초록 ▼

An apparatus and method which, in a wireless communication system, improve the quality of inter-frequency hand-offs from an existing call connection frequency to a new frequency by minimizing oscillating inter-frequency hand-offs between the existing call connection frequency and the new frequency,

An apparatus and method which, in a wireless communication system, improve the quality of inter-frequency hand-offs from an existing call connection frequency to a new frequency by minimizing oscillating inter-frequency hand-offs between the existing call connection frequency and the new frequency, and by minimizing redundant and unnecessary tuning and searching at the new frequency. The present invention accomplishes this improvement by adding specific threshold comparison values (or triggers) within existing messages and through more robust data reporting, from the mobile unit to the base station, when tuning and searching is performed. Particularly, two comparative triggers provided by the present invention avoid unnecessary tuning and searching in the new frequency, thus reducing voice degradation and the risk of dropped calls while pilot searching in the current frequency. Additionally, an alternative embodiment of the present invention compares received power in the new frequency to the received power in the original frequency. If the received power in the new frequency does not exceed the received power in the original frequency by a specified hysteresis threshold value, then a search of the new frequency is unnecessary and the mobile unit "retunes" to the original frequency.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] In a wireless communication system having a base station in communication with a mobile unit at a first frequency, a method for inter-frequency hand-off of a connected call to a new frequency, said method comprising the steps of:comparing, at said mobile unit, a received

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] In a wireless communication system having a base station in communication with a mobile unit at a first frequency, a method for inter-frequency hand-off of a connected call to a new frequency, said method comprising the steps of:comparing, at said mobile unit, a received power at said first frequency to a received power threshold value;tuning said mobile unit to said new frequency to explore said new frequency for a potential hand-off opportunity when said received power at said first frequency is less than said received power threshold value wherein said connected call is continued at said first frequency if said received power at said first frequency is greater than said received power threshold value;comparing a summation of active pilot channels' fractional total power to a pilot power threshold value of said continued connected call, wherein said mobile unit continues said connected call at said first frequency when said summation of active pilot channels' fractional total power is greater than said pilot power threshold value; andtuning to said new frequency to explore said new frequency for a potential hand-off opportunity when said received power at said first frequency is less than said received power threshold value or said summation of active pilot channels' fractional total power is less than said pilot power threshold value.