Mobile station randomizing of message transmission timing to mitigate mass message event

A product comprising a machine readable storage medium and application software embodied in the machine readable storage medium, for controlling operations of a mobile station through a wireless communication network, the application software comprising programming causing the mobile station to perform steps related to a mass communication event, comprising:

• at a time prior to and independent of time of the mass communication event, storing in the mobile station one or more parameters for control of a random delay calculation function related to the mass communication event;
• during the time of the mass communication event, prompting a user of the mobile station for and receiving an input from the user relating to the mass communication event;
• calculating a random delay interval based at least in part on the one or more parameters;
• waiting for the calculated random delay interval;
• and
• after expiration of the calculated random delay interval following receipt of the user input, initiating a communication through the wireless communication network regarding the input from the user relating to the mass communication event.

A mobile station comprising:

• a memory storing programming, including application software;
• a processor coupled to the memory, for accessing and executing the programming;
• and
• a wireless transceiver controlled by the processor, for digital communication over-the-air via a wireless mobile communication network,
• wherein execution of the application software causes the processor to control operations of the mobile station so as to perform steps in relation to a mass communication event, comprising:
• at a time prior to and independent of time of the mass communication event, storing in the mobile station one or more parameters for control of a random delay calculation function related to the mass communication event;
• during the time of the mass communication event, prompting a user of the mobile station for and receiving an input from the user relating to the mass communication event;
• calculating a random delay interval based at least in part on the one or more parameters;
• waiting for the calculated random delay interval;
• and
• after expiration of the calculated random delay interval following receipt of the user input, initiating a communication through the wireless communication network regarding the input from the user relating to the mass communication event.

A method of sending a communication relating to a mass communication event through a wireless communication network, comprising steps of:

• at a time prior to and independent of time of the mass communication event, storing in a mobile station one or more parameters for control of a random delay calculation function related to the mass communication event;
• during the time of the mass communication event, prompting a user of the mobile station for and receiving an input from the user relating to the mass communication event;
• calculating a random delay interval based at least in part on the one or more parameters;
• waiting for the calculated random delay interval after receiving the user input;
• and
• after expiration of the calculated random delay interval, initiating a communication from the mobile station through the wireless communication network regarding the input from the user relating to the mass communication event.