초록 ▼

A radio access network (RAN) accumulates page messages in a paging buffer for subsequent transmission into a wireless coverage area. A buffer monitor is configured to periodically monitor the occupancy of the paging buffer and to detect when there is a surge in the paging buffer occupancy (e.g., whe

A radio access network (RAN) accumulates page messages in a paging buffer for subsequent transmission into a wireless coverage area. A buffer monitor is configured to periodically monitor the occupancy of the paging buffer and to detect when there is a surge in the paging buffer occupancy (e.g., when the occupancy increases by at least a threshold amount during an evaluation time period). When the buffer monitor detects a surge in paging buffer occupancy, the RAN transmits a control message that changes one or more access parameters that mobile stations operating in the wireless coverage area use to determine when to transmit responses to page messages. Because of the changed access parameters, mobile stations that receive page messages in the same time period are less likely to transmit responses in the same access cycle channel, thereby reducing the possibility of access probe collisions.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method comprising: a radio access network (RAN) accumulating page messages in a paging buffer for subsequent transmission into a wireless coverage area, wherein mobile stations operating in said wireless coverage area are configured to transmit responses to page messages transmitted by said RAN

1. A method comprising: a radio access network (RAN) accumulating page messages in a paging buffer for subsequent transmission into a wireless coverage area, wherein mobile stations operating in said wireless coverage area are configured to transmit responses to page messages transmitted by said RAN in accordance with a persistence test;said RAN detecting a surge in occupancy of said paging buffer, wherein said RAN detecting a surge in occupancy of said paging buffer comprises determining that a first number of page messages occupied said paging buffer at a first time, determining that a second number of page messages occupied said paging buffer at a second time, and determining that said second number exceeds said first number by at least a threshold amount; andin response to said surge, said RAN transmitting a control message into said wireless coverage area, wherein said control message changes a persistence parameter of said persistence test from an initial value to an updated value. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first time and said second time are predetermined buffer evaluation times. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein each of said mobile stations is configured to transmit transmits a response to a page message in a next access channel cycle if said persistence test is successful but delay transmission of said response for at least a silence period if said persistence test is unsuccessful. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein said persistence test comprises: (a) calculating a persistence probability, p, by the formula p=2(−n/4),wherein n is said persistence parameter;(b) generating a pseudorandom number, x, between 0 and 1;(c) comparing x to p;(d) characterizing said persistence test as successful if x