Handoff Prioritization
Different systems have different methods for handling and managing handoff request. Some systems handle handoff in same way as they handle new originating call. In such system the probability that the handoff will not be served is equal to blocking probability of new originating call. But if the call is terminated abruptly in the middle of conversation then it is more annoying than the new originating call being blocked .So in order to avoid this abrupt termination of ongoing call handoff request should be given priority to new call this is called as handoff prioritization.
There are two techniques for this.
1) Guard Channel Concept: In this technique, a fraction of the total available channel in a cell is reserved exclusively for handoff request from ongoing calls which may be handed off into the cell.
2) Queuing: Queuing of handoffs is possible because there is a finite time interval between the time the received signal level drops below handoff threshold and the time the call is terminated due to insufficient signal level. The delay size is determined from the traffic pattern of a particular service area.
Read more about this topic: Handover