Method and apparatus for mobile assisted handoff in a communication system

A method of mobile assisted handoff, MAHO, in a timeslotted communication system, the method comprising the steps of:

• choosing, at a base-station, a frequency based on a timeslot in which an information signal is to be transmitted;
• transmitting, from said base-station, a voice information signal when present and a substitute MAHO information signal, in the absence of the voice information signal, to a mobile station on said frequency chosen during said timeslot;
• receiving at the mobile station, said voice information signal, when present, and said substitute MAHO information signal, in the absence of said voice information signal;
• and
• measuring during a MAHO time period, at the mobile station, a quality factor related to said transmission of said voice information signal when present and said substitute MAHO information signal, in the absence of the voice information signal, on said frequency chosen during said timeslot for MAHO purposes.

A cellular communication system which implements mobile assisted handoff, MAHO, the cellular communication system comprising:

• means, at a base-station, for transmitting a traffic data signal, when present, and a substitute MAHO data signal in the absence of the traffic data signal;
• means, at a mobile station, for receiving said traffic data signal, when present, and said substitute MAHO data signal, in the absence of the traffic data signal;
• and
• means, at the mobile station, for measuring, during a MAHO time period, a quality factor utilized for purposes of MAHO and related to said traffic data signal, when present, and said substitute MAHO data signal, in the absence of the traffic data signal.

A timeslotted communication system which implements mobile assisted handoff, MAHO, the timeslotted communication system comprising:

• means, at a base-station, for choosing a frequency based on a timeslot in which an information signal is to be transmitted;
• means, at said base-station, for transmitting a voice information signal when present and a substitute MAHO information signal, in the absence of the voice information signal, to a mobile station on said frequency chosen during said timeslot;
• receiving, at said mobile station, said voice information signal, when present, and said substitute MAHO information signal, in the absence of said voice information signal;
• and
• means, at said mobile station, for measuring, during a MAHO time period, a quality factor related to said voice information signal when present and said substitute MAHO information signal, in the absence of the voice information signal, on said frequency chosen during said timeslot for MAHO purposes.