Importance

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Abstract

In a cellular spread-spectrum communications network, a system and method for handing off a remote unit from a first base station to a second base station without loss of data. The remote unit receives a first spread-spectrum signal having a first signal quality from the first base station and transmits data to the first base station at a first data rate and a first power level. Responsive to monitoring the first signal quality and comparing the first signal quality to a plurality of signal qualities of a respective plurality of received-spread-spectrum signals, the remote unit initiates handoff when any of a number of predetermined criteria are met. Upon initiating handoff to the second base station, the remote unit stores the data that would otherwise have been transmitted. Once handoff is complete, the remote unit transmits the stored data to the second base station at a second data rate and a second power level, with the second data rate greater than the first data rate and the second power level greater than the first power level. Once the stored data has been transmitted, the remote unit transmits data to the second base station at a data rate and power level comparable to the first data rate and the first power level.

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First Claim