The invention relates to a scan mode of operating for a communication system
that supports both voice and data communication services. Prior to entering the
scan mode, a mobile station (28) provides a message to the fixed network
equipment, and particularly a data controller (22) within the fixed network
equipment, that it is entering scan mode. When exiting scan mode, the mobile station
(28) sends a message to the data controller (22) indicating that
it is no longer in scan mode. With knowledge of whether the mobile station (28)
is in scan mode, the data controller (22) sends data messages to the mobile
station using a preamble. The preamble may include a plurality of short confirmed
message packets (606) and each may contain a preamble list of mobile stations
to which data messages are scheduled to be sent.
