Abstract: An optimum combiner that reduces the amount of interference imposed upon a first base station by transmissions of other base stations within the same communication system. Two antennas are used to receive transmissions within a receiving station. A rake receiver is coupled to each antenna. By optimally combining the signals that are received by each independent finger of the rake receiver, interference that is correlated between a finger associated with the first antenna and a finger associated with the second antenna can be minimized with respect to the desired signal. Optimum combining requires determination of optimum combining coefficients.

Abstract: A method of adjusting a power control setpoint threshold (216) in a wireless communication system is provided. The method includes the steps of receiving at a receiver, a communication signal from a mobile communication unit to form a received communication signal, generating a first signal quality indicator (193) based on the received communication signal, generating a second signal quality indicator (194) based on the received communication signal, and generating an estimated signal-to-noise ratio (98). The method further includes setting a predetermined reference region (605) centered around a second signal quality indicator reference (206) where the second signal quality indicator reference (206) is related to the first signal quality indicator (193), and adjusting the power control setpoint threshold (216) based on a comparison between the second quality indicator (194) and the predetermined reference region (605).

Abstract: A receiver (300) for use in a wideband code division multiple access (CDMA) wireless communication system is disclosed. The system conveys at least first and second CDMA signals by a carriers centered at first and second carrier frequencies. The receiver includes a radio frequency (RF) receiver front end (204) for receiving the first and second CDMA signals to yield a set of in-phase (I) and quaternary phase (Q) components. First and second filters (222, 224) responsive to mixers (210, 214) filter the set of in-phase (I) and quaternary phase (Q) components to produce a filtered first and second set of in-phase (I) and quaternary phase (Q) components. First and second digital automatic gain controllers (400) adjust the filtered first and second set of in-phase (I) and quaternary phase (Q) components to produce a gain adjusted first and second set of in-phase (I) and quaternary phase (Q) components for use in subsequent despreading.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for decoding a coded signal in a communication system. The coded signal is processed through digital signal processing to produce decision metrics representing the coded signal, and the metrics are scaled according to a soft-limiting function before being received by a decoder for decoding the coded signal. The soft-limiting function is a piecewise linear function, a piecewise nonlinear function, or a combination of piecewise linear and nonlinear functions. The soft-limiting, in the alternative, is performed on a result of a weighting function performed, in parallel of the decision metrics, on the coded signal. The result of the soft-limiting is then multiplied with a result of the decision metrics prior to the decoder. The decoder may a Viterbi decoder while the communication system may be a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) communication system.

Abstract: A block interleaver (212) suitable for communication over fading channels with convolutionally coded signals as input is disclosed. The block interleaver (212) implements multiple interleaving distances which are matched to the particular convolutional code to provide better performance than conventional block interleavers.

Abstract: A method of determining a rate associated with a received signal including the steps of detecting the received signal (40); decoding the received signal at a first rate, determining a first path metric associated with the first rate, decoding the received signal at a second rate, and determining a second path metric associated with the second rate (44); calculating a plurality of discriminant functions based on the first and second path metrics (46); comparing at least one of the plurality of discriminant functions to a first predetermined value (48); and selecting one of the first and second rates as a determined rate based on the comparison.

Abstract: An augmenting circuit (153) augments an embedded PN sequence of 2.sup.N -1 chips generated by an N-bit LSSR (111) to provide an augmented PN sequence of 2.sup.N chips and an augmented PN sequence of 2.sup.N chips shifted by D chips. The augmenting circuit comprises a N-bit counter (123) that counts a plurality of clock bits. The N-bit counter provides a pre-carry signal that changes state when the counter's index equals a predetermined value and provides a value of the N-k most-significant-bits (MSB) of the index. A logic circuit (107,119) receives the plurality of clock bits and responds to the pre-carry signal to gate the plurality of clock bits. A comparator (135) receives the value of the N-k MSB and a threshold value to output a select signal that controls a multiplexer (139).

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided to facilitate coherent communication in a random access channel. In encoding, reference symbols are inserted into a stream of access channel message data symbols and appended to a synchronization message to form a reference coded access channel transmission. Subsequently, the access channel transmission is prepared for transmission over a communication channel by being spread with a spreading code. In decoding, a known synchronization sequence is correlated with a received communication signal to generate a correlation peak when a synchronization message is present. The received communication signal is despread with a spreading code to derive a stream of reference samples and data samples. A channel response is determined from the correlation peak and revised based on estimates derived from the stream of reference samples. Finally, an estimated data symbol is detected from the stream of data samples by utilizing the revised channel response.

Abstract: The method includes acquiring a signal (501); inputting (502), at a first time, a received symbol to a demodulator having a plurality of outputs to produce a set of early outputs; inputting (504), at a second time, the received symbol to the demodulator to produce a set of on-time outputs; inputting (505), at a third time, the received symbol to the demodulator to produce a set of late outputs; and comparing (506) at least one output in the set of early outputs with at least one output in the set of late outputs to produce a timing measure.

Abstract: A method (250) determines weighting coefficients (188, 190, 192) in a code division multiple access (CDMA) radio receiver (100). A representation (172) of a desired RF signal (166) is received (108, 124, 127). A plurality of data signals (176, 180, 184) are generated responsive to the representation (172) of a desired RF signal (166). A plurality of pilot signals (178, 182, 186) are generated responsive to the first representation (172) of a desired RF signal (166). A total received signal power (174) is measured (128). A plurality of weighting coefficients (188, 190, 192) are determined responsive to the plurality of data signals (176, 180, 184), the plurality of pilot signals (178, 182, 186) and the total received signal power (174).

