Abstract: A method and apparatus related to a communication system in which a plurality of remote units encode data bursts using a predetermined codeword set and transmit the encoded data bursts to a hub station over a multiple-access channel. When the hub station receives a data burst from one of the remote units, the hub station demodulates the received data burst and correlates the received data burst with each codeword within the predetermined codeword set to determine which codeword has the maximum correlation. The hub station uses the correlation to derive a timing synchronization signal and/or a carrier frequency adjustment signal to be sent back to the remote unit. The signals provide information to the remote unit to synchronize its timing or adjust its carrier frequency for transmitting subsequent data bursts. The hub station may also use the correlation to estimate a signal-to-noise ratio.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for digitally demodulating QPSK signals includes a first portion in which the digitally sampled data burst is resampled with a plurality of predetermined timing hypotheses. The timing offset is determined according to an analysis of the resampled data. The digitally sampled data burst is then resampled according to the timing estimation. Modulation of the resampled data burst is then removed by twice squaring the complex I/