Base station base methods and apparatus for supporting break before making handoffs in a multi-carrier system

A network attachment point for use in a multi-carrier communication system, comprising:

• means for receiving a request from a wireless terminal to initiate handoff communications between the wireless terminal and an adjacent network attachment point;
• and
• means for receiving, at the network attachment point, dedicated system handoff information transmitted from the adjacent network attachment point and passing the dedicated system handoff information from the network attachment point to the wireless terminal over an active communication session between the wireless terminal and the network attachment point without the wireless terminal establishing a communication session with the adjacent network attachment point, wherein the dedicated system handoff information identifies resources that are dedicated to the wireless terminal for use in handoff operations;
• wherein the network attachment point uses a first frequency band to communicate with the wireless terminal, and wherein the adjacent network attachment point uses a second frequency band to communicate with the wireless terminal.

A method of operating a network attachment point for use in a multi-carrier communication system, comprising:

• generating a broadcast signal message having a predetermined frequency into a first frequency band on a periodic basis;
• and
• transmitting, responsive to a request from a wireless terminal received from a corresponding serving network attachment point, dedicated system handoff information from the network attachment point to the wireless terminal over an active communication session between the wireless terminal and the serving network attachment point without the wireless terminal establishing a communication session with the network attachment point, wherein the dedicated system handoff information identifies resources that are dedicated to the wireless terminal for use in handoff operations;
• wherein the active communication session is in the first frequency band, and wherein the first frequency band is different from a second frequency band associated with the network attachment point for transmitting user data.

A method of operating a network attachment point for use in a multi-carrier communication system, comprising:

• receiving a request from a wireless terminal to initiate handoff communications between the wireless terminal and an adjacent network attachment point;
• and
• receiving, at the network attachment point, dedicated system handoff information transmitted from the adjacent network attachment point and passing the dedicated system handoff information from the network attachment point to the wireless terminal over an active communication session between the wireless terminal and the network attachment point without the wireless terminal establishing a communication session with the adjacent network attachment point, wherein the dedicated system handoff information identifies resources that are dedicated to the wireless terminal for use in handoff operations;
• wherein the network attachment point uses a first frequency band to communicate with the wireless terminal, and wherein the adjacent network attachment point uses a second frequency band to communicate with the wireless terminal.

A non-transitory machine-readable medium for use in a network attachment point to be employed in a multi-carrier communication system, the non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising instructions executable to:

• generate a beacon signal having a predetermined frequency into a first frequency band on a periodic basis;
• and
• transmit, responsive to a request from a wireless terminal received from a serving network attachment point, dedicated system handoff information from the network attachment point to the wireless terminal over an active communication session between the wireless terminal the serving network attachment point without the wireless terminal establishing a communication session with the network attachment point, wherein the dedicated system handoff information identifies resources that are dedicated to the wireless terminal for use in handoff operations;
• wherein the active communication session is in the first frequency band, and wherein the first frequency band is different from a second frequency band associated with the network attachment point for transmitting user data.

A non-transitory machine-readable medium for use in a network attachment point to be employed in a multi-carrier communication system, the non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising instructions executable to:

• receive a request from a wireless terminal to initiate handoff communications between the wireless terminal and an adjacent network attachment point;
• and
• receive, at the network attachment point, dedicated system handoff information transmitted from the adjacent network attachment point and pass the dedicated system handoff information from the network attachment point to the wireless terminal over an active communication session between the wireless terminal and the network attachment point without the wireless terminal establishing a communication session with the adjacent network attachment point, wherein the dedicated system handoff information identifies resources that are dedicated to the wireless terminal for use in handoff operations;
• wherein the network attachment point uses a first frequency band to communicate with the wireless terminal, and wherein the adjacent network attachment point uses a second frequency band to communicate with the wireless terminal.