Abstract: The present invention includes a method of determining a phase estimate for an input signal having pilot symbols. The method includes receiving a plurality of pilot symbols, and then multiplying two or more pilot symbol slots by corresponding correlator coefficients to correct a phase estimate of the input signal.

Abstract: Certain aspects of a method and system for satellite communication are disclosed. Aspects of one method may include a receiver that handles digital broadcasting. The receiver may be enabled to dynamically vary spacing between two or more pilots and/or the size of one or more pilots within at least one frame based on a determined symbol rate. The size of each of a plurality of received programs may be determined and the spacing between two or more pilots may be dynamically varied based on the determined size of each of the plurality of received programs.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing phase tracking scheme for an Analog to Digital converter based tuner. In many embodiments, a phase tracking scheme is used that includes a phase locked loop that corrects the phase of the output signals and an amplitude modulation compensator that modulates the amplitude of the output digital signals to compensate for phase noise based upon the received output digital signals.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method of determining a phase estimate for an input signal having pilot symbols. The method includes receiving a plurality of pilot symbols, and then multiplying two or more pilot symbol slots by corresponding correlator coefficients to correct a phase estimate of the input signal.

Abstract: A frequency translation module for a broadband multi-channel communication system may include an analog signal converter, a digital channel selection device, and a digital-to-analog (D/A) converter. The analog signal converter is configured to receive a plurality of analog signals, to select analog signals residing in a predefined frequency band, and to convert each of the selected analog signals into a digital signal. The digital channel selection device is configured to process digital signals corresponding to the selected analog signals and to generate a composite output of digital signals representative of the selected analog signals. The D/A converter is configured to translate the composite output to an analog signal output decodable by a receiver. Further, the frequency translation module may include a mixer configured to upconvert the analog signal output to a frequency decodable by the receiver.

Abstract: Certain aspects of a method and system for satellite communication are disclosed. Aspects of one method may include a receiver that handles digital broadcasting. The receiver may be enabled to dynamically vary spacing between two or more pilots and/or the size of one or more pilots within at least one frame based on a determined symbol rate. The size of each of a plurality of received programs may be determined and the spacing between two or more pilots may be dynamically varied based on the determined size of each of the plurality of received programs.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method of determining a phase estimate for an input signal having pilot symbols. The method includes receiving a plurality of pilot symbols, and then multiplying two or more pilot symbol slots by corresponding correlator coefficients to correct a phase estimate of the input signal.

Abstract: Certain aspects of a method and system for satellite communication are disclosed. Aspects of one method may include a receiver that handles digital video broadcasting. The receiver may be enabled to dynamically vary spacing between one or more pilots within at least one frame based on a determined symbol rate. The size of each of a plurality of received programs may be determined and the spacing between one or more pilots may be dynamically varied based on the determined size of each of the plurality of received programs.

Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention convert satellite signals to an intermediate frequency signal and selecting modulated digital data within the satellite signals for content decoding. One embodiment includes an optical low noise block converter (LNB) including a digital channelizer switch configured to select at least one content channel from an input signal including a plurality of content channels modulated onto a carrier and to output an optical signal including the selected at least one content channel.

Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention include converting satellite signals to an intermediate frequency signal for content decoding, and selecting modulated digital data within the satellite signals for content decoding using digital signal processing. One embodiment includes a system configured to select at least one content channel from an input signal including a plurality of content channels modulated onto a carrier, the system including: a digital channelizer switch including: a high speed analog to digital converter configured to digitize an intermediate frequency signal; a digital channelizer configured to digitally tune a content channel from the digitized intermediate frequency signal; and a high speed digital to analog converter configured to generate an analog output signal using the content channel digitally tuned from the digitized intermediate frequency signal by the digital channelizer.

Abstract: A frequency translation module for a broadband multi-channel communication system may include an analog signal converter, a digital channel selection device, and a digital-to-analog (D/A) converter. The analog signal converter is configured to receive a plurality of analog signals, to select analog signals residing in a predefined frequency band, and to convert each of the selected analog signals into a digital signal. The digital channel selection device is configured to process digital signals corresponding to the selected analog signals and to generate a composite output of digital signals representative of the selected analog signals. The D/A converter is configured to translate the composite output to an analog signal output decodable by a receiver. Further, the frequency translation module may include a mixer configured to upconvert the analog signal output to a frequency decodable by the receiver.

Abstract: An update algorithm for equalizer coefficients in a communications system using phase correction symbols. Instead of using a traditional all symbols slicer update algorithm, the equalizer is updated during phase correction symbols for optimal performance in low signal-to-noise ratio conditions. In lower signal-to-noise ratio conditions, the equalizer uses a phase correction circuit to compensate for distortion caused by a communication channel when a demodulated data stream contains an unknown phase offsets resulting from a fast dynamic distortion. More specifically, the phase correction circuit uses a phase correction signal to correct for the unknown phase offsets in a demodulated data stream in lower signal-to-noise ratio conditions. The equalizer then corrects for distortion caused by the communication channel based upon the phase corrected demodulated data stream.

