Method and apparatus for preventing toggle switching between two zones of a wireless communication network

摘要

A method and device for preventing toggling between two zones of a wireless communications network employ first and second adjacent cells respectively offering services of first and second different zones. The mobile unit determines if the second zone is more preferable than the first zone when the mobile unit hands off from the first cell to the second cell. If the second zone is less preferable than the first zone, the mobile unit does not switch to the second zone within the second cell. If the second zone is more preferable, the first zone is maintained within the second cell until the signal strength of the second cell exceeds the signal strength of the first cell by an amount determined by an exit parameter. At this point, the mobile unit switches to the services of the second zone. Alternatively, after the mobile unit enters the second cell from the first cell, the mobile unit may be prevented from using services of the second zone if there is a hysteresis parameter associated with the second zone in the second cell and the mobile unit was not using services of the second zone in the first cell, before entering the second cell. Even if there is a hysteresis parameter associated with the second zone in the second cell, the mobile unit may be permitted to power up in the second cell on the second zone.