System and method of providing preferential access to subscribers of localized service areas in a radio telecommunications network

Abstract

A system and method of providing preferential access to a cellular telecommunications network to a localized service area (LSA) subscriber who subscribes to a LSA and is operating a mobile station (MS) within the LSA. The cells which are included in the LSA are defined in a base station controller (BSC). The LSA subscriber's subscription information in the home location register (HLR) identifies any LSAs to which the subscriber subscribes. A Preferential Priority Indicator (PPI) property may also be set for the MS in the HLR. The PPI property indicates that the MS is to be granted preferential access whenever the PPI property is set. A Preferential Priority Network Indicator (PPN) property is also set in the BSC that indicates that the BSC supports use of the PPI property whenever the PPN property is set. When the MS originates a call, the BSC derives a second LSA-ID from the Cell-ID for the cell where the call originated. The BSC then determines whether the first LSA-ID matches the second LSA-ID, and in one embodiment, provides preferential access to the MS if the LSA-IDs match. In a second embodiment, the system, also determines whether the PPI property is set and whether the PPN property is set. Preferential access is provided to the MS upon determining that the first LSA-ID matches the second LSA-ID, the PPI property is set, and the PPN property is set.