A method is provided for background scanning in a selective call communication system (102) having a plurality of channels (110, 112, 114), wherein a selective call device (104) has designated thereto one of an odd and even frame compulsory decoding schedule. The selective call device (104) decodes system configuration information (SCI) on odd SCI frames during the odd compulsory decoding schedule, scans for even SCI frames of target channels while maintaining the odd compulsory decoding schedule, and releases or maintains the odd compulsory decoding schedule based on the system configuration information found on the target channels.
A portable communication device (150) can include a transceiver (74) and a processor (76) coupled to the transceiver. The processor can be programmed to monitor at least one neighboring cell among a plurality of cells for a load condition on the at least one neighboring cell, monitor the at least one neighboring cell for a service capability and discontinue the monitoring of the at least one neighboring cell if a desired service capability fails to match the service capability of the at least one neighboring cell or if the load condition fails to meet a predetermined load condition. The processor can be further programmed to monitor the at least one neighboring cell for a signal quality indication and to discontinue the monitoring of the at least one neighboring cell if the signal quality indication falls below a predetermined threshold.
