Forward link based rescue channel method and apparatus for telecommunication systems

• US 20020045443A1
• Filed: 10/16/2001
• Published: 04/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co., Ltd. (Xiaomi Corp.)
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Hunzinger, Jason F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,133,675 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/421
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/06 Hybrid resource partitioning, e.g. channel borrowing

Abstract

A forward rescue procedure (FRP) for preventing loss of signal and dropped connections between a mobile station and the infrastructure in a wireless telecommunications network is disclosed. The FRP allows wireless systems to recover from forward link failures at the mobile station that would otherwise result in dropped connections. Examples of failure scenarios that can be overcome using the FRP include forward link Layer 2 acknowledgement failures and loss of forward link signal due to a fade that causes loss of signal for a period of time exceeding a threshold value. In response to a potential connection drop situation, a mobile station will autonomously add base station pilot channels to the active set of its rake receiver in order to rescue the connection in danger of dropping. Concurrently, the wireless network infrastructure will initiate transmission on alternative forward link channels that are likely to be monitored by the mobile station during an FRP. If the same channels are monitored by the MS and transmitted on by the infrastructure, the connection in danger of dropping can be rescued.

Claims

1. In a communications network having a plurality of sectors and a mobile station (MS) having a potentially failing connection, the MS including a MS active set, a method for rescuing the potentially failing connection, comprising:

detecting the potentially failing connection;

adding one or more pilots to the MS active set, each pilot corresponding to one of the plurality of sectors;

determining one or more assumed code channels (ACCs) for use in the rescue;

transmitting one of the ACCs from at least one of the plurality of sectors;

at the MS, searching for one or more ACCs from the sectors corresponding to the pilots in the MS active set;

at the MS, discovering one or more ACCs are receivable from at least one of the plurality of sectors; and

continuing the connection at the MS when the one or more receivable ACCs are discovered.

2. The method as recited in claim 1:

wherein the discovery of one or more receivable ACCs at the MS comprises receiving a predetermined number of consecutive good frames of the ACC from at least one of the plurality of sectors; and

wherein continuing the connection at the MS when the one or more receivable ACCs are discovered comprises continuing the connection at the MS when the predetermined number of consecutive good frames are received by the MS.

3. The method of claim 1, the MS having transmitted one or more pilot strength measurement messages (PSMMs) prior to detecting the potentially failing connection, the method further comprising adding one or more pilots to the MS active set based on information contained in the one or more PSMMs.

4. The method of claim 1, the MS having received one or more overhead messages containing information on the ACC prior to detecting the potentially failing connection, the method further comprising determining one or more ACCs for use in the rescue based on information contained in the one or more overhead messages.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

ceasing transmission from the MS after detecting the potentially failing connection; and

resuming transmissions from the MS if a predetermined number of consecutive good frames of the ACC from one or more of the sectors is received at the MS.

6. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

starting a rescue timer after detecting the potentially failing connection; and

terminating the potentially failing connection if the rescue timer expires before a downlink is received from the network at the MS.

7. The method of claim 3, further comprising dynamically changing the MS active set based on pilot signal strength information measured by the MS during the rescue.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising transmitting a PSMM from the MS every time the MS active set is autonomously changed.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting the potentially failing connection caused by a Layer 2 Acknowledgement Failure at the MS.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising detecting the potentially failing connection caused by a Layer 2 Acknowledgement Failure at the MS by determining that the MS did not receive an acknowledgement to a message sent by the MS after a predetermined number of retransmissions of the message by the MS.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting the potentially failing connection caused by a Forward Link Fade Failure at the MS.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising detecting the potentially failing connection caused by a Forward Link Fade Failure at the MS by receiving a predetermined number of consecutive bad frames at the MS.

13. The method of claim 1, the network including a network active set, the method further comprising:

adding one or more sectors to the network active set; and

selecting one or more sectors from the network active set from which to transmit one of the ACCs.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein continuing the connection further comprises:

receiving a predetermined number of consecutive good frames from the MS by the network; and

continuing the connection at the network when the predetermined number of consecutive good frames are received by the network.

