Patent ID: 8848688

Claim:
A method comprising: storing, within a data storage device, correlation data that comprises (i) a plurality of slot cycle indices including at least a first slot cycle index and a second slot cycle index that differs from the first slot cycle index, and (ii) a plurality of handoff thresholds including at least a first handoff threshold and a second handoff threshold that differs from the first handoff threshold, wherein the correlation data associates each slot cycle index of the plurality of slot cycle indices with a handoff threshold of the plurality of handoff thresholds, and wherein the first slot cycle index is associated with the first handoff threshold that differs from the second handoff threshold and the second slot cycle index is associated with the second handoff threshold that differs from the first handoff threshold; an access terminal operating at a particular slot cycle index of the plurality of slot cycle indices, wherein the access terminal uses the particular slot cycle index to determine how often to monitor overhead messages from a base station serving the access terminal; querying the correlation data to determine, from among the plurality of handoff thresholds, a handoff threshold associated with the particular slot cycle index; the access terminal making a first determination of whether a signal strength of a target pilot signal received at the access terminal exceeds a signal strength of a current pilot signal received at the access terminal by the determined handoff threshold associated with the particular slot cycle index the access terminal uses to determine how often to monitor overhead messages from the base station serving the access terminal; if the access terminal determines that the signal strength of the target pilot signal exceeds the signal strength of the current pilot signal by the determined handoff threshold, the access terminal thereafter handing off to the target pilot signal, and if the access terminal determines that the signal strength of the target pilot signal does not exceed the signal strength of the current pilot signal by the determined handoff threshold, then the access terminal thereafter idling on the current pilot signal.