System and method for controlling priority calls in a wireless network

A wireless communication network comprising:

• a plurality of base stations capable of communicating with a plurality of mobile devices;
• and
• an apparatus for maintaining a priority of a missed call from a first mobile device being served by a first base station, said apparatus comprising:
• a central controller capable of receiving from a first base station a first message indicating that said first base station is unable to service a pending call from a selected one of said plurality of mobile devices and assigning to said pending missed call a priority indicia;
• a memory capable of storing said priority indicia;
• and
• a priority indicia controller capable of sending said priority indicia to a second base station in response to a receipt from said second base station of a second message indicating that said selected one of said plurality of mobile devices is being serviced by said second base station, wherein said second base station uses said priority indicia to maintain said priority of said pending missed call with respect to at least one pre-existing pending missed calls being serviced by said second base station.

For use in a wireless communication network comprising a plurality of base stations capable of communicating with a plurality of mobile devices, a method of maintaining a priority of a missed call from a first mobile device being served by a first base station, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving from a first base station a first message indicating that the first base station is unable to service a pending call from a selected one of the plurality of mobile devices;
• assigning to the pending missed call a priority indicia;
• storing the priority indicia in a memory;
• sending the priority indicia to a second base station in response to a receipt from the second base station of a second message indicating that the selected one of the plurality of mobile devices is being serviced by the second base station, wherein the second base station uses the priority indicia to maintain the priority of the pending missed call with respect to at least one pre-existing pending missed calls being serviced by the second base station.