Importance

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Abstract

An apparatus and method which, in a wireless communication system, improve the quality of inter-frequency hand-offs from an existing call connection frequency to a new frequency by minimizing oscillating inter-frequency hand-offs between the existing call connection frequency and the new frequency, and by minimizing redundant and unnecessary tuning and searching at the new frequency. The present invention accomplishes this improvement by adding specific threshold comparison values (or triggers) within existing messages and through more robust data reporting, from the mobile unit to the base station, when tuning and searching is performed. Particularly, two comparative triggers provided by the present invention avoid unnecessary tuning and searching in the new frequency, thus reducing voice degradation and the risk of dropped calls while pilot searching in the current frequency. Additionally, an alternative embodiment of the present invention compares received power in the new frequency to the received power in the original frequency. If the received power in the new frequency does not exceed the received power in the original frequency by a specified hysteresis threshold value, then a search of the new frequency is unnecessary and the mobile unit 'retunes' to the original frequency.

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First Claim