Patent ID: 7242957

Claim:
In a mobile communication system, a method of selective need-based control message augmentation, comprising: a network unit of the mobile communication system generating a control message for communication to a mobile unit; if a handoff state transition is in a one-way handoff state: at least one of fast repeating the control message and increasing power gain for the control message to change from the one-way handoff state to a soft handoff state; if the handoff state transition is in the soft handoff state: out of an active set, setting a strongest leg as a power reference; increasing power gain of the control message for the strongest leg more than other legs in the active set; establishing a signal threshold value; prohibiting power gain increase of the control message in a leg in the active set if signal strength of the leg in the active set falls below the signal threshold value; and increasing power gain of the control message in the leg if signal strength of the leg in the active set is between the power reference and the signal threshold value, wherein power gain increase of the leg is less than the strongest leg.