Abstract: A method and apparatus to dynamically control selectable vocoder rates in a CDMA network to optimally improve forward and reverse link capacity as necessary. To improve capacity, a number of vocoder rates are used, each requiring a different average data rate and providing a different level of voice quality. Vocoder rates are reduced to lower sector average output power thereby improving forward and reverse link capacity. Forward and reverse link loading are compared to established thresholds that, if exceeded, would trigger a forward link and a reverse link vocoder rate adjustment as necessary to improve network capacity. The forward link vocoder rate and reverse link vocoder rate may be set independently or the reverse link vocoder rate may be set as a function of the forward link vocoder rate to maintain a link balance.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for progressive soft handoff of a mobile user from one basestation to another in multi-channel CDMA systems provide for progressively decreasing the data rate between the mobile user and a "home" basestation while simultaneously progressively increasing the data rate between the mobile user and the "new" basestation.