METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ASSOCIATING WITH A COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

A method in a wireless device ( 100 ) for communicating with a WLAN access point ( 112 ) and a wide area network is disclosed. The first step ( 302 ) includes scanning a first set of channels in a first radio frequency band for at least one pilot channel signal. In the next step ( 304 ) the device 100 receives a pilot channel signal on the first radio frequency band, the signal having a unique identification. The device, in response to receiving the pilot channel signal with the unique identification then turns on ( 306 ) a receiver that receives signals in a second radio frequency band. The device then searches, in step ( 308 ) for a signal, on the second radio frequency band, for a WLAN access point. The device then determines if a WLAN access point signal has been received, in step ( 310 ). The device associates with the WLAN, in step ( 312 ) if the device receives the WLAN access point signal. The device, in step ( 314 ), turns off the receiver if a WLAN access point signal has not been received.