A system for facilitating handoff adapted for use with a telecommunications network.
The system includes position equipment for determining the location of a mobile
transceiver within a region containing a first cell and a second cell. A comparison
circuit compares the location with a predetermined handoff area within the region
and provides a control signal in response thereto. A handoff initiation circuit
initiates handoff of the mobile transceiver between the first cell and the second
cell in response to the control signal. In a specific embodiment, the handoff is
a hard handoff. The position equipment includes Global Positioning System (GPS)
equipment including a mobile unit GPS receiver and signal interface. The comparison
circuit includes a positional database that stores latitudinal and longitudinal
information corresponding to the predetermined handoff area. The comparison circuit
also includes a Code Division Multiple Access selector. The selector begins tracking
the position of the mobile transceiver when it is within a predetermined range
of the predetermined handoff area. In a specific embodiment, the handoff initiation
circuit includes a base station controller. The position equipment includes a base
station positional detection system and a mobile unit positional detection system
for determining the location of the mobile transceiver. The position database has
map information depicting the coverage area of the first and second cells and the
predetermined handoff area. The selector runs software for comparing the location
to the map information and providing the control signal when the location is within
the predetermined handoff area. The base station includes and implements instructions
for completing hard handoff in response to the control signal.