Patent ID: 7313398

Claim:
A handoff method for a mobile station communicating with a base transceiver station at a first carrier frequency, the handoff method comprising: receiving into the mobile station a first message from the base transceiver station to activate a carrier frequency searcher in the mobile station, wherein the first message is sent to the mobile station in response to the mobile station being in a potential soft-hard handoff situation; receiving into the mobile station a second message from the base transceiver station, the second message providing the mobile station with a carrier frequency list; responsive to receipt of the first message, the mobile station (i) selecting a second carrier frequency from the carrier frequency list, (ii) scanning the second carrier frequency for a pilot signal, (iii) comparing a strength of the pilot signal to a threshold value, and (iv) performing a handoff by tuning the mobile station to the second carrier frequency if the strength of the pilot signal is greater than the threshold value, wherein the mobile station communicates with the base transceiver station at the first carrier frequency while performing the steps of selecting the second carrier frequency, scanning the second carrier frequency, comparing the strength of the pilot signal to the threshold value, and performing the handoff.