15. The method of claim 13, the method further comprising:

starting a rescue timer after detecting the potentially failing connection; and

terminating the potentially failing connection if the rescue timer expires before an uplink is received from the MS at the network.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising detecting the potentially failing connection caused by a Layer 2 Acknowledgement Failure at the network.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising detecting the potentially failing connection caused by the Layer 2 Acknowledgement Failure at the network by determining that the network received a predetermined number of retransmitted messages from the MS after a predetermined number of acknowledgements of the message were sent by the network.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising detecting the potentially failing connection caused by a Forward Link Fade Failure at the network.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising detecting the potentially failing connection caused by a Forward Link Fade Failure at the network by detecting that the network did not receive a predetermined number of valid frames from the MS.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising determining whether the rescue should be attempted before transmitting one of the ACCs from at least one of the plurality of sectors.

21. The method of claim 13, further comprising adding one or more sectors to the network active set based on their locations, orientation, system or band.

22. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving, at the network, one or more PSMMs from the MS; and

adding one or more sectors to the network active set based on information contained in the one or more PSMMs.

23. The method of claim 13, further comprising dynamically changing the one or more ACCs for use in the rescue.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising detecting the potentially failing connection caused by the Layer 2 Acknowledgement Failure at the network by determining that the network received a predetermined number of retransmitted messages from the MS after a predetermined number of acknowledgements of the message were sent by the network.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising detecting the potentially failing connection caused by the Layer 2 Acknowledgement Failure at the MS by determining that the MS did not receive an acknowledgement to a message sent by the MS after a predetermined number of retransmissions of the message by the MS.

24. In a communications network having a plurality of sectors and one or more mobile stations (MSs) having a potentially failing connection with one of the sectors caused by an L2 Acknowledgement Failure, a method for rescuing the potentially failing connection, comprising:

detecting the potentially failing connection caused by the L2 Acknowledgement Failure;

transmitting at least one rescue channel;

monitoring one or more of the plurality of sectors for the rescue channel if the rescue channel was transmitted by at least one of the plurality of sectors;

monitoring one or more of the MSs for the rescue channel if the rescue channel was transmitted by the one or more MSs;

discovering one or more rescue channels are receivable; and

continuing the connection when the one or more receivable rescue channels are discovered.

27. In a communications network having a plurality of sectors and one or more mobile stations (MSs) having a potentially failing connection, a method for rescuing the potentially failing connection, comprising:

detecting the potentially failing connection;

transmitting at least one rescue channel from at least one of the plurality of sectors;

monitoring one or more of the plurality of sectors for the rescue channel, wherein the plurality of sectors being monitored are dynamically selected;

discovering one or more rescue channels are receivable; and

continuing the connection when the one or more receivable rescue channels are discovered.

28. In a communications network having a plurality of sectors and one or more mobile stations (MSs) having a potentially failing connection, a method for rescuing the potentially failing connection, comprising:

detecting the potentially failing connection;

transmitting at least one rescue channel from the one or more MSs to one or more targeted sectors, wherein the targeted sectors are dynamically selected;

monitoring the one or more MSs for the at least one rescue channel;

discovering at least one rescue channel is receivable; and

continuing the connection when the at least one receivable rescue channel is discovered.

29. In a communications network having a plurality of sectors and one or more mobile stations (MSs) having a potentially failing connection, a method for rescuing the potentially failing connection, comprising:

detecting the potentially failing connection;

transmitting at least one rescue channel from at least one of the plurality of sectors, the transmitting sectors being dynamically selected;

monitoring one or more of the plurality of sectors for the rescue channel;

discovering one or more rescue channels are receivable; and

continuing the connection when the one or more receivable rescue channels are discovered.

30. In a communications network having a plurality of sectors and one or more mobile stations (MSs) having a potentially failing connection, a method for rescuing the potentially failing connection, comprising:

detecting the potentially failing connection;

transmitting at least one rescue channel from the one or more MSs;

monitoring the one or more MSs for the least one rescue channel from one or more of the plurality of sectors, the one or more of the plurality of sectors being dynamically selected;

discovering at least one rescue channel is receivable; and

continuing the connection when the at least one receivable rescue channel is discovered.

