Abstract: A method is disclosed for operating a wireless communications system, such as a DS-CDMA communications system, by transmitting a waveform that includes a plurality of repeating frames each having x header training base symbols in a header training symbol field (TH) and y tail training base symbols in a tail training symbol field (TT). The frame is received and functions as one of a plurality of different types of frames depending on the content of at least TT. In the preferred embodiment the frame functions as one of a normal traffic frame, a termination frame, or a legacy frame providing backwards compatibility with another waveform. A given one of the frames includes four equal-size data fields separated by three equal-sized control fields, the header training symbol field (TH) and the tail training symbol field (TT).

Abstract: A method is disclosed for operating a synchronous space division multiple access, code division multiple access communications system, as is a system that operates in accordance with the method. The method operates, within a coverage area of a base station (BS), to assign the same spreading code to a plurality of subscriber stations (SSs) and to transmitting signals to, and receive signals from, the SSs using an antenna array having M elements, where M>1 and where the M elements are spaced apart by more than one-half wavelength from one another. The spacing is a function of a size of an aperture of the antenna array which is a function of a signal bandwidth to carrier frequency ratio. The antenna array aperture is preferably less than k=p/360*fc/B wavelengths, where p is a maximum acceptable phase variation over the signal bandwidth, where fc is the carrier frequency and where B is the signal bandwidth.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for obtaining a spreading code set for a code division multiple access (CDMA) communications system. The method includes (a) generating a P′×P′ spreading code set where P′=P/N, where P is the spreading gain in chips/symbol and where N is an integer multiple of 2; and (b) replicating chips in each spreading code by N to produce a P′×P spreading code set. The step of generating may include randomizing the spreading code set by performing at least one or row or column permutation. The P′×P spreading code set is subsequently loaded into system hardware for operating the system hardware with a bandwidth that is less than the bandwidth that would be required to operate with the P′×P′ Hadamard spreading code set. The CDMA system may be a synchronous, direct sequence code division multiple access communications system.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for operating a synchronous space division multiple access, code division multiple access communications system. The method operates, within a coverage area of a base station (BS) or radio base unit (RBU) having a multi-element antenna array, for estimating a SSV for individual ones of a plurality of active subscriber stations (SSs) and assigns a spreading code to a subscriber station (SS) that minimizes the similarity of the determined SSVs of the SSs in a spreading code set. A metric used to measure the similarity of the spatial signature vectors of the SSs comprises the squared sum of the inner products of same code SSs' SSV with a current SS's SSV. The step of assigning includes calculating the magnitude of the squared inner product of the SSVs of all pairs of active SSs; using the calculated values for determining &xgr;n(c) for each spreading code that is not already used some specified maximum number of times; and assigning to a SS the spreading code with a minimum &xgr;n(c).

Abstract: A method is disclosed for operating a synchronous space division multiple access, code division multiple access communications system. The method operates, within a coverage area of a base station (BS) or radio base unit (RBU) having a multi-element antenna array, to assign spreading codes to users. The method estimates a spatial signature vector (SSV) for a current subscriber station; uses the estimated SSV as a weight vector when determining the output power that is correlated with each of a plurality of spreading code sequences and assigns a spreading code to the current subscriber station that is determined to have the minimum output power. The step of determining the output power includes steering a beamformer toward the current subscriber station by setting the weight vector equal to the SSV, and also determines the average squared value of the antenna array output that has been despread using a code i.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for operating a wireless communications system, such as a DS-CDMA communications system, by transmitting a waveform that includes a plurality of repeating frames each having x header training base symbols in a header training symbol field (TH) and y tail training base symbols in a tail training symbol field (TT). The frame is received and functions as one of a plurality of different types of frames depending on the content of at least TT. In the preferred embodiment the frame functions as one of a normal traffic frame, a termination frame, or a legacy frame providing backwards compatibility with another waveform. A given one of the frames includes four equal-size data fields separated by three equal-sized control fields, the header training symbol field (TH) and the tail training symbol field (TT).

