Patent ID: 7787889

Claim:
A method for determining a customized location area (CLA) for a subscriber in a cellular network, the method comprising: acquiring a first cell identification corresponding to an initial cell to which a mobile station has established communication; storing the first cell identification in a network database; storing a start time at which the mobile station establishes communication with the initial cell; enabling a frequency counter, the frequency counter being configured to track the number of times the mobile station establishes communication with the initial cell; incrementing the frequency counter to account for a present visit of the mobile station to the initial cell; storing a frequency counter value indicating the number of times the mobile station has established communication with the initial cell including the present visit; receiving an indication that the mobile station has terminated communication with the initial cell; storing a stop time when the mobile station terminates communication with the initial cell; calculating a duration from the start time and the stop time; storing the duration; acquiring a second cell identification corresponding to a subsequent cell to which the mobile station has established communication; performing each of the steps for the subsequent cell; determining a CLA based upon data acquired during the steps for each of the cells, wherein: the CLA comprises at least one cell; and the data comprises the cell identification for the initial cell and the subsequent cell, the start times for the initial cell and the subsequent cell, the frequency counter for the cell and the subsequent cell, the stop time for the initial cell and the subsequent cell, and the duration for the initial cell and the subsequent cell; storing the CLA; and paging each cell associated with the CLA.