In industrial and technical systems usually only limited resources are available. E.g., in a communication network where the subscribers are coupled by junction points, only a limited number of transmission lines are available through which the subscribers communicate with each other. If the function of the communications network is to enable data transmission at any time between any subscribers, operational states may arise at which one or more junction points are overloaded. That is, the data transmission rates at the junction points have reached or exceeded a given data-transmission threshold value without degrading the network's data transmission ability between arbitrary subscribers at all times. On the other hand other operational states may arise in the network, again involving overloaded junction points, in which network operability is degraded. Consequently, data transmission between arbitrary subscribers no longer is feasible at any time.
System malfunctions can be avoided by allocating resources to assure system functionning, for instance by switching ON and OFF additional transmission lines when exceeding a specific data transmission rate at certain junction points.