Patent ID: 8244255

Claim:
One or more non-transient computer-readable media having computer-useable instructions embodied thereon for performing a method of triggering a handoff between a plurality of base transceiver stations (BTSs) of a wireless network, wherein the method comprises: receiving a first communication at a source BTS transmitted from a mobile device via a connection between the mobile device and the source BTS; recognizing a pilot strength measurement message (PSMM) carried by the first communication; reading characteristics of the mobile device from the PSMM, wherein the mobile-device characteristics include a distance and radial direction of the mobile device with respect to the source BTS; accessing a table of predefined criteria associated with candidate BTSs that have respective coverage areas overlapping a coverage area of the source BTS, wherein the predefined criteria include threshold distances that trigger handing off to the candidate BTSs, respectively, wherein the table stored in association with the source BTS; determining whether to invoke a handoff of the mobile device from the source BTS to a target BTS by comparing the mobile-device characteristics against the predefined criteria of the accessed table, wherein determining comprises: (a) selecting a target BTS from the candidate BTSs using the radial direction of the mobile device; and (b) comparing the distance of the mobile device against a threshold distance associated with the target BTS; when it is determined that a handoff is to be invoked, triggering the target BTS to initiate establishing a connection with the mobile device; and otherwise maintaining the connection between the mobile device at the source BTS.