31. In a communications network having a plurality of sectors, the network for enabling communications with a mobile station (MS), the MS having a potentially failing connection and capable of receiving an assumed code channel (ACC) and rescuing the potentially failing connection, a method of operating the network to assist in rescuing the potentially failing connection, comprising:

detecting the potentially failing connection;

determining one or more ACCs for use in the rescue; and

transmitting one of the ACCs from at least one of the plurality of sectors.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising detecting the potentially failing connection caused by a Layer 2 Acknowledgement Failure at the network.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising detecting the potentially failing connection caused by the Layer 2 Acknowledgement Failure at the network by determining that the network received a predetermined number of retransmitted messages from the MS after a predetermined number of acknowledgements of the message were sent by the network.

34. The method of claim 31, further comprising detecting the potentially failing connection caused by a Forward Link Fade Failure at the network.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising detecting the potentially failing connection caused by a Forward Link Fade Failure at the network by detecting that the network did not receive a predetermined number of valid frames from the MS.

36. The method of claim 31, the network including a network active set, the method further comprising:

adding one or more sectors to the network active set; and

selecting one or more sectors from the network active set from which to transmit one of the ACCs.

37. The method of claim 36, the method further comprising:

starting a rescue timer after detecting the potentially failing connection; and

terminating the potentially failing connection if the rescue timer expires before an uplink is received from the MS at the network.

38. The method of claim 31, further comprising determining whether the rescue should be attempted before transmitting one of the ACCs from at least one of the plurality of sectors.

39. The method of claim 36, further comprising adding one or more sectors to the network active set based on their locations.

40. The method of claim 36, further comprising:

receiving, at the network, one or more pilot strength measurement messages (PSMMs) from the MS; and

adding one or more sectors to the network active set based on information contained in the one or more PSMMs.

41. The method of claim 36, further comprising dynamically changing the one or more ACCs for use in the rescue.

42. In a communications network having a plurality of sectors, the network for enabling communications with a mobile station (MS), the MS having a potentially failing connection with one of the sectors caused by an L2 Acknowledgement Failure and capable of transmitting a rescue channel to rescue the potentially failing connection, a method of operating the network to assist in rescuing the potentially failing connection, comprising:

detecting the potentially failing connection caused by the L2 Acknowledgement Failure;

monitoring the MS for the rescue channel;

discovering that the rescue channel is receivable; and

continuing the connection when the receivable rescue channel is discovered.

43. The method of claim 42, further comprising detecting the potentially failing connection caused by the Layer 2 Acknowledgement Failure by determining that the network received a predetermined number of retransmitted messages from the MS after a predetermined number of acknowledgements of the message were sent by the network.

44. In a communications network having a plurality of sectors, the network for enabling communications with a mobile station (MS), the MS having a potentially failing connection with one of the sectors and capable of transmitting a rescue channel to one or more targeted sectors to rescue the potentially failing connection, a method of operating the network to assist in rescuing the potentially failing connection, comprising:

detecting the potentially failing connection;

monitoring the targeted sectors for the rescue channel, wherein the targeted sectors are dynamically selected;

discovering that the rescue channel is receivable; and

continuing the connection when the receivable rescue channel is discovered.

47. The method of claim 45, the MS having transmitted one or more pilot strength measurement messages (PSMMS) prior to detecting the potentially failing connection, the method further comprising adding one or more pilots to the MS active set based on information contained in the one or more PSMMs.

48. The method of claim 45, the MS having received one or more overhead messages containing information on the ACC prior to detecting the potentially failing connection, the method further comprising determining one or more ACCs for use in the rescue based on information contained in the one or more overhead messages.

49. The method of claim 45, further comprising:

ceasing transmission from the MS after detecting the potentially failing connection; and

resuming transmissions from the MS if a predetermined number of consecutive good frames of the ACC from one or more of the sectors is received.

