Method and apparatus for determining a serving communication system where communication systems operate conjunctively

摘要

A method and apparatus is provided for facilitating scanning of radio control channels where a plurality of communication systems conjunctively cover the same area. A subscriber unit receives an overhead message train on a control channel which includes a channel count representing the number of control channels of a communication system. Subsequently, the subscriber unit scans a channel count number of control channels to tune to a control channel being used by a communication system having coverage for the subscriber unit. This scanning of control channels starts with a predetermined start control channel which corresponds to the logical number of the control channel in a sequence of control channels which is after the channel count control channel. In addition, an apparatus may be provided to transmit, in the overhead message train, a subscriber unit control message with an address indicating that a communication system is operating within a coverage area.