Patent ID: 6865173

Claim:
A method for inter-frequency search by a mobile station in a wireless communication system, the method comprising: in the mobile station receiving a forward link signal carrying forward communication data from a first base station on a first frequency; at the mobile station, setting at least one timing parameter that sets a start time and a duration of an inter-frequency search that will be performed by the mobile station; transmitting the at least one timing parameter of the inter-frequency search to the first base station using a reverse link signal carrying reverse communication data from the mobile station; tuning the mobile station to a candidate frequency other than the first frequency during the inter-frequency search having the start the and the duration set by the at least one timing parameter, the inter-frequency search causing the mobile station to lose data both in the forward link signal from the first base station ard in the reverse link signal to the first base station; using the at least one turning parameter to determine from which portions of forward and reverse communication data is data lost due to the inter-frequency search; in the, first base station replacing the determined portion of reverse communication data with predefined data, so that data that is lost from the reverse link signal is replaced with the predefined data; and in the mobile station, replacing the determined portion of forward communication data with predefined data, so that data that is lost from the forward link signal is replaced with the predefined data.