Patent ID: 7043214

Claim:
A method for a client device to maintain communications with a broadcast tower within a service region, comprising: initializing the client device to a receiver channel, further comprising: initiating a frequency sweep; selecting a frequency during the frequency sweep; tuning a receiver to the selected frequency; receiving frames over a sample-interval with the receiver; storing the received frames over the sample-interval; analyzing the received frames; locking the selected frequency when the received frames identify a valid signal; selecting another frequency when the received frames indicate an invalid signal; retrieving a station list when the selected frequency is locked; selecting a home station from the station list by: computing a unique code, wherein the unique code is associated with the client device; determining a home station as station number=N modulo n, wherein N corresponds to at least a portion of the unique code, and n corresponds to the number of stations in the service region; and selecting the home station for reception; and receiving messages from the receiver, wherein the receiver is tuned to the locked frequency, wherein the received messages are associated with the home station.