Patent ID: 6381232
Filing Date: 2002-04-30
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
A method for improving performance of soft handoff in a telecommunications system having a plurality of base stations and a mobile unit in handoff communication (uplink only or in both uplink and downlink) with at least two of the base stations over at least first and second respective communications links, the first and second communications links each comprising at least one base station transceiver subsystem (BTS) for receiving and processing data from the mobile unit and transmitting information to at least one radio connection controller (RCC) which receives transmissions from the at least two of the base stations, the handoff method comprising:the BTS receiving an information frame, decoding said received information frame and determining if said decoded information frame is valid; and said BTS generating and transmitting a transmission frame including a quality metric, an additional amount of information and an indication of said additional information for receipt by said RCC.