Patent attributes
A method and a mobile station for controlling interfrequency handovers of the mobile station is provided. The target value for a quality factor of the received downlink signal is used in determining a need for an interfrequency handover. The target value of the handover control method may be equal to the target value of the downlink outer loop power control, or target value of handover control may depend on the target value of the downlink outer loop power control. As the target value of the downlink outer loop power control is updated, the target value of the handover control is typically updated, too. The same target values, or values that depend on the downlink outer loop power control target values, for example, via a known function, are used in controlling interfrequency handovers. A method according to the preferred embodiments of the invention detects this situation and preparations for an interfrequency handover are typically initiated.