be tricky, because the volume of traffic in communications networks is inherently chaotic or "bursty," and traffic bursts are virtually impossible to predict. Another problem is that the actual content of a call may not conform to its descriptor.

LAST UPDATED: 07 Mar 2008

Do you have something to add to this definition? Let us know.
Send your comments to techterms@whatis.com

More resources from around the web:
- Yuguang Fang and Yi Zhang discuss the technical details of CAC in wireless mobile networks.
- Cisco offers a tutorial on 'VoIP Call Admission Control.'





FILE EXTENSION AND FILE FORMAT LIST
File Extension and File Format List:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z #






call admission control Research- Communications White Papers & Expert Guides
About Us  |  Contact Us  |  For Advertisers  |  For Business Partners  |  Site Index  |  RSS
SEARCH 
TechTarget provides technology professionals with the information they need to perform their jobs - from developing strategy, to making cost-effective purchase decisions and managing their organizations' technology projects - with its network of technology-specific websites, events and online magazines.

TechTarget Corporate Web Site  |  Media Kits  |  Site Map




All Rights Reserved, Copyright 2008 - 2009, TechTarget | Read our Privacy Policy
  TechTarget - The IT Media ROI Experts