Patent ID: 8724597

Claim:
A communication device associated with a network having at least two base stations transmitting pilot signals, the communication device comprising: a receiver configured to receive the pilot signals; a searcher configured to select at least a pilot signal from among the received pilot signals; a pilot tracking unit configured to continuously track the at least selected pilot signal until the continuous tracking of the at least selected pilot signal is ceased based at least on a predetermined pilot signal-to-noise ratio, wherein the at least selected pilot signal includes one or more pilot signals that are not assigned to rake fingers, the rake fingers associated with the receiver coupled with the communication device, the pilot tracking unit being a separate component from the searcher, the pilot tracking unit further configured to reduce computational load from the searcher and enable the searcher to primarily identify new signal paths; a site selection diversity transmission unit configured to receive information gathered by the pilot tracking unit and to change an identity of a base station that presently is servicing the communication device based on the information; and a controller of the communication device configured to assemble base station related information and deliver the assembled base station related information to the network.