Patent ID: 8400977

Claim:
A method of searching for a different network cell by a mobile station in a global system for mobile communication (GSM)/general packet ratio service (GPRS) system, the method comprising: receiving, from a serving cell via a broadcast channel, an indication message including a position of an extended search frame, an operating time for an extended search timer, and a threshold value for signal strength; measuring a signal strength of the different network cell; transmitting, to the serving cell via a transmitter of the mobile station, an extended search response message when the signal strength of the different network cell is greater than the threshold value; starting the extended search timer; searching, using an idle frame and the extended search frame, for the different network cell during the operating time of the extended search timer; and transmitting, to the serving cell via the transmitter, an extended search timer end message when synchronization with the different network cell is not established during the operating time of the extended search timer.