A system for improving the efficiency of a wireless communications network
that employs a plurality of frequencies per cell. The system includes a
first mechanism that monitors the network load associated with each of
the plurality of frequencies and provides corresponding status values in
response thereto. A second mechanism compares the status values to
predetermined loading criteria and provides an indication in response
thereto when one or more of the status values meet the criteria. A third
mechanism redistributes the network load in accordance with the
indication. In a specific embodiment, the criteria include one or more
predetermined thresholds such that when one or more of the predetermined
thresholds is surpassed by the one or more of the status values, the
criteria are met. The status values are representative of loading
conditions for communications system resources associated with each of
the frequencies. The loading conditions are representative of currently
available resources allocated for each of the plurality of frequencies.
Each status value includes a hardware resource component, an air link
resource component, and a handling resource component. Each component is
indicative of respective remaining resources. The hardware resource
component incorporates the number of currently available channel elements
for an associated frequency. The air link resource component incorporates
transmit power available for a particular frequency. The handling
resource component incorporates the number of available Walsh codes for a
particular frequency.