Combined base transceiver station and base station controller handoff

1. A method for a soft handoff utilizing a Radio Access Network (RAN), comprising:

receiving a Pilot Strength Measurement Message (PSMM) to request a handoff by a selector distribution unit (SDU);

relaying via a Packet Control Function (PCF) call processing functionality between the SDU and a main call control (MCC) to provide internal signaling and packet delivery;

receiving a soft handoff request message by the main call control (MCC);

receiving the soft handoff request message by a radio call control (RCC) from the MCC, wherein the MCC interfaces with the RCC to request a radio resource and the SDU to allocate a selector resource, wherein the SDU determines the soft handoff and initiates a message to the MCC;

receiving the traffic channel assignment message by a channel element control (CEC); and

receiving an indication of soft handoff by the CEC from the SDU, wherein the SDU and the CEC are co-located in a first module, and the RCC and the MCC are co-located in a second module, wherein the first module and the second module are integrated into a single compact platform that is modular and stackable for providing wireless coverage.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising updating a handoff state by the RCC.

3. The method of claim 2 comprising receiving a handoff completion message by the CEC.

4. The method of claim 3 comprising receiving a PSMM by the SDU.

5. The method of claim 4 comprising sending a message by the SDU to drop a serving cell.

6. The method of claim 5 comprising receiving a handoff completion message by the CEC.

7. The method of claim 6 comprising receiving a soft handoff request message by the CEC.

8. The method of claim 7 comprising receiving a handoff completion message by the SDU.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the handoff completion message is received by the CEC from a mobile station after the mobile station receives an Extended/General/Universal Handoff Direction message from the SDU.

10. A method for a soft handoff utilizing a Radio Access Network (RAN), comprising:

receiving a request for a handoff by a Main Control Processor (MCP);

receiving a soft handoff request message by a Selector distribution unit (SDU) Channel element control (CEC) Processor (SCP), wherein the SCP includes an SDU and a CEC and the MCP includes a radio call control (RCC) and a main call control (MCC), wherein the SCP and the MCP are integrated into a single compact platform that is modular and stackable for providing wireless coverage, wherein the MCC interfaces with the RCC to request a radio resource and the SDU to allocate a selector resource, wherein the SDU determines the soft handoff and initiates a message to the MCC;

relaying via a Packet Control Function (PCF) call processing functionality between the SDU and the MCC to provide internal signaling and packet delivery;

receiving a traffic channel assignment message by the SCP; and

receiving an indication of an addition of a new sector for the soft handoff by the MCP.

11. A system for a soft handoff utilizing a Radio Access Network (RAN), comprising:

a main call control (MCC) adapted to receive a soft handoff request message;

a channel element control (CEC) adapted to receive a traffic channel assignment message;

a Packet Control Function (PCF) adapted to relay call processing functionality between the SDU and a main call control (MCC) to provide internal signaling and packet delivery;

the CEC adapted to receive an indication of an addition of a new sector for the softer handoff;

wherein the CEC and the selector distribution unit (SDU) are co-located in a first module, and the MCC and a radio call control (RCC) are co-located in a second module, wherein the first module and the second module are integrated into a single compact platform that is modular and stackable, wherein the MCC interfaces with the RCC to request a radio resource and the SDU to allocate a selector resource, wherein the SDU determines the soft handoff and initiates a message to the MCC.