Method and apparatus for idle handoff in a cellular system

Abstract

Method and apparatus for an idle state handoff in a cellular system includes the steps of transmitting by a current base station to a mobile telephone information regarding a frequency assignment of the neighboring base stations and a list of the neighboring base stations. A pilot signal is detected from the neighboring base stations by the mobile telephone, and it is then determined whether the detected neighboring base station is included in the list of the neighboring base stations. If the detected neighboring base station is not included in the list, it recognized as a handoff failure. If the detected neighboring base station is included in the list of the neighboring base stations, a determination as to whether the detected pilot signal is a dummy pilot signal by referring to the frequency assignment information. A frequency corresponding to the neighboring base station must be determined if the pilot signal is a dummy signal in order to perform the idle state handoff. Detection of the paging channel from the decided handoff frequency is performed. An apparatus of the present invention includes a mobile telephone for detecting pilot signals of the neighboring base stations and for deciding the frequency for handoff by referencing a list of the neighboring base stations and the frequency assignment information supplied by the current base station. The mobile telephone is switched in an idle state from the current base station to a neighboring base station having a decided handoff frequency.

Description

CLAIM OF PRIORITY[0001] This application makes reference to, incorporates the same herein, and claims all benefits accruing under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 119 arising from an application entitled, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IDLE HANDOFF IN A CELLULAR YSTEM, earlier filed in the Korean Industrial Property Office on Sep. 9, 1998, and there duly assigned Ser. No. 1998-36976.[0002] The current invention relates to a method for executing an idle handoff in a cellular system and an apparatus thereof. More particularly, a method for executing a hard handoff when a mobile telephone in an idle state moves between base stations having other frequency assignments (FA) in a conventional code division multiple access (CDMA) system and an apparatus thereof.DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART[0003] In a cellular system, there are a plurality of cells within a service area, a plurality of base stations for controlling the cells, and a mobile switching center for controlling the base stations. When a mobile teleph...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

As described above, the prior art idle handoff method has some complexities owing to executing two step handoff process including (1) an inter-cell handoff and (2) an inter-frequency handoff within the new cell.

Moreover, if a call from a base station or initiated by the mobile telephone user occurs before the inter-cell handoff and inter-frequency handoff are finished, it is impossible to set up the call properly.

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