Patent ID: 7170883

Claim:
A method for signaling on a common channel between a base site and a mobile unit within a wireless communication system having an over-the-air common-air-interface that includes a service option field, comprising: creating the service option field wherein some, but not all, of the service option field being for service option indicia, wherein the service option indicia to provide information specific to the common channel and using at least a part of a remaining portion of the service option field for non-service option information indicia, wherein the non-service option information indicia provides information other than being specific to the common channel, wherein using at least a part of a remaining portion of the service option field for non-service option information indicia includes using at least a part of a remaining portion of the service option field for providing a coded representation, wherein at least some of the coded representations each correspond to one of a plurality of unique information content; sending the service option field on the common channel between the base site and the mobile unit; selecting a particular message that includes specific informational content to impart to a user, and identifying a specific one of the coded representations and a specific corresponding time slot within which to transmit the specific one of the coded representations that, in combination, represents the specific information content.