50. The method of claim 45, the method further comprising:

starting a rescue timer after detecting the potentially failing connection; and

terminating the potentially failing connection if the rescue timer expires before a downlink is received from the network.

51. The method of claim 47, further comprising dynamically changing the MS active set based on pilot signal strength information received by the MS during the rescue.

52. The method of claim 51, further comprising transmitting a PSMM from the MS every time the MS active set is dynamically changed.

53. The method of claim 45, further comprising detecting the potentially failing connection caused by a Layer 2 Acknowledgement Failure.

54. The method of claim 53, further comprising detecting the potentially failing connection caused by a Layer 2 Acknowledgement Failure by determining that the MS did not receive an acknowledgement to a message sent by the MS after a predetermined number of retransmissions of the message by the MS.

55. The method of claim 45, further comprising detecting the potentially failing connection caused by a Forward Link Fade Failure.

56. The method of claim 55, further comprising detecting the potentially failing connection caused by a Forward Link Fade Failure by receiving a predetermined number of consecutive bad frames.

58. The method of claim 57, further comprising detecting the potentially failing connection caused by the Layer 2 Acknowledgement Failure by determining that the MS did not receive an acknowledgement to a message sent by the MS after a predetermined number of retransmissions of the message by the MS.

60. The system of claim 59, the MS processor further programmed for:

transmitting one or more pilot strength measurement messages (PSMMs) to the network prior to detecting the potentially failing condition; and

adding one or more pilots to the MS active set based on information contained in the one or more PSMMs if the MS processor detects the potentially failing connection.

61. The system of claim 59, the MS processor further programmed for autonomously changing the MS active set based on pilot signal strength information measured by the MS during the rescue if the MS processor detects the potentially failing connection.

62. The system of claim 59, the MS processor further programmed for detecting the potentially failing connection caused by a Layer 2 Acknowledgement Failure.

63. The system of claim 59, the MS processor further programmed for detecting the potentially failing connection caused by a Forward Link Fade Failure.

64. The system of claim 59, the network including a network active set, the network processor further programmed for adding one or more sectors to the network active set and selecting one or more sectors from the network active set from which to transmit one of the ACCs if the network processor detects the potentially failing connection.

65. The system of claim 59, the network processor further programmed for detecting the potentially failing connection caused by a Layer 2 Acknowledgement Failure.

66. The system of claim 59, the network processor further programmed for detecting the potentially failing connection caused by a Forward Link Fade Failure.

67. The system of claim 59, the network processor further programmed for dynamically changing the one or more ACCs for use in the rescue.

45. A method of operating a mobile station (MS) to assist in rescuing a potentially failing connection between the MS and a communications network having a plurality of sectors, the MS having a MS active set, the network capable of transmitting one or more assumed code channels (ACCs) from at least one of the plurality of sectors, the method comprising:

detecting the potentially failing connection;

adding one or more pilots to the MS active set, each pilot corresponding to one of the plurality of sectors;

searching for one or more ACCs from the sectors corresponding to the pilots in the MS active set;

discovering one or more ACCs are receivable from at least one of the plurality of sectors; and

continuing the connection when the one or more receivable ACCs are discovered.

46. The method as recited in claim 45:

wherein the discovery of one or more receivable ACCs comprises receiving a predetermined number of consecutive good frames of the ACC from at least one of the plurality of sectors; and

wherein continuing the connection when the one or more receivable ACCs are discovered comprises continuing the connection when the predetermined number of consecutive good frames are received.

57. A method of operating a mobile station (MS) to assist in rescuing a potentially failing connection between the MS and a communications network having a plurality of sectors, the potentially failing connection caused by an L2 Acknowledgement Failure, the network for monitoring the MS for a rescue channel and receiving the rescue channel to rescue the potentially failing connection, the method comprising:

detecting the potentially failing connection caused by the L2 Acknowledgement Failure; and

transmitting the rescue channel to one or more of the plurality of sectors.

