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A method and apparatus of adjusting a search window size by a remote unit in a slotted mode wireless communication system. In a slotted mode communication system, the remote unit is in an “active state” during its assigned slot. While in the active state the controller in a remote unit

A method and apparatus of adjusting a search window size by a remote unit in a slotted mode wireless communication system. In a slotted mode communication system, the remote unit is in an “active state” during its assigned slot. While in the active state the controller in a remote unit passes selected sets of search parameters to a search engine. The search engine performs searches on base stations using the selected sets of search parameters. One search parameter, the search window size, is adjusted in response to a measured signal strength of a first base station signal. The adjusted search window size is used by the remote unit when searching other base stations.

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1. A method for determining a size of a search window, the method comprising:measuring a strength of a PN encoded signal transmitted by a preferred base station;selecting the size of the search window based on said strength of said PN encoded signal; andsearching for a PN encoded signal transmitted

1. A method for determining a size of a search window, the method comprising:measuring a strength of a PN encoded signal transmitted by a preferred base station;selecting the size of the search window based on said strength of said PN encoded signal; andsearching for a PN encoded signal transmitted by a neighboring base station by using the search window. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said search window size is selected to adjust the search window size earlier in time from a predicted arrival time of the neighboring base station. 3. The method of claim 1 wherein if said strength of said PN encoded signal transmitted by said preferred base station is below a threshold a first search window size is selected, and if said strength of said PN encoded signal transmitted by a preferred base station is equal to or exceeds said threshold, a second search window size is selected. 4. The method of claim 1 wherein there is a plurality of thresholds and said search window size is changed each time said strength of said PN encoded signal transmitted by said preferred base station crosses a threshold. 5. The method of claim 1 wherein the selected size of the search window is used to search a plurality of neighboring base stations. 6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:determining a delay between the transmission of a signal from the preferred base station and the reception of said signal by a remote unit. 7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:decreasing the size of said search window if said delay decreases; andincreasing the size of said search window if said delay increases. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the PN encoded signal is a pilot signal. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the size of the search window is based on a PN offset used for the search window. 10. A remote unitmeans for measuring a strength of a PN encoded signal transmitted by a preferred base station;means for selecting a size of a search window in response to said strength of said PN encoded signal; andmeans for searching for a PN encoded signal transmitted by a neighboring base station by using the search window. 11. The remote unit of claim 10 wherein if said strength of said PN encoded signal transmitted by said preferred base station is below a threshold a first search window size is selected, and if said strength of said PN encoded signal transmitted by a preferred base station is equal to or exceeds said threshold, a second search window size is selected. 12. The remote unit of claim 10 wherein there is a plurality of thresholds and said search window size is changed each time said strength of said PN encoded signal transmitted by said preferred base station crosses a threshold. 13. The remote unit of claim 10 wherein the selected size of the search window is used to search a plurality of neighboring base stations. 14. The remote unit of claim 10 wherein said set of PN offsets is selected to be twenty chips earlier in time from the reference time to sixty chips later in time than the reference time. 15. A remote unit for use in a wireless communication system comprising:a search engine configured to determine a signal strength of a signal received from a preferred base station and perform searches for a signal transmitted by a neighboring base station; anda controller in communication with said search engine configured topass selected search parameters to the search engine,receive search result,evaluate said determined signal strength of said received signal, anddetermine a size of a search window to be used to search for the signal transmitted by the neighboring base station. 16. The remote unit of claim 15 wherein said controller is further configured such that if said determined signal strength is below a threshold level a first size of said search window is selected, and if said determined signal strength is equal to or exceeds said threshold level a second size of said search window is selected. 17. The remote unit of claim 15 wherein said c ontroller is further configured such that there are a plurality of thresholds and a size of said search window is changed each time said determined signal strength crosses one of said threshold levels. 18. The remote unit of claim 15 wherein:a default size of the search window is communicated to said remote unit by the preferred base station; andsaid controller uses said default size of the search window for some searches for signals transmitted by a base station.