Patent ID: 7379705

Claim:
A method of conducting a mass communication event via a wireless communication network, comprising steps of: (a) at a time prior to and independent of time of the mass communication event, programming users' mobile stations with one or more parameters for control of a random delay calculation function related to the mass communication event; (b) at each respective one of the mobile stations, executing steps comprising: (i) during the time of the mass communication event, prompting a user of the respective mobile station for and receiving an input from the user relating to the mass communication event; (ii) calculating a random delay interval to extend from the time of receiving the user input, based on the programmed one or more control parameters; (iii) delaying for the calculated random interval; and (iv) after expiration of the calculated random delay interval following receipt of the user input, attempting a communication through the wireless communication network regarding the input from the user relating to the mass communication event; and (c) processing randomly delayed communications from the mobile stations through the wireless communication network regarding the user inputs relating to the mass communication event.