59. A communications system for enabling communications with mobile users and for rescuing potentially failing connections with mobile users, comprising:

a network having a network processor and a plurality of sectors for transmitting and receiving signals, the network processor programmed for detecting a potentially failing connection; and

a mobile station (MS) having a MS processor and a MS active set for receiving and transmitting signals from or to one or more of the plurality of sectors, the MS processor programmed for detecting the potentially failing connection with the one or more of the plurality of sectors;

wherein the network processor is further programmed for determining one or more assumed code channels (ACCs) for use in the rescue, and transmitting an ACC from at least one of the plurality of sectors if the network processor detects the potentially failing connection; and

wherein the MS processor is further programmed for adding one or more pilots to the MS active set, each pilot corresponding to one of the plurality of sectors, searching for one or more ACCs from the sectors corresponding to the pilots in the MS active set, discovering one or more ACCs are receivable from at least one of the plurality of sectors, and continuing the connection when the one or more receivable ACCs are discovered, if the MS processor detects the potentially failing connection.

68. A communications system for enabling communications with mobile users and for rescuing potentially failing connections with mobile users caused by an L2 Acknowledgement Failure, comprising:

a network having a network processor and a plurality of sectors for transmitting and receiving signals, the network processor programmed for detecting a potentially failing connection caused by the L2 Acknowledgement Failure; and

a mobile station (MS) having a MS processor and a MS active set for receiving and transmitting signals from or to one or more of the plurality of sectors, the MS processor programmed for detecting the potentially failing connection with the one or more sectors in the network caused by the L2 Acknowledgement Failure;

wherein the network processor is further programmed for transmitting at least one rescue channel from at least one of the plurality of sectors if the network processor detects the potentially failing connection; and

wherein the MS processor is further programmed for monitoring one or more of the plurality of sectors for the rescue channel, discovering one or more rescue channels are receivable, and continuing the connection when the one or more receivable rescue channels are discovered, if the MS processor detects the potentially failing connection.

69. A communications system for enabling communications with mobile users and for rescuing potentially failing connections with mobile users caused by an L2 Acknowledgement Failure, comprising:

a network having a network processor and a plurality of sectors for transmitting and receiving signals, the network processor programmed for detecting a potentially failing connection caused by the L2 Acknowledgement Failure; and

a mobile station (MS) having a MS processor and an MS active set for receiving and transmitting signals from or to one or more of the plurality of sectors, the MS processor programmed for detecting the potentially failing connection with the one or more sectors in the network caused by the L2 Acknowledgement Failure;

wherein the MS processor is further programmed for transmitting a rescue channel if the MS processor detects the potentially failing connection; and

wherein the network processor is further programmed for monitoring the MS for the rescue channel, discovering one or more rescue channels are receivable, and continuing the connection when the one or more receivable rescue channels are discovered, if the network processor detects the potentially failing connection.

70. A communications system for enabling communications with mobile users and for rescuing potentially failing connections with mobile users, comprising:

a network having a network processor and a plurality of sectors for transmitting and receiving signals, the network processor programmed for detecting a potentially failing connection; and

a mobile station (MS) having a MS processor and an MS active set for receiving and transmitting signals from or to one or more of the plurality of sectors, the MS processor programmed for detecting the potentially failing connection with the one or more sectors;

wherein the network processor is further programmed for transmitting at least one rescue channel from at least one of the plurality of sectors if the network processor detects the potentially failing connection; and

wherein the MS processor is further programmed for monitoring one or more of the plurality of sectors for the at least one rescue channel, the one or more of the plurality of sectors being monitored being dynamically selected, discovering one or more rescue channels are receivable, and continuing the connection when the one or more receivable rescue channels are discovered, if the MS processor detects the potentially failing connection.

71. A communications system for enabling communications with mobile users and for rescuing potentially failing connections with mobile users, comprising:

a network having a network processor and a plurality of sectors for transmitting and receiving signals, the network processor programmed for detecting a potentially failing connection; and

a mobile station (MS) having a MS processor and an MS active set for receiving and transmitting signals from or to one or more of the plurality of sectors, the MS processor programmed for detecting the potentially failing connection with the one or more sectors;

wherein the MS processor is further programmed for transmitting at least one rescue channel to one or more targeted sectors, the targeted sectors being dynamically selected, if the MS processor detects the potentially failing connection; and

wherein the network processor is further programmed for monitoring the MS for the at least one rescue channel, discovering at least one rescue channel is receivable, and continuing the connection when the at least one receivable rescue channel is discovered, if the network processor detects the potentially failing connection.

