Abstract: A method of controlling a mobile terminal allows it to search for possibly higher priority service providers in response to receiving an indication that more than the default number of service providers is available in a given service area, without dropping its current radio channel. When only the standard number of service providers is available in a given area, the mobile terminal uses standard frequency bands and corresponding radio channel allocations during scanning operations. When more than the standard number of service providers is available, the mobile terminal uses received information defining the non-standard spectrum allocation supporting the available service providers in its scanning operations. In a wireless communication system operating in accordance with TIA/EIA-136 standards, the mobile terminal may scan its current hyperband, alternate hyperband, or both the current and the alternate hyperbands (e.g., 800 MHz and 1900 MHz hyperbands), for higher priority service providers.

Abstract: A method of controlling a mobile terminal allows it to search for possibly higher priority service providers in response to receiving an indication that more than the default number of service providers is available in a given service area, without dropping its current radio channel. When only the standard number of service providers is available in a given area, the mobile terminal uses standard frequency bands and corresponding radio channel allocations during scanning operations. When more than the standard number of service providers is available, the mobile terminal uses received information defining the non-standard spectrum allocation supporting the available service providers in its scanning operations. In a wireless communication system operating in accordance with TIA/EIA-136 standards, the mobile terminal may scan its current hyperband, alternate hyperband, or both the current and the alternate hyperbands (e.g., 800 MHz and 1900 MHz hyperbands), for higher priority service providers.

Abstract: Bandwidth efficiency is increased by tailoring the use of ARQ transmission techniques to those situations where the signal quality on the mobile terminal uplink channel is expected to be poor. The signal quality on a downlink channel may be examined prior to uplinking a message from a mobile terminal to a base station. In response to the examination indicating that the signal quality on the uplink channel is below a predetermined threshold, the mobile terminal assumes an ARQ transmission mode, but if the examination indicates that the signal quality is not below the threshold, the mobile terminal assumes an non-ARQ transmission mode. Advantageously, the message length may also be used to help determine whether the ARQ transmission mode should be used.