Patent ID: 8688127

Claim:
A method for effecting an inter-frequency handoff of a mobile station engaged in a call via a wireless network, said method comprising: using a first forward-link frequency channel for said call, wherein using said first forward-link frequency channel for said call comprises said wireless network transmitting a forward link signal in said first forward-link frequency channel to said mobile station; selecting a tuning rate, wherein selecting said tuning rate comprises said wireless network selecting said tuning rate; transmitting a message, wherein transmitting said message comprises said wireless network transmitting said message to said mobile station, wherein said message specifies said tuning rate; transitioning from said first forward-link frequency channel to a second forward-link frequency channel during said call, wherein transitioning from said first forward-link frequency channel to said second forward-link frequency channel comprises said wireless network transmitting said forward link signal to said mobile station while gradually changing a carrier frequency of said forward link signal from a first-channel frequency to a second-channel frequency via a plurality of intermediate frequencies, wherein said first-channel frequency corresponds to said first forward-link frequency channel and said second-channel frequency corresponds to said second forward-link frequency channel, wherein gradually changing said carrier frequency of said forward link signal from said first-channel frequency to said second-channel frequency comprises said wireless network changing said carrier frequency at said tuning rate; and using said second forward-link frequency channel for said call, wherein using said second forward-link frequency channel for said call comprises said wireless network transmitting said forward link signal in said second forward-link frequency channel to said mobile station.