Abstract: Method and apparatus for distributing traffic in a wireless packet data network. A capacity flag which is sent on each RF data channel within a cell in a wireless packet data network is toggled between an asserted and an unasserted state according to the period of a timer. Transceiver terminals will only register for a channel while that channel's capacity flag is unasserted; therefore, transceiver terminals register with the various RF channels in a cell in a distributed fashion over time. The invention can be implemented by a computer program product or logic, or a combination of the two installed at the base station for a cell within a wireless data network such as a CDPD network.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for maintaining traffic capacity in a wireless communication system including automatic frequency allocation. An automatic frequency allocation process, which removes frequencies subject to interference, is enhanced by providing an early reestablishment process that automatically determines if the allocated set of frequencies becomes too small to handle offered traffic. In this event, the new process reallocates some of the “interfered” frequencies to the allocated set, accepting a slightly increased risk of problem interference in return for having enough frequencies to meet demand. The reallocation is based on measured interference levels and a current residual penalty time for each frequency. In one embodiment, the invention is implemented in a small-scale, wireless communication system having a programmable radio exchange and one or more transceivers.