Method and apparatus for band class acquisition and assignment in a wireless communication system

The present invention relates generally to cellular communication systems, and, in particular, to mobile stations and base stations that support multiple band classes in a cellular communication system. A communication system acquires band class information and assigns a band class to MS when the MS is engaged in a process of initiating a connection with infrastructure . The MS informs the infrastructure of the MS's band class capabilities when the MS initially performs an access attempt with the infrastructure in a reveres link associated with a first band class, that is, on r-csch in reverse link . When the band class where the MS initially attempts access is congested, or the infrastructure desires to switch the MS to a second, alternate band class for any other reason, the infrastructure is able to immediately determine the band classes supported by the MS and to immediately assign the MS to a f-csch or traffic channel in a forward link that is associated with the second, alternate band class supported by the MS.