Method of selective need-based control message augmentation

1. In a mobile communication system, a method of selective need-based control message augmentation, comprising:

a network unit of the mobile communication system generating a control message for communication to a mobile unit;

if a handoff state transition is in a one-way handoff state:

at least one of fast repeating the control message and increasing power gain for the control message to change from the one-way handoff state to a soft handoff state;

if the handoff state transition is in the soft handoff state:

out of an active set, setting a strongest leg as a power reference;

increasing power gain of the control message for the strongest leg more than other legs in the active set;

establishing a signal threshold value;

prohibiting power gain increase of the control message in a leg in the active set if signal strength of the leg in the active set falls below the signal threshold value; and

increasing power gain of the control message in the leg if signal strength of the leg in the active set is between the power reference and the signal threshold value, wherein power gain increase of the leg is less than the strongest leg.

2. The mobile communication system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of fast repeating the control message and increasing the power gain for the control message to change from the one-way handoff state to the soft handoff state occurring for a new call.

3. The mobile communication system of claim 1 , further comprising:

out of the active set, measuring a composite pilot strength from a plurality of pilot signals; and

if the composite pilot strength is below a composite pilot threshold, at least one of fast repeating the control message and increasing power gain for the control message.

4. The mobile communication system of claim 1 , further comprising:

out of the active set, measuring pilot strength of each pilot signal;

detecting a new pilot signal not currently in the active set, wherein the new pilot signal is stronger than each of the pilot signals in the active set; and

at least one of fast repeating the control message and increasing power gain of the control message to add the new pilot signal to the active set.

5. The mobile communication system of claim 1 , further comprising increasing power gain by a substantially same amount for a plurality of legs in the active set having a signal strength between the power reference and the signal threshold value.

6. The mobile communication system of claim 1 , further comprising for each of the plurality of legs in the active set having a signal strength between the power reference and the signal threshold value, increasing power gain substantially in proportion to the leg's signal strength in excess of the signal threshold value.

7. The mobile communication system of claim 1 , further comprising for each of the plurality of legs in the active set having a signal strength between the power reference and the signal threshold value, increasing power gain substantially in proportion to the leg's signal strength below the power reference.

8. The mobile communication system of claim 1 , further comprising:

providing a plurality of power gain ranges between the power reference and the signal threshold value;

placing each of a plurality of legs in the active set in one of the plurality of power gain ranges based on at least one of signal strength above the signal threshold value and signal strength below the power reference; and

increasing power gain by a substantially same amount for the one or more of the plurality of legs in each of the power gain ranges.

9. A method of selective need-based control message augmentation, comprising:

a network unit of a mobile communication system generating a control message for communication to a mobile unit;

determining a handoff state transition of the mobile unit;

determining a set of signal conditions for one or more legs of an active set associated with the mobile unit; and

the network unit at least one of selectively fast repeating the control message and selectively increasing power gain for the control message based on the handoff state transition and the set of signal conditions;

if the handoff state transition is in a one-way handoff state at least one of fast repeating the control message and increasing power gain for the control message to change from the one-way handoff state to a soft handoff state.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein at least one of fast repeating the control message and increasing the power gain for the control message to change from the one-way handoff state to the soft handoff state occurring for a new call.

11. A method of selective need-based control message augmentation, comprising:

a network unit of a mobile communication system generating a control message for communication to a mobile unit;

determining a handoff state transition of the mobile unit;

determining a set of signal conditions for one or more legs of an active set associated with the mobile unit; and

the network unit at least one of selectively fast repeating the control message and selectively increasing power gain for the control message based on the handoff state transition and the set of signal conditions;

if the handoff state transition is in a soft handoff state:

out of the active set, setting a strongest leg as a power reference;

increasing power gain of the control message for the strongest leg more than other legs in the active set;

establishing a signal threshold value;

prohibiting power gain increase of the control message in a leg in the active set if signal strength of the leg in the active set falls below the signal threshold value; and

increasing power gain of the control message in the leg if signal strength of the leg in the active set is between the power reference and the signal threshold value, wherein power gain increase of the leg is less than the strongest leg.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising increasing power gain by a substantially same amount for a plurality of legs in the active set having a signal strength between the power reference and the signal threshold value.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising for each of the plurality of legs in the active set having a signal strength between the power reference and the signal threshold value, increasing power gain substantially in proportion to the leg's signal strength in excess of the signal threshold value.

14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising for each of the plurality of legs in the active set having a signal strength between the power reference and the signal threshold value, increasing power gain substantially in proportion to the leg's signal strength below the power reference.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

providing a plurality of power gain ranges between the power reference and the signal threshold value;

placing each of a plurality of legs in the active set in one of the plurality of power gain ranges based on at least one of signal strength above the signal threshold value and signal strength below the power reference; and

increasing power gain by a substantially same amount for one or more of the plurality of legs in each of the power gain ranges.

16. A computer-readable medium containing computer instructions for instructing a processor to perform a method of selective need-based control message augmentation, the instructions comprising:

a network unit of a mobile communication system generating a control message for communication to a mobile unit;

determining a handoff state transition of the mobile unit;

determining a set of signal conditions for one or more legs of an active set associated with the mobile unit; and

the network unit at least one of selectively fast repeating the control message and selectively increasing power gain for the control message based on the handoff state transition and the set of signal conditions:

if the handoff state transition is in a soft handoff state:

out of the active set, setting a strongest leg as a power reference;

increasing power gain of the control message for the strongest leg more than other legs in the active set;

establishing a signal threshold value;

prohibiting power gain increase of the control message in a leg in the active set if signal strength of the leg in the active set falls below the signal threshold value; and

increasing power gain of the control message in the leg if signal strength of the leg in the active set is between the power reference and the signal threshold value, wherein power gain increase of the leg is less than the strongest leg.