Patent ID: 8050234

Claim:
A method for managing Walsh Codes in a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) cellular wireless communication system, the method comprises: assigning a first plurality of Walsh Codes to the mobile terminal, wherein each of the plurality of assigned Walsh Codes corresponds to a cell or sector providing forward link transmissions to the mobile terminal; determining whether an insufficient number of unused Walsh Codes is available based upon a first handoff participation limit; and when an insufficient number of unused Walsh Codes is available, reducing the first handoff participation limit to a second handoff participation limit to produce a reduced handoff participation limit, the second handoff participation limit being less than the first handoff participation limit, wherein either of the first or the second handoff participation limit serve to determine a maximum number of cells or sectors that participate in handoff with any serviced mobile terminal; and when the mobile terminal participates in a handoff with a number of cells or sectors that exceeds the reduced handoff participation limit, limiting the number of forward link transmissions to the mobile station from a corresponding number of servicing cells or sectors to release a corresponding number of Walsh Codes to come within the reduced handoff participation limit.