Patent ID: 7313363

Claim:
A method for a portable unit to communicate within a wireless communication system comprising at least one base station, at least one mobile repeater unit, and multiple portable units, comprising the steps of: a. selecting a channel from a plurality of transmission channels; b. transmitting a first query on said selected channel, said first query requesting responses from only mobile repeater units that are in active communication with another portable unit; c. monitoring said selected channel for a predetermined period of time for a response to said first query; d. if no response is received after said predetermined period of time elapses, selecting another of said plurality of channels; e. if a response from a mobile repeater unit is received on said selected channel, e.a. marking said selected channel as active; e.b. storing quality parameters associated with said selected channel; f. repeating steps a, b, c, d, and e for all remaining channels of said plurality of channels; g. selecting the channel with the highest quality parameters; h. sending a connection request to said channel with the highest quality parameters; i. if a response to said connection request from a mobile repeater unit is received on said selected channel, determining if said one of said plurality of transmission channels is available for communication between said at least one portable unit and said at least one mobile repeater unit; and j. if said one of said transmission channels is available, establishing communication between said portable unit and said responding mobile repeater unit on said one of said plurality of transmission channels and identifying said one of said plurality of transmission channels as active.