Patent ID: 7376103

Claim:
A method for processing a handoff in a mobile communication terminal, comprising the steps of: a) transmitting a pilot strength measurement message to a base station to which the mobile communication terminal belongs; b) receiving a handoff direction message from the base station; c) determining whether the handoff direction message is a hard handoff direction message or a soft handoff direction message; c-1) immediately transmitting an acknowledgement message to the base station only if the handoff direction message is a hard handoff direction message; d) if the handoff direction message is a hard handoff direction message, performing a hard handoff, and transmitting a hard handoff completion message to the base station if the hard handoff is completed; and e) if the handoff direction message is a soft handoff direction message, performing a soft handoff and transmitting a soft handoff completion message to the base station if the soft handoff is completed.