In a mobile station having an acquired wireless communications system, the mobile
station performs preliminary searches for more desirable wireless communications
systems in between paging channel and quick paging channel assigned slots, while
successfully monitoring the mobile station's assigned slots. The mobile station
then analyzes the preliminary search results and attempts to acquire the more desirable
wireless communications systems that meets preliminary search criteria. The mobile
station includes a communications transceiver that facilitates wireless communications
with a local base station and processing circuitry adapted to control a slotted
operation mode of the mobile station. The processing circuitry is adapted to instruct
the communications transceiver to listen for incoming messages from the acquired
communications system during slot modes and listen for candidate communications
systems during slot-off modes. The preliminary searches include performing tests
on the signal received on a candidate communications system channel. The tests
may include measuring the signal strength, calculating the ratio Ec/Io
and demodulating a synchronization signal.
