Abstract: Techniques for performing finger merge protection (FMP) using polling. Whenever a command to adjust the timing of a designated finger is received, other fingers “on the same channel” (i.e., those for which merge protection is sought) are polled for permission to apply the command. The designated finger sets a poll request and provides other pertinent information to an FMP storage unit. Thereafter, each of the other fingers on the same channel determines whether or not applying the command would result in that finger merging with the designated finger. Merging may be detected if the difference between the timing (or offsets) of the two fingers is less than a specified offset spacing. Any finger on the same channel may disallow the command if merging is detected. The designated finger would then adjust its timing if the command is not disallowed by any of the fingers on the same channel.

Abstract: A system and method for performing the digital receive processing for multiple signals received over the same RF band is described. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, digital RF samples are stored in a queue which is accessed by a searcher and demodulator. The searcher and demodulator are preferably located on the same integrated circuit along with the queue. The demodulator demodulates a set of reverse link signals stored within the queue where each reverse link signal is received with at a particular time offset and processed using a particular channel code. The searcher periodically searches for reverse link signals not being processed by the demodulator, and for access requests transmitted via the access channel. The searcher preferably searches during the worthy power control groups of each reverse link signal, which corresponds to the two of sixteen power control groups transmitted during, an eighth rate frame.

Abstract: An apparatus, such as a modem or other component within a spread spectrum communication system, is described that introduces one or more “entropy” bits into a data stream to ensure that other components of the communication system readily detect data frame misalignment. In particular, an entropy bit is introduced within each frame to help ensure that the other components generate parity errors when not properly synchronized with the framing of the data stream. The entropy bits have values that change relatively frequently, and are unrelated to the other data bits of the frames. The entropy bit may, for example, be randomly or pseudo-randomly generated.

Abstract: Techniques for canceling pilot interference in a wireless (e.g., CDMA) communication system. In one method, a received signal comprised of a number of signal instances, each including a pilot, is initially processed to provide data samples. Each signal instance's pilot interference may be estimated by despreading the data samples with a spreading sequence for the signal instance, channelizing the despread data to provide pilot symbols, filtering the pilot symbols to estimate the channel response of the signal instance, and multiplying the estimated channel response with the spreading sequence to provide the estimated pilot interference. The pilot interference estimates due to all interfering multipaths are combined to derive the total pilot interference, which is subtracted from the data samples to provide pilot-canceled data samples. These samples are then processed to derive demodulated data for each of at least one (desired) signal instance in the received signal.

Abstract: An apparatus to determine a transform of a block of encoded data the block of encoded data comprising a plurality of data elements. An input register is configured to receive a predetermined quantity of data elements. At least one butterfly processor is coupled to the input register and is configured to perform at least one mathematical operation on selected pairs of data elements to produce an output of processed data elements. At least one intermediate register is coupled to the butterfly processor and configured to temporarily store the processed data. A feedback loop is coupled to the intermediate register and the butterfly processor, and where if enabled, is configured to transfer a first portion of processed data elements to the appropriate butterfly processor to perform additional mathematical operations and where if disabled, is configured to transfer a second portion of processed data elements to at least one holding register.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of serializing frequency based image data in a digital cinema system is described. At least one group of data that may be represented as a 16×16 block of data is compiled. Alternatively, a frame of data is compiled. The group of data is divided into four groups, each which may be represented as an 8×8 blocks. Each of the four 8×8 blocks of data are serialized using zig-zag scanning vertical scanning, and/or horizontal scanning.

Abstract: An apparatus to determine a transform of a block of encoded data the block of encoded data comprising a plurality of data elements. An input register is configured to receive a predetermined quantity of data elements. At least one butterfly processor is coupled to the input register and is configured to perform at least one mathematical operation on selected pairs of data elements to produce an output of processed data elements. At least one intermediate register is coupled to the butterfly processor and configured to temporarily store the processed data. A feedback loop is coupled to the intermediate register and the butterfly processor, and where if enabled, is configured to transfer a first portion of processed data elements to the appropriate butterfly processor to perform additional mathematical operations and where if disabled, is configured to transfer a second portion of processed data elements to at least one holding register.

