US Patent 7693521 Method and system for mobile station handoff

A mobile station is associated with a first wireless coverage area that has a first pilot signal. A second wireless coverage area that has a second pilot signal is in the mobile station's neighbor list. The mobile station measures E1, the energy per chip of the first pilot signal, and I1, the total received power at the first pilot's frequency. The mobile station also measures E2, the energy per chip of the second pilot signal, and I2, the total received power at the second pilot's frequency. If E2 exceeds E1 by at least a first predetermined amount and E2/I2 exceeds E1/I1 by at least a second predetermined amount, then a handoff of the mobile station from the first wireless coverage area to the second wireless coverage area is effected.