The possibility of incompatibility between wireless communication system stations
having the most recent protocol revisions is addressed by transmitting from the
base station to a mobile station characteristics that identify a mobile station
group that is restricted to using less than the most recent protocol revision.
Using less than the most recent protocol revision may involve using an earlier
revision or a subset of the most current protocol revision. This permits a base
station to direct mobiles to avoid using protocol revisions or features of protocol
revisions that have been insufficiently tested or that have a history of problems
for a particular base station/mobile station combination.
Additionally, when a mobile station receives a message from a base
station identifying which mobile stations are subject to what set of restrictions,
the mobile station then sends a message to the base station requesting service
that matches the restrictions that were identified associated with the group to
which the mobile station belongs.
