Method and apparatus for wireless communication in a high velocity environment

A mobile station comprising:

• at least one memory device that maintains a plurality of neighbor sets, wherein a first neighbor set of the plurality of neighbor sets comprises a Neighbor Set and a second neighbor set of the plurality of neighbor sets comprises a High Velocity Neighbor Set and wherein the High Velocity Neighbor Set comprises one or more pilot signals not included in the Neighbor Set;
• a processor coupled to the at least one memory device that determines whether the mobile station is operating in a high velocity environment and, in response to determining that the mobile station is operating in a high velocity environment, utilizes the High Velocity Neighbor Set for promotion of pilot signals.

A radio access network controller comprising:

• at least one memory device that maintains a plurality of neighbor sets in association with a mobile station;
• and
• a processor coupled to the at least one memory device that determines whether the mobile station is operating in a high velocity environment, when the mobile station is operating in a high velocity environment adjusts a first neighbor set of the plurality of neighbor sets and conveys an instruction to promote a pilot based on the adjustment of the first neighbor set of the plurality of neighbor sets, when the mobile station is not operating in a high velocity environment adjusts a second neighbor set of the plurality of neighbor sets and conveys an instruction to promote a pilot based on the adjustment of the second neighbor set of the plurality of neighbor sets, and wherein the first neighbor set includes one or more pilots not included in the second neighbor set.

A mobile station comprising:

• at least one memory device that maintains a plurality of neighbors sets comprising a Neighbor Set and a High Velocity Neighbor Set, wherein the High Velocity Neighbor Set comprises one or more pilot signals not included in the Neighbor Set;
• and
• a processor coupled to the at least one memory device that determines whether the mobile station is operating in a high velocity environment, in response to determining that the mobile station is operating in a high velocity environment, searches pilot signals associated with the High Velocity Neighbor Set for a pilot signal stronger than a threshold value, and in response to determining a pilot signal stronger than the threshold value, modifies an Active Set.

A radio access network controller comprising:

• at least one memory device that maintains a plurality of neighbors sets in association with a mobile device, wherein the plurality of neighbors sets comprises a Neighbor Set and a High Velocity Neighbor Set and wherein the High Velocity Neighbor Set comprises one or more pilot signals not included in the Neighbor Set;
• and
• a processor coupled to the at least one memory device that receives information from the mobile station concerning a pilot signal stronger than a threshold value, determines that the mobile station is operating in a high velocity environment and, in response to receiving the information and determining that the mobile station is operating in a high velocity environment, adjusts a High Velocity Neighbor Set and conveys information to the mobile station corresponding to the adjustment.

A radio access network controller comprising:

• at least one memory device that maintains a plurality of neighbors sets in association with a mobile device, wherein the plurality of neighbors sets comprises a Neighbor Set and a High Velocity Neighbor Set and wherein the High Velocity Neighbor Set comprises one or more pilot signals not included in the Neighbor Set;
• and
• a processor coupled to the at least one memory device that determines that the mobile station is operating in a high velocity environment and, in response to determining that the mobile station is operating in a high velocity environment, conveys a High Velocity Neighbor List to the mobile station.