Method and system for performing a handoff in a wireless communication system, such as a hard handoff

A method for performing frequency search excursions in a wireless communications system having a selected user station and a base station, the method comprising:

• transmitting a communication from a base station that directs a selected user station to perform a frequency search excursion to a target frequency;
• receiving the communication at the selected user station;
• configuring the user station to overcome loss of forward link symbols during sampling of the target frequency by increasing a target Eb/No on the forward link power control of the user station;
• tuning the selected user station to the target frequency from forward and reverse communications on an original frequency;
• collecting signal sample data at the target frequency and storing the signal sample data in memory in the selected user station;
• tuning the selected user station to resume forward and reverse communications on the original frequency while processing the signal sample data to determine pilot strength measurements;
• and
• transmitting the pilot strength measurements from the selected user station to the base station.

A wireless communication user station for exchanging communications with a base station, the user station comprising:

• means for transmitting signals;
• means for receiving signals, including means for tuning to selected signal frequencies;
• means for configuring the user station to overcome loss of forward link symbols during sampling of the target frequency by increasing a target Eb/No on the forward link power control of the user station;
• and
• means for sampling a target frequency in response to a frequency sampling command from the base station, the sampling means comprising means for storing the target frequency samples when the receiver is tuned to the target frequency;
• and
• means for processing the target frequency samples, the processing means configured to process the target frequency samples after the receiving means has resumed communications on an original frequency.

A method for hard-frequency handoff in a wireless communications system having a user station exchanging communications with a base station, the method comprising:

• transmitting a communication from the base station that directs the user station to search a target frequency;
• receiving at the user station the communication from the base station to search the target frequency;
• adjusting the amount of power allocated to frame symbols not impacted by the search of the target frequency, and increasing the amount of power allocated to the other frame symbols impacted by the search of the target frequency by increasing a target Eb/No on the forward link power control of the user station;
• searching the target frequency for signal samples and storing the signal samples in memory in the station;
• resuming communications on an original frequency while processing the signal samples and readjusting power allocation for all symbols to a normal level;
• and
• reporting process results of the signal samples to the base station.

A wireless communication user station for exchanging communications with a base station, the user station comprising:

• a transmitter;
• a receiver;
• and
• a processor configured to sample a target frequency in response to a frequency sampling command from the base station, the processor further configured to overcome loss of forward link symbols during sampling of the target frequency by increasing a target Eb/No on the forward link power control of the user station, store the target frequency samples in a memory when the receiver is tuned to the target frequency, and to process the target frequency samples and transmit the target frequency sample processing results to the base station when the receiver has resumed communications on a first frequency.

A method for minimizing frequency search time in a wireless communications system, comprising:

• receiving a frequency change command at a mobile station to switch from receiving a signal on an original frequency to receiving a signal on a target frequency;
• tuning the user station to the target frequency and collecting and storing signal samples;
• configuring the user station to overcome loss of forward link symbols during sampling of the target frequency by increasing target Eb/No on the forward link power control of the user station;
• tuning the user station to the original frequency and processing the stored samples;
• and
• reporting to a base station results of the processing.

A wireless communication system, comprising:

• means for transmitting a communication from a base station that directs a selected user station to perform a frequency search excursion to a target frequency;
• means for receiving the communication at the selected user station and tuning the selected user station to the target frequency from forward and reverse communications at a first frequency;
• means for configuring the user station to overcome loss of forward link symbols during sampling of the target frequency by increasing a target Eb/No on the forward link power control of the user station;
• means for collecting signal samples at the target frequency and storing the signal samples in memory in the selected user station;
• means for tuning the selected user station to the first frequency and resuming forward and reverse communications while processing the stored signal samples to calculate pilot strengths;
• and
• transmitting the calculated pilot strength from the selected user station to the base station.