1. A method for receiving channel assignment messages at a mobile station in a code division multiple access (CDMA) system, the method comprising the steps of:', 'measuring strength of signals from a plurality of base stations;', 'determining a subset of said plurality of base stations based on the strengths of the signals from said plurality of base stations relative to a predetermined threshold;', 'transmitting an origination message from said mobile station in an access state, said origination message indicating the base stations in said subset; and', 'receiving a channel assignment message from each of the base stations of said subset, the channel assignment message indicating a traffic channel.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said origination message indicates a mobile station identifier.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the base stations in said subset are identified by a plurality of pilot pseudo-noise (PN) offsets, respectively.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:', 'demodulating a traffic channel frame from each of said subset of base stations; and', 'combining said demodulated traffic channel frame to provide an improved estimate of said traffic channel frame.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:', 'receiving an acknowledgement message from said subset of said plurality of base stations.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of receiving a channel assignment message comprises:', 'receiving a paging message from said subset of said plurality of base stations, the paging message indicating traffic channel of one of the base stations transmitting said message.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of receiving a channel assignment message comprises:', 'receiving a paging message from said subset of said plurality of base stations, the paging message indicating traffic channel of each base station of said subset of said plurality of base stations.

8. A code division multiple access (CDMA) mobile station apparatus, comprising:', 'a receiver configured to:', 'measure strengths of signals from a plurality of base stations; and', 'determine a subset of said plurality of base stations based on the strengths of the signals from said plurality of base stations relative to a predetermined threshold; and', 'a transmitter coupled to said receiver configured to transmit an origination message in an access state, said origination message indicating the base stations in said subset, wherein said receiver is configured to receive a channel assignment message from each of the base stations of said subset, the channel assignment message indicating a traffic channel.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said origination message indicates a mobile station identifier

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the base stations in said subset are identified by a plurality of pilot pseudo-noise (PN) offsets, respectively

11. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising:', 'a demodulator configured to demodulate a traffic channel frame from each of said subset of base stations; and', 'a combiner to combine said demodulated traffic channel frame to provide an improved estimate of said traffic channel frame

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein said receiver is further configured to', 'receive an acknowledgement message from said subset of said plurality of base stations

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein said receiver is further configured to:', 'receive a paging message from said subset of said plurality of base stations, the paging message indicating traffic channel of one of the base stations transmitting said message

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein said receiver is further configured to:', 'receive a paging message from said subset of said plurality of base stations, the paging message indicating traffic channel of each base station of said subset of said plurality of base stations

15. A method for receiving channel assignment messages at a mobile station in a code division multiple access (ODMA) system, the method comprising the steps of:', 'measuring strengths of signals from a plurality of base stations;', 'determining a subset of said plurality of base stations based on the strengths of the signals from said plurality of base stations relative to a predetermined threshold;', 'transmitting a page response message from said mobile station in an access state, said page response message indicating the base stations in said subset; and', 'receiving a paging message from each of the base stations of said subset, the paging message indicating a traffic channel

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said page response message indicates a mobile station identifier

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the base stations in said subset are identified by a plurality of pilot pseudo-noise (PN) offsets, respectively

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising the steps of:', 'demodulating a traffic channel frame from each of said subset of base stations; and', 'combining said demodulated traffic channel frame to provide an improved estimate of said traffic channel frame

19. The method as claimed in claim 15 further comprising:', 'receiving an acknowledgement message from said subset of said plurality of base stations.

20. The method as claimed in claim 15 wherein the step of receiving a paging message comprises:', 'receiving a paging message from said subset of said plurality of base stations the paging message indicating traffic channel of one of the base stations transmitting said message.

21. The method as claimed in claim 15 wherein the step of receiving a paging message comprises:', 'receiving a paging message from said subset of said plurality of base stations, the paging message indicating traffic channel of each base station of said subset of said plurality of base stations.

22. A code division multiple access (CDMA) mobile station apparatus, comprising:', 'a receiver configured to:', 'measure strengths of signals from a plurality of base stations; and', 'determining a subset of said plurality of base stations based on the strengths of the signals from said plurality of base stations relative to a predetermined threshold; and', 'a transmitter coupled to said receiver configured to transmit a page response message in an access state, said page response message indicating the base stations in said subset, wherein said receiver is configured to receive a paging message from each of the base stations of said subset, the paging message indicating a traffic channel.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said page response message indicates a mobile station identifier.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the base stations in said subset are identified by a plurality of pilot pseudo-noise (PN) offsets, respectively.

25. The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising:', 'a demodulator configured to demodulate a traffic channel frame from each of said subset of base stations; and', 'a combiner to combine said demodulated traffic channel frame to provide an improved estimate of said traffic channel frame.

26. The apparatus as claimed in claim 22 wherein the receiver is further configured to', 'receive an acknowledgement message from said subset of said plurality of base stations.

27. The apparatus as claimed in claim 22 wherein said receiver is further configured to:', 'receive a paging message from said subset of said plurality of base stations, the paging message indicating traffic channel of one of the base stations transmitting said message.

28. The apparatus as claimed in claim 22 wherein said receiver is further configured to:', 'receive a paging message from said subset of said plurality of base stations, the paging message indicating traffic channel of each base station of said subset of said plurality of base stations.']