72. A communications system for enabling communications with mobile users and for rescuing potentially failing connections with mobile users, comprising:

a network having a network processor and a plurality of sectors for transmitting and receiving signals, the network processor programmed for detecting a potentially failing connection; and

a mobile station (MS) having a MS processor and an MS active set for receiving and transmitting signals from or to one or more of the plurality of sectors, the MS processor programmed for detecting the potentially failing connection with the one or more sectors;

wherein the network processor is further programmed for transmitting at least one rescue channel from at least one of the plurality of sectors, the transmitting sectors being dynamically selected, if the network processor detects the potentially failing connection; and

wherein the MS processor is further programmed for monitoring one or more of the plurality of sectors for the at least one rescue channel, discovering one or more rescue channels are receivable, and continuing the connection when the one or more receivable rescue channels are discovered, if the MS processor detects the potentially failing connection.

73. A communications system for enabling communications with mobile users and for rescuing potentially failing connections with mobile users, comprising:

a network having a network processor and a plurality of sectors for transmitting and receiving signals, the network processor programmed for detecting a potentially failing connection; and

a mobile station (MS) having a MS processor and an MS active set for receiving and transmitting signals from or to one or more of the plurality of sectors, the MS processor programmed for detecting the potentially failing connection with the one or more sectors;

wherein the MS processor is further programmed for transmitting a rescue channel if the MS processor detects the potentially failing connection; and

wherein the network processor is further programmed for monitoring the MS for the rescue channel from one or more of the plurality of sectors, the one or more of the plurality of sectors being dynamically selected, discovering at least one rescue channel is receivable, and continuing the connection when the at least one receivable rescue channel is discovered, if the network processor detects the potentially failing connection.

74. A communications system for assisting in rescuing a potentially failing connection with a mobile station (MS), the MS capable of receiving an assumed code channel (ACC) and rescuing the potentially failing connection, the system comprising:

a network having a network processor and a plurality of sectors for transmitting and receiving signals, the network processor programmed for detecting the potentially failing connection, determining one or more ACCs for use in the rescue, and transmitting one of the ACCs from at least one of the plurality of sectors.

75. The system of claim 74, wherein the network processor is further programmed for detecting the potentially failing connection caused by a Layer 2 Acknowledgement Failure.

76. The system of claim 74, wherein the network processor is further programmed for detecting the potentially failing connection caused by a Forward Link Fade Failure.

77. The system of claim 74, the network including a network active set, wherein the network processor is further programmed for:

adding one or more sectors to the network active set; and

selecting one or more sectors from the network active set from which to transmit one of the ACCs.

78. The system of claim 77, wherein the network processor is further programmed for dynamically changing the one or more ACCs for use in the rescue.

79. A communications system for assisting in rescuing a potentially failing connection with a mobile station (MS) caused by an L2 Acknowledgement Failure, the MS capable of transmitting a rescue channel to the system if the MS detects the potentially failing connection, the system comprising:

a network having a network processor and a plurality of sectors for transmitting and receiving signals, the network processor programmed for detecting the potentially failing connection caused by the L2 Acknowledgement Failure, monitoring the MS for the rescue channel, discovering that the rescue channel is receivable; and

continuing the connection when the receivable rescue channel is discovered.

80. A communications system for assisting in rescuing a potentially failing connection with a mobile station (MS), the MS capable of transmitting a rescue channel to the system if the MS detects the potentially failing connection, the system comprising:

a network having a network processor and a plurality of sectors for transmitting and receiving signals, the network processor programmed for detecting the potentially failing connection, monitoring the MS for the rescue channel from one or more targeted sectors, the targeted sectors being dynamically selected, discovering that the rescue channel is receivable; and

continuing the connection when the receivable rescue channel is discovered.