Abstract: An update algorithm for equalizer coefficients in a communications system using phase correction symbols. Instead of using a traditional all symbols slicer update algorithm, the equalizer is updated during phase correction symbols for optimal performance in low signal-to-noise ratio conditions. In lower signal-to-noise ratio conditions, the equalizer uses a phase correction circuit to compensate for distortion caused by a communication channel when a demodulated data stream contains an unknown phase offsets resulting from a fast dynamic distortion. More specifically, the phase correction circuit uses a phase correction signal to correct for the unknown phase offsets in a demodulated data stream in lower signal-to-noise ratio conditions. The equalizer then corrects for distortion caused by the communication channel based upon the phase corrected demodulated data stream.

Abstract: An integrated burst FSK receiver is provided to receive and interpret an RF signal using FSK modulation. The integrated burst FSK receiver uses a programmable RF local oscillator to mix a received signal down to an IF range or baseband, where it is filtered and sampled for subsequent digital processing. Digital filtering and detection are employed to improve overall bit error rate performance and receiver sensitivity. A programmable digital low-pass or band-pass filter can also be used to suppress interference. A matched filter correlator can be used for detection and symbol timing adjustment in one mode, while an adaptive frequency comparator can be used in another mode. Circuits are provided that estimate carrier offset, frequency deviation and signal strength. These measurements can then be used to optimize the receiver performance. A method for receiving and interpreting an RF signal using FSK modulation is also provided.

Abstract: A receiver for a multi-channel communication system can include a down-converter device, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), and a plurality of digital channel selection devices. The down-converter device can be configured to down-convert a plurality of analog signals from the multi-channel communication system to a plurality of corresponding low intermediate frequency (IF) signals. The ADC can be configured to convert the plurality of corresponding low-IF signals to a plurality of digital signals. Further, each digital channel selection device from the plurality of digital channel selection devices can be configured to select a digital signal corresponding to a channel of interest from the plurality of digital signals for further processing.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a receiver for processing a RF input signal having a variable signal strength includes an RF amplifier, an IF amplifier, and a controller. The RF amplifier is configured to receive and amplify the RF input signal. The IF amplifier is coupled to an output of the RF amplifier. The controller controls gains of the RF amplifier and the IF amplifier during times of falling signal strength. A gain of the IF amplifier is increased as the signal strength falls until a first amplitude threshold is reached for the falling signal strength. If the signal strength falls beyond the first threshold, a gain of the RF amplifier is increased until a second amplitude threshold is reached. The second amplitude threshold is lower than the first amplitude threshold. If the signal strength falls below the second amplitude threshold, the gain of the IF amplifier is further increased.

Abstract: An update algorithm for equalizer coefficients in a communications system using phase correction symbols. Instead of using a traditional all symbols slicer update algorithm, the equalizer is updated during phase correction symbols for optimal performance in low signal-to-noise ratio conditions. In lower signal-to-noise ratio conditions, the equalizer uses a phase correction circuit to compensate for distortion caused by a communication channel when a demodulated data stream contains an unknown phase offsets resulting from a fast dynamic distortion. More specifically, the phase correction circuit uses a phase correction signal to correct for the unknown phase offsets in a demodulated data stream in lower signal-to-noise ratio conditions. The equalizer then corrects for distortion caused by the communication channel based upon the phase corrected demodulated data stream.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the detection and correction of large carrier offsets. A set of known correction carrier offsets are used to translate an input signal having a carrier offset. After applying each correction carrier offset, a state of a timing recovery loop is evaluated. The set of known correction carrier offsets are sequentially used to translate the input signal until the timing recovery loop is locked. The carrier offset is substantially acquired when the timing recovery loop is locked.

Abstract: An update algorithm for equalizer coefficients in a communications system using phase correction symbols. Instead of using a traditional all symbols slicer update algorithm, the equalizer is updated during phase correction symbols for optimal performance in low signal-to-noise ratio conditions. In lower signal-to-noise ratio conditions, the equalizer uses a phase correction circuit to compensate for distortion caused by a communication channel when a demodulated data stream contains an unknown phase offsets resulting from a fast dynamic distortion. More specifically, the phase correction circuit uses a phase correction signal to correct for the unknown phase offsets in a demodulated data stream in lower signal-to-noise ratio conditions. The equalizer then corrects for distortion caused by the communication channel based upon the phase corrected demodulated data stream.

Abstract: In an integrated satellite receiver, improved header acquisition techniques are described for quickly locating a header symbol sequence in a data stream substantially implemented on a single CMOS integrated circuit. To identify the location of a header symbol sequence in a data stream, a selected header acquisition technique employs a real time correlator followed by an accumulator. Once accumulation over a predetermined number of frames is finished, the largest or maximum value among the accumulated correlator values is identified. If the maximum value exceeds a threshold, it will be declared as a peak and the address associated is the peak timing.