Reserving channel elements to maximize utilization of resources and prevent blocking of calls

Channel elements at a cell site in wireless network are managed by reserving a portion of the channel elements for handling certain types of calls for which the reserved channel elements are capable of handling. At least some of the non-reserved channel elements will typically lack the capabilities of the reserved channel elements, due to there being previous generation or older technology. For example, in a cell cite having both 3G and 2G channel elements, a percentage of the 3G channel elements, such as 15 percent, are reserved for certain types of calls, such as 3G data call origination and 3G voice hand-ins. These are types of calls that the 2G channel elements do not support. The remaining 3G channel elements are not reserved. If the non-reserved channel elements are fully utilized, the reserved channel elements may, or may not, be released for general usage so as to prevent a blocking of calls, depending on quality of service considerations for the site. The reservation of channel elements can be via a configuration parameter issued from a central management entity to base station controllers, on either a system-wide basis, or on a targeted basis to particular base station controllers.