Method for encoding a user identifier in a communication system

A method for generating coded user ID information to be transmitted with signaling information to users of a communication system over shared signaling channels, the method comprising the steps of:

• applying an (N, K, DMIN) coding scheme to the user ID information having K bits so that the resulting coded user ID block of information has N bits and has a codespace that has a minimum coding distance of DMIN where DMIN is as large as possible for particular values of K and N and where K and N are integers equal to 1 or greater, and K<N.
• combining the coded user ID block of information with error detection code information, generated from the signaling information having I bits, to generate coded blocks of information having a pairwise coding distance Dxy between arbitrary code blocks x and y, where Dxy, DMIN and I are integers equal to 1 or greater and x, y represent arbitrary codewords;
• modifying the (N, K, DMIN) coding scheme to reduce occurrences of Dxy<DMIN for the coded blocks;
• and
• transmitting over the shared signaling channels codewords comprising signaling information appended to coded blocks, to users of the communication system thus reducing occurrences of false alarms by users receiving the codewords.