METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SOFT HANDOFF IN A CDMA COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

摘要

A method and apparatus for high data rate communication in a cellular/PCS communication system is provided. Specifically, the main embodiment provides for early assignment of code channel for signaling channels (F-DCCH) in soft handoff. Thus, rather than simultaneously assigning a code channel for signaling data and another for traffic data for a particular Mobile Station (MS)(116, 118) in soft handoff, the code channel is assigned earlier for signaling data. Some of the unnecessary Base Station (BS)(112, 114) procedures with respect to the signaling data may be eliminated. An additional embodiment includes the concept of early signaling from the MS (116, 118). The MS requests a code channel for signaling data, optionally followed by a request of a code channel for traffic data. This permits the MS (116, 118) to have the F-DCCH in soft handoff before having the F-DTCH (Forward Dedicated Traffic Channel) in soft handoff without requiring the BS (112, 114) to skip any of its procedures.