Abstract: In a communication system having a plurality of air interfaces, one of the air interfaces is assigned for use for a desired communication by transmitting a message, having a list of air interface capabilities of the subscriber, from the subscriber to a base (12). A list of air interface capabilities of the base is then compared, at a controller, with the list from the subscriber (14). A compatible air interface, or list of compatible air interfaces, is generated by the controller and provided to the base (15, 31). The base will then direct the subscriber to access the communication system utilizing a compatible air interface (18, 35).

Abstract: The method of conveying control and program information between cellular radiotelephone controllers and of detecting information errors is disclosed. When a program memory information error is detected, a predetermined amount of memory information is conveyed from a first controller to a second controller. If a comparison of checksums of a predetermined amount of memory information stored at the second controller and the memory information received from the first controller matches, additional memory information is conveyed. If a match is not found, the predetermined amount of memory information is reconveyed from the first controller to the second controller.

Abstract: The method and apparatus for interfacing between a cell site controller, a cell system controller, and the radio transceivers of a cellular radiotelephone system is disclosed. To convey control information to the radio transceivers, the cell site controller enables one of a redundant pair of control data buses to a selected transceiver by placing an enable signal on the enable line unique to the selected transceiver. Control data is then coupled to the common enabled control data bus for conveyance to the selected transceiver. The transceiver mutes the message data port it may be using and transponds the control data information it receives. When the enable signal is removed, the transceiver unmutes the message data port. Program information is transferred between the cell system controller and cell site controllers as memory blocks which may be retransferred upon detection of a checksum mismatch.