METHODS FOR HANDOFF OF AN ACTIVE COMMUNICATION CONNECTION FROM A MACROCELL TO A FEMTOCELL

摘要

A method for performing a handoff of an active communication connection for a mobiie user station from a macrocel! to one or raore femtocelis. In one aspect, the present invention provides an improved handoff for situations in which the mobiie user station is moved into an indoor residential or enterprise environment within which the signal strength of the mobile user station with respect to the raacroceli base transceiver station becomes relatively low. In one embodiment, the method efficiently performs a handoff of an active communication connection from a raacroceli to one or more femtocelis while minimizing the likelihood of dropping the active communication connection daring the handoff.