Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for providing very fast message synchronization of synchronous serial data streams by reducing system reliance on complex and highly computational synchronization schemes. The benefits of the instant invention are realized by performing most of the computational effort during message design, rather than during real-time detection. The synchronization pattern preceding the data stream is constructed in accordance with predetermined rules and compared using multiple bit segment compares rather than performing comparisons bit-by-bit. The synchronization pattern is further provided with an index that is used to access a lookup table that contains information for providing true alignment of the data stream once synchronization has been detected.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for tracking a positioning system for antennas and other devices. Hardware of the invention contains circuitry which when given velocity information, changes its output position information at a specified rate. The hardware may also be triggered to capture a sample of such output position information to provide feedback to the firmware of the invention, which implements a position tracking algorithm. The algorithm utilizes two consecutive input position samples, the time between those samples and the feedback information corresponding to the last position input sample to calculate the velocity to be applied to the position tracking hardware until a new position input sample is available. When the new sample is available, a new velocity is calculated and applied to the hardware and the process is repeated. Between position input samples, the hardware updates the output position to correspond to the motion of the positioning system.