Method and system for adjusting access parameters in response to surges in paging buffer occupancy

A method comprising:

• a radio access network (RAN) accumulating page messages in a paging buffer during an evaluation time period, wherein said evaluation time period extends from a first evaluation time to a second evaluation time;
• said RAN determining that occupancy of said paging buffer has increased by at least a threshold amount during said evaluation time period, wherein said RAN determining that occupancy of said paging buffer has increased by at least a threshold amount during said evaluation time period comprises determining that a first number of page messages occupied said paging buffer at said first evaluation time, determining that a second number of page messages occupied said paging buffer at said second evaluation time, and determining that said second number exceeds said first number by at least said threshold amount;
• in response to determining that occupancy of said paging buffer has increased by at least said threshold amount during said evaluation time period, said RAN transmitting a control message, wherein said control message updates a persistence test that determines when mobile stations respond to page messages transmitted by said RAN;
• and
• said RAN subsequently transmitting at least some of said page messages that accumulated in said paging buffer during said evaluation time period.

A system comprising:

• a radio frequency (RF) interface for wireless communication with mobile stations;
• a paging buffer for accumulating page messages for subsequent transmission by said RF interface;
• and
• a buffer monitor, wherein said buffer monitor is configured to (i) periodically monitor occupancy of said paging buffer, (ii) detect surges in occupancy of said paging buffer, wherein a surge is indicated when a first number of page messages are in said paging buffer at a first time, a second number of page messages are in said paging buffer at a second time, and said second number exceeds said first number by at least a predetermined amount, and (iii) in response to a detected surge, cause said RF interface to transmit a control message, wherein said control message updates a persistence test that determines when mobile stations respond to page messages transmitted by said RF interface.