81. A mobile station (MS) for assisting in rescuing a potentially failing connection with a network, the network having a plurality of sectors capable of transmitting one or more assumed code channels (ACCs) for use in rescuing the potentially failing connection, the MS comprising:

a MS active set; and

a MS processor programmed for detecting the potentially failing connection, adding one or more pilots to the MS active set, each pilot corresponding to one of the plurality of sectors, searching for one or more ACCs from the sectors corresponding to the pilots in the MS active set, discovering one or more ACCs receivable from at least one of the plurality of sectors, and continuing the connection when the one or more receivable ACCs are discovered.

82. The MS of claim 81, wherein the MS processor is further programmed for transmitting one or more pilot strength measurement messages (PSMMs) prior to detecting the potentially failing connection, and adding one or more pilots to the MS active set based on information contained in the one or more PSMMs, if the MS processor detects the potentially failing connection.

83. The MS of claim 81, wherein the MS processor is further programmed for dynamically changing the MS active set based on pilot signal strength information received by the MS during the rescue, if the MS processor detects the potentially failing connection.

84. The MS of claim 81, wherein the MS processor is further programmed for detecting the potentially failing connection caused by a Layer 2 Acknowledgement Failure.

85. The MS of claim 81, wherein the MS processor is further programmed for detecting the potentially failing connection caused by a Forward Link Fade Failure.

86. A mobile station (MS) for assisting in rescuing a potentially failing connection with a communications network caused by a Layer 2 Acknowledgement Failure, the communications network having a plurality of sectors capable of receiving a rescue channel and rescuing the potentially failing connection, the MS comprising:

a MS processor programmed for detecting the potentially failing connection caused by the L2 Acknowledgement Failure and transmitting the rescue channel to one or more of the plurality of sectors.

87. A communications system for enabling communications with mobile users and for rescuing potentially failing connections with mobile users, comprising:

first means having a plurality of sectors for transmitting and receiving signals, and for detecting a potentially failing connection; and

second means having a MS active set for receiving and transmitting signals from or to one or more of the plurality of sectors, and for detecting the potentially failing connection with the one or more of the plurality of sectors;

the first means for determining one or more assumed code channels (ACCs) for use in the rescue, and for transmitting an ACC from at least one of the plurality of sectors if the first means detects the potentially failing connection; and

the second means for adding one or more pilots to the MS active set, each pilot corresponding to one of the plurality of sectors, for searching for one or more ACCs from the sectors corresponding to the pilots in the MS active set, for discovering one or more ACCs are receivable from at least one of the plurality of sectors, and for continuing the connection when the one or more receivable ACCs are discovered, if the second means detects the potentially failing connection.

88. The system of claim 87, the first means including a network active set, the first means for adding one or more sectors to the network active set and selecting one or more sectors from the network active set from which to transmit one of the ACCs if the first means detects the potentially failing connection.

90. The system of claim 89, the means including a network active set, the means for:

adding one or more sectors to the network active set; and

selecting one or more sectors from the network active set from which to transmit one of the ACCs.

89. A communications system for assisting in rescuing a potentially failing connection with a mobile station (MS), the MS capable of receiving an assumed code channel (ACC) and rescuing the potentially failing connection, the system comprising:

means having a plurality of sectors for transmitting and receiving signals, for detecting the potentially failing connection, for determining one or more ACCs for use in the rescue, and for transmitting one of the ACCs from at least one of the plurality of sectors.

91. A mobile station (MS) for assisting in rescuing a potentially failing connection with a network, the network having a plurality of sectors capable of transmitting one or more assumed code channels (ACCs) for use in rescuing the potentially failing connection, the MS comprising:

a MS active set; and

means for detecting the potentially failing connection, adding one or more pilots to the MS active set, each pilot corresponding to one of the plurality of sectors, searching for one or more ACCs from the sectors corresponding to the pilots in the MS active set, discovering one or more ACCs receivable from at least one of the plurality of sectors, and continuing the connection when the one or more receivable ACCs are discovered.