Abstract: A receiver for use in a spread spectrum communication system includes the following components: an acquisition system configured to detect a transmitted spread spectrum signal by simultaneously correlating multiple search phases of a reference spreading signal against an output from a receiver channel; a demodulation system configured to recover data embedded in the spread spectrum signal by simultaneously correlating the spread spectrum signal with multiple possible data phases of the reference spreading signal over consecutive data periods; and a bank of correlating devices configured for use both in the acquisition system and in the demodulation system.

Abstract: A metering system provides a measuring level with multiple meters and a collection level with multiple collectors. Each meter periodically measures a parameter, such as electricity consumption, and stores measurement information. Each meter periodically transmits its stored measurement information to a collector by a wireless signal. When a collector receives a transmission, it determines which meter sent the transmission, and then extracts unprocessed measurement information. The collector then processes the measurement information to generate a metered function, such as a load profile, a time-of-use profile, or a demand profile. The collector can compensate for missed transmissions and power failures. The metered functions for each meter are transmitted from the collectors to a monitoring station.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method manages the execution of one or more processes within a processing period, each process having a completion priority. The method includes determining an interval based on the number of processes currently executing on a processor; executing the one or more processes during the interval; upon reaching the end of the interval, determining a remaining processing time associated with one or more remaining processes; and if the remaining processing time exceeds the difference between the processing period and the interval, terminating one or more remaining processes based on the completion priority of each process.