Abstract: A method (300) for adaptively adjusting weighting coefficients (188, 190, 192) in a code division multiple access (CDMA) radio receiver (100). A representation (172) of a desired RF signal (166) is received (108, 124, 127). A plurality of pilot signals (178, 182, 186) are generated responsive to the representation (172) of a desired RF signal (166). Each of a plurality of weighting coefficients (188, 190, 192) is determined responsive to more than one of the plurality of pilot signals (178, 182, 186).

Abstract: By time-sharing demodulator hardware between a primary data path (165), a power control data path (161), and a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) path (163), an entire power control data path (161) can be implemented in a demodulator (140) of a spread spectrum subscriber unit receiver with a low increase in gate count. The primary data path (165) and the power control data path (161) time-share a complex conjugate generator (270), a complex multiplier (280), and a real component extractor (290). Due to timing requirements, though, the channel estimation filter (240) of the primary data path cannot be time-shared with the power control data path. Instead, dynamic coefficient scaling is added to an infinite-duration impulse response (IIR) filter in the RSSI path (163) so that the IIR filter (250) with dynamic coefficient scaling can be time-shared between the RSSI path (163) and the power control data path (161).

Abstract: A receiver (156) includes both a coherent and noncoherent demodulator. When the confidence that estimates of the channel is high, the coherent demodulator is implemented. When the confidence that estimates of the channel is low, the noncoherent demodulator is implemented. A controlling microprocessor (162) controls the selection process and also provides a signal (158) to enable the noncoherent demodulator in instances when noncoherent demodulation would most likely be better than coherent demodulation. As an example, such an instance would be immediately after handoff of a mobile station (505) from a source base-station (503) to a target base-station (502).

Abstract: Generally stated, a receiver in a communication system implements coherent channel estimation by first receiving an encoded signal and then generating a complex channel estimate from the encoded signal. The receiver then combines the complex channel estimate with the encoded signal to produce a coherent demodulated signal. After combining, the receiver decodes a version of the coherent demodulated signal to produce an estimate of the encoded signal prior to encoding.

Abstract: A receiver circuit (400, 500) receives a spread spectrum communication signal, such as a DS-CDMA signal, including a pilot channel and including a power control designator. The signal is despread and decoded. The pilot symbols on the pilot channel are provided to a channel estimator (408) for estimating the channel phase and channel gain of the communication channel. This estimate is provided to a demodulator (422) for demodulating the traffic channel symbols. The pilot symbols are provided to another channel estimator (410) for estimating channel phase and channel gain for the power control designator. This estimate is provided to a demodulator (424) for demodulating the power control designator. The traffic channel symbols are delayed a predetermined time in a delay element (420) before demodulating. The power control designator is delayed a short time or not at all in a short delay element (418) before demodulation.

Abstract: A receiver (200, 400) implements improved channel estimation. The receiver (200, 400) demodulates a transmitted signal, and makes an initial channel estimate (115). The receiver (200, 400) then makes a hard decision (301) as to whether the channel estimate was correct and groups samples representing the decision. A vector sum of the group of samples is computed (302), and each sample is compared to the vector sum (303). The sample having the largest projection on the vector sum is retained (304), and the other samples are considered noise, and are thus discarded (305). After obtaining a predetermined number of retained samples (306), the retained samples are used to generate an new channel estimate (226). Since the noisy estimates are discarded, the new channel estimate (226) contains fewer errors than the initial channel estimate (115). The new channel estimate (226) is used to generate decoded data (250).

Abstract: The method includes receiving (404) by a first base station (212) a signal (215) transmitted from the mobile station (216); demodulating (406) the signal by the first base station (212) to form a demodulated signal; remodulating (408) at least a portion of the demodulated signal to form a reference signal; receiving (412) by the first base station (212) and a second base station (210, 214) a retransmitted signal (217); comparing (414, 16), by the first base station (212), the retransmitted signal (217) with the reference signal to determine a first delay; comparing (414, 416), by the second base station (210, 214), the retransmitted second signal (217) with the reference signal to determine a second delay; and based on the first and second delays, determining (420) a location of the mobile station (216).

Abstract: A receiver (500) utilizes parameters generated by a Viterbi decoder (530) to determine one of a plurality of coding rates in which user information is transmitted. The receiver (500) combines the parameters in a predetermined manner, the result of which is a detection statistic (dij). By utilizing the detection statistic (dij), the coding rate at which user information is accurately determined.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for facilitating coherent communication reception. A received reference symbol coded spread spectrum communication signal is despread with a spreading code to derive a stream of reference samples and a stream of data samples. The channel response is estimated by utilizing the stream of reference samples. An offset frequency detector determines an offset to be applied to the received signal via a frequency locked loop, while a timing control compensates for slow timing drift and fast fading based on power estimates derived from the stream of reference samples and/or the stream of data samples. A slot detector controls gates which optimize the timing control and frequency offset detector outputs from the various timing branches. Thus an improved detection of estimated data symbols from the stream of received data samples is provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improved offset frequency estimation includes in a first embodiment a receiver (100) for coherent reception of a signal having known reference information, the receiver including an extractor (106) for extracting the reference information (107) from the signal, and an offset frequency estimator (110). The offset frequency estimator (110) includes a filter (121) for filtering the reference information and outputting a filtered reference sequence; a correlator (122, 124) for correlating the filtered reference sequence against a predetermined reference signal to form correlation values; and a peak detector (126) for determining an offset frequency estimate (131) from the correlation values. Other embodiments are also shown.