Patent ID: 6859440

Claim:
In a cellular communication system comprising at least one base station and a plurality of mobile stations, wherein a single access channel is configured, a method for providing prioritized access to the communications system comprising the steps of: (a) for each mobile station desiring access to the system, transmitting an access message which includes a collision rate parameter representing the number of consecutive unsuccessful access attempts which have been initiated by the mobile station; (b) receiving at the base station said access message including the collision rate parameter; (c) calculating from the collision rate parameters received from all mobile stations service parameters representing which services within the system are currently enabled; (d) broadcasting from the base station a message including said service parameters; (e) receiving said message including the service parameters at a mobile station desiring to access the system; (f) comparing within the mobile station the service parameters with the service sought to be accessed; and (g) inhibiting the transmission of an access attempt if the service sought to be accessed has been disabled.