Abstract: An improved apparatus (and corresponding methodology) for discovering beacon signals in a spread spectrum radio communication system is provided, wherein the beacon signals comprise a plurality of different code sequences having index values assigned thereto and having portions that overlap one another. Correlation is performed over an extended search window. Ambiguities between correlation peaks are resolved by identifying correlation peak pairs corresponding to overlapping code sequences and having time offsets that fall within a predetermined tolerance window. Each pair is analyzed to identify the peak with a lower power level metric, and information pertaining to this lower power level peak is discarded from output and processing operations that follow therefrom.

Abstract: An improved apparatus (and corresponding methodology) for discovering beacon signals in a spread spectrum radio communication system is provided, wherein the beacon signals comprise a plurality of different code sequences having index values assigned thereto and having portions that overlap one another. Correlation is performed over an extended search window. Ambiguities between correlation peaks are resolved by identifying correlation peak pairs corresponding to overlapping code sequences and having time offsets that fall within a predetermined tolerance window. Each pair is analyzed to identify the peak with a lower power level metric, and information pertaining to this lower power level peak is discarded from output and processing operations that follow therefrom.

Abstract: An apparatus (and corresponding methodology) for discovering beacon signals in a spread spectrum radio communication system is selectively operable in one of two modes. The first mode employs a local reference timing signal, while the second mode employs a GPS-derived reference timing signal. Preferably, the first mode identifies a baseline beacon signal that satisfies a constraint based upon time delays for detected beacon signals which are indicative of the relative distance of the transmitting base stations, thus providing selection of a baseline beacon signal that originates from a relatively close base station. The index of the baseline beacon signal is recovered and then used together with relative timing derived from the local reference timing signal to assign indices to other detected beacon signals.