Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining if useful auxiliary information in an auxiliary time slot is available for subscriber unit use. The present invention includes a receiver that receives data from both an auxiliary time slot and a dedicated time slot. Data from the receiver is coupled to a computation function that calculates a metric comparing the data from the auxiliary time slot and the dedicated time slot. The calculated metric is coupled to a threshold comparator that compares the calculated metric to a threshold. Based on the results of the comparison, a determination is made on the presence or absence of useful auxiliary data in an auxiliary time slot.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing auxiliary data in a idle potion of a slot in a time division multiple access system is disclosed. A speech coder converts speech into digital signals that are coupled to a convolutional coder. The convolutional coder processes the digital signals using three or four connection polynomials to create two sets of outputs. One set of outputs, which is generated from first and second connection polynomials is identical to the standard output of a IS-136 convolutional coder. The second set of outputs, which are the auxiliary data, are generated using third and fourth connection polynomials. The second set of outputs is coupled to a puncturing function, which appropriately deletes portions of the second set of outputs. The remaining portion of the second set of outputs is transmitted in the idle portion of a time slot.