Patent ID: 8792889

Claim:
An access terminal, comprising: at least one processor configured to acquire a first sector on a first frequency in a wireless communication network, to receive an overhead message from the first sector, to obtain neighbor list information from the overhead message that includes information related to a second sector on a second frequency, to perform handoff to the second sector on the second frequency, the first and second sectors being geographically co-located sectors that are each operated by a given access point that is configured to serve access terminals within a single cell of the wireless communication network via direct wireless communication between the given access point and the served access terminals, the overhead message being a periodically broadcasted overhead message that is configured to convey sector information to the served access terminals, to determine a neighbor sector based on the neighbor list information if the handoff to the second sector is unsuccessful, and to attempt acquisition of the neighbor sector if determined; and a memory coupled to the at least one processor.