Method and apparatus for providing diversity in hard handoff for CDMA systems

摘要

In a communications network, a network user communicates using a remote unit with another user via at least one base station. The communications network has a first base station having a first coverage area and a second base station having a second coverage area. In the situation where communication is not established between the second base station and the remote unit, in order to provide communication between the remote unit and the first base station when the remote unit is in the first coverage and simultaneously in the second coverage area, the first base station produces a first active communication signal at intended for the remote unit. The first base station transmits the first active communication signal from a first antenna. The base station delays the first active communication signal to produce a first delayed active communication signal and transmits it from a second antenna wherein the second antenna is oriented with respect to the first antenna such that the first active communication signal and the first delayed active communication signal fade independently as perceived by the remote unit. The first base station may measures a round trip delay of the first active communication signal in order to identify that the remote unit is located within the second coverage area.