Patent ID: 7302271

Claim:
A method for determining when a wireless communication device should exit a current coverage area of a plurality of coverage areas of a wireless communication network system, the method comprising the steps of: determining at least one threshold boundary line between the current coverage area of the wireless communication device and a second coverage area of the plurality of coverage areas; partitioning the current coverage area into at least one current zone that is adjacent to the at least one threshold boundary line; assigning a current zone value to the at least one current zone; partitioning the second coverage area into at least one second zone that is adjacent to the at least one threshold boundary line; assigning a second zone value to the at least one second zone; periodically determining a physical position of the wireless communication device; maintaining a running sum based upon the periodic determination of the physical position comprising the steps of: incrementing the running sum by the current zone value when the wireless communication device is in the at least one current zone; and decrementing the running sum by the second zone value when the wireless communication device is in the at least one second zone; and exiting the current coverage area when the running sum is at least equal to a pre-determined terminal value.