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for operating a code division multiple access communications system, and a system that operates in accordance with the method. The method operates within a coverage area of a base station by assigning a set of spreading codes to individual ones of a plurality of subscriber stations and then, during transmissions within the cell, by periodically hopping amongst spreading code within the set of spreading codes such that at any given time no two subscriber stations operate with the same spreading code. The set of spreading codes may include the all one's spreading code. The step of periodically hopping preferably changes from a currently used spreading code to a next spreading code at a symbol rate or at a multiple of the symbol rate.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for operating a synchronous space division multiple access, code division multiple access communications system. The method includes steps of, within a coverage area of a base station (BS), (a) assigning the same spreading code to a plurality of subscriber stations (SSs); and (b) beamforming using an antenna array at the BS so as to maximize the signal to interference plus noise ratio for a signal transmitted from a desired SS, The beamforming operates to steer a null towards another same-code SS to minimize interference from the same-code SS. Assuming that the antenna array has M-elements (M>1), then individual ones of P orthogonal spreading codes can be reused &agr;M times within the coverage area, where 1/M<&agr;≦1. The step of beamforming includes an initial step of despreading the signal received from the desired SS, followed by a step of spatial filtering.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating a communication system having subscriber stations (SSs) and at least one base station (BS). The communication system operates in accordance with a method that includes steps of: (a) arranging the forward link and the reverse link to operate with a common waveform; and (b) using common forward link and reverse link signal processing circuitry in the BS and individual ones of the SSs. A further step provides switching circuitry for cross-connecting RF signal paths for enabling one of the SSs to function as a BS. The common waveform enables essential parameters of the forward link and the reverse link to be identical, where the essential parameters can include some or all of the following parameters: the modulation format, chip rate, symbol rate, bit rate, frame rate, superframe rate, frame structure, error control coding scheme, sync words, and control field structure. Other parameters may also be made equal between the forward link and the reverse link.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for operating a synchronous space division multiple access, code division multiple access communications system, as is a system that operates in accordance with the method. The method operates, within a coverage area of a base station (BS), to assign the same spreading code to a plurality of subscriber stations (SSs; to despread a plurality of received signals with a plurality of despreaders and to spatial filtering the plurality of despread received signals. The step of spatial filtering uses complex multiply operations performed at the symbol rate of the received signal. An antenna array has M-elements (M>1), wherein individual ones of P orthogonal spreading codes are reused &agr;M times within the coverage area, where 1/M<&agr;≦1.

Abstract: A communications system employs the use of both synchronous CDMA and FDMA to provide a variable bandwidth waveform with multiple bonded transmitters and receivers that are agile in both frequency and PN code to permit a variable bandwidth and variable rate multiple access system. In a first aspect the teachings provide the use of both CDMA and FDMA together to enable an improved concentration efficiency by making a larger pool of bandwidth available to each user. In a second aspect these teachings enable channel bonding across both code space and frequency space, thus making the system capable of operating within a variable (not necessarily contiguous) bandwidth and at a finely variable rate.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for operating a synchronous space division multiple access, code division multiple access communications system, as is a system that operates in accordance with the method. The method operates, within a coverage area of a base station (BS), to assign the same spreading code to a plurality of subscriber stations (SSs) and to transmitting signals to, and receive signals from, the SSs using an antenna array having M elements, where M>1 and where the M elements are spaced apart by more than one-half wavelength from one another. The spacing is a function of a size of an aperture of the antenna array which is a function of a signal bandwidth to carrier frequency ratio. The antenna array aperture is preferably less than k=p/360*fc/B wavelengths, where p is a maximum acceptable phase variation over the signal bandwidth, where fc is the carrier frequency and where B is the signal bandwidth.

Abstract: This invention provides a highly flexible multiplexing scheme for Direct Sequence CDMA systems enabling the CDMA system to flexibly allocate CDMA channel resources between packet-switched broadcast channels and fast-circuit-switched dedicated channels in order to optimize system throughput. A method and system are provided for operating a communication system. The method has steps of: flexibly allocating CDMA channel resources between packet-switched broadcast channels and fast-circuit-switched dedicated channels in order to optimize system throughput, and employing a side channel as required to send all or a part of a total amount of data, depending on the total amount of the data. A bandwidth allocation scheme allocates a set of CDMA channels for burst packet-switched channels, and data is time division multiplexed over the set of burst CDMA channels providing a wide bandwidth data pipe for packet-switched data..