Abstract: A base station architecture splits modem functionality into modulator and demodulator entities, each configured to handle multiple telephone calls. A high-speed digital bus with associated routing elements connects multiple-channel (i.e., multiuser) modulator and demodulator elements. The modulator and demodulator elements may be physically separated, residing on different cards, and even different shelves, within the base station. Reverse-link power-control information is routed from a demodulator element in communication with a particular subscriber unit to one or more modulator elements in communication with the subscriber unit.

Abstract: A Wireless Code Division Multiple Access method and apparatus for determining the transmitted rate of a voice/data signal from a mobile station to a Base Station. Variable rate vocoders transmit voice at one of several predetermined frame rates. The receiver determines the transmitted rate based on one of several frame parameters. One of the parameters is received frame energy. The received frame energy is measured over the length of the relevant portion of the frame. Energy is measured over the half of the frame that can only contain energy if a full rate frame is sent. If the energy measured exceeds a threshold, then full rate is indicated. Else, energy is measured over the fourth of a frame that can only contain energy if a half rate frame is sent. If the energy exceeds a threshold, then half rate is indicated. The procedure is repeated for quarter and eighth rates.

Abstract: In order to time track an incoming signal, a receiver demodulates a first instance of a signal to produce a first set of energy values corresponding to a set of possible data values of the signal. The receiver also demodulates a second instance of the signal to produce a second set of energy values corresponding to the set of possible data values. The receiver combines the first and the second sets of energy values to determine a combined set of energy values. The receiver determines a first estimate of a most likely transmitted data value based upon the combined set of energy values. The receiver decovers an early set of despread samples of the first instance using a symbol corresponding to the first estimate to produce a first early energy value. The receiver decovers a late set of despread samples of the first instance using the symbol corresponding to the first estimate to produce a first late energy value.

Abstract: An integrated search processor used in a modem for a spread spectrum communications system buffers receive samples and utilizes a time sliced transform processor operating on successive offsets from the buffer. The search processor autonomously steps through a search as configured by a microprocessor specified search parameter set, which can include the group of antennas to search over, the starting offset and width of the search window to search over, and the number of Walsh symbols to accumulate results at each offset. The search processor calculates the correlation energy at each offset, and presents a summary report of the best paths found in the search to use for demodulation element reassignment. This reduces the searching process related workload of the microprocessor and also reduces the modem costs by allowing a complete channel element modem circuit to be produced in a single IC.

Abstract: The present invention is a system and method for increasing user capacity on a slotted random access channel in a spread spectrum communications system by using a multi-part access probe. First and second parts of the access probe are modulated using a short PN code sequence, and the entire access probe is modulated using a long PN code sequence. Information to be transmitted by the access probe is modulated on the second part of the access probe, and the access probe is transmitted so that the first part of the probe falls within the boundaries of an access channel slot. In one embodiment, time slots in access channels used for access signal reception are made the length of the first part. In a further embodiment, time slots in a plurality of adjacent access channels used for access signal reception may be longer than said first part but are offset in time from each other by the length or period of the first part.

Abstract: In order to time track an incoming signal, a receiver demodulates a first instance of a signal to produce a first set of energy values corresponding to a set of possible data values of the signal. The receiver also demodulates a second instance of the signal to produce a second set of energy values corresponding to the set of possible data values. The receiver combines the first and the second sets of energy values to determine a combined set of energy values. The receiver determines a first estimate of a most likely transmitted data value based upon the combined set of energy values. The receiver decovers an early set of despread samples of the first instance using a symbol corresponding to the first estimate to produce a first early energy value. The receiver decovers a late set of despread samples of the first instance using the symbol corresponding to the first estimate to produce a first late energy value.

