Distributed implementation of real-time resource counters

The problem of managing telephone network resources for private virtual networks is discussed. Implementing a real-time resource counter on a distributed system is investigated. A correctness condition is developed for a real-time resource counter, and several approaches to implementing it are described. The various approaches are evaluated on a model that accounts for load-dependent message-processing delays, using both analytic and simulation techniques. The results of the performance studies also suggest heuristics for configuring a resource counter on a distributed system. A very simple approach, in which requests that cannot be satisfied locally are randomly forwarded to other processors, works well over a wide range of loads and system sizes. Unless a very large number of processors is required to handle the requests for resources or heavy overloads are expected, this may be the best algorithm