Abstract: In a remote unit receiver capable of demodulating a plurality of signal instances corresponding to a singe remote unit transmitted signal, a first instance of a signal is demodulated to produce a first set of energy values corresponding to a set of possible data values of the signal. A second instance of the signal is demodulated to produce a second set of energy values corresponding to the set of possible data values. The first and the second sets of energy values are then combined to determine a combined set of energy values. A first estimate of a most likely transmitted data value is determined based upon the combined set of energy values An energy level of the first instance is determined based upon the energy value within the first set of energy values corresponding to the first estimate of the most likely transmitted data value.

Abstract: The probability based lock detection circuit determines whether a signal is sufficiently strong for communications in a mobile telecommunications system. If a signal is below a maximum energy threshold, the probability based lock detection is used to determine if the receiver is sufficiently capable to detect the signal and combine the signal with other signals received to obtain data transmitted by a mobile telephone. The probability based lock detection involves comparing index representations of maximums of 64 possible energies sent by the mobile telephone that identify that the signal was sent by mobile telephone. A mobile telephone sends signal that arrives to a base station through multiple paths to ensure accurate data transmission. Each signal includes data that identifies the mobile telephone.

Abstract: The present invention is a system and method for increasing user capacity on a slotted random access channel in a spread spectrum communications system by using a multi-part access probe. First and second parts of the access probe are modulated using a short PN code sequence, and the entire access probe is modulated using a long PN code sequence. Information to be transmitted by the access probe is modulated on the second part of the access probe, and the access probe is transmitted so that the first part of the probe falls within the boundaries of an access channel slot. In one embodiment, time slots in access channels used for access signal reception are made the length of the first part. In a further embodiment, time slots in a plurality of adjacent access channels used for access signal reception may be longer than said first part but are offset in time from each other by the length or period of the first part.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for compressing fixed point signals without introducing a bias. Signals are compressed according to a dithered rounding approach wherein signal values are rounded up and rounded down with approximately equal probability, canceling the bias that would otherwise result from the rounding operation. Numerical properties of the input signal are exploited in order to determine whether the signal value should be rounded up or down. Signal compression may, therefore, be introduced at multiple points within a system without accumulating a signal bias and degrading downstream performance. Further, one bit signal compression may be achieved in a particularly efficient fashion with a minimal amount of hardware.

Abstract: A wireless receiver receiving multipath Wash-code symbols determines which of fingers 402, 410 have locked on a signal. Measurements of the correlation energies between the received signal and all possible symbols are stored in energy storage units 404, 412. The actual signals are combined in combiner 408. A maximum determiner 416 determines the most likely combined symbol, and an index for this symbol is fed back to the energy storage units. Lock detectors 406, 414 use the measurement for this fed-back symbol to determine whether the finger has locked onto a path. This determination is used to decide whether the next signal detected by that finger should be applied to the combiner.

Abstract: A ROM circuit that can be modified via the alteration of any one of a set of substance layers is described. The ROM circuit includes a set of ROM cells each of which provide one bit of data used to construct the fixed binary number. Each ROM cell includes a set of circuits that can be placed in either a first or second state via modification of a single substance layer that is different for each circuit, and generates a signal in a logic state that depends on whether the number of circuits in the first state is odd or even. When a design revision occurs the state of one of the circuits from the set of circuits is modified to update the fixed binary number using one of the substance layer already being modified during the course of the design revision.

Abstract: An integrated search processor used in a modem for a spread spectrum communications system buffers receive samples and utilizes a time sliced transform processor operating on successive offsets from the buffer. The search processor autonomously steps through a search as configured by a microprocessor specified search parameter set, which can include the group of antennas to search over, the starting offset and width of the search window to search over, and the number of Walsh symbols to accumulate results at each offset. The search processor calculates the correlation energy at each offset, and presents a summary report of the best paths found in the search to use for demodulation element reassignment. The search is done in a linear fashion independent of the probability that a signal being searched for was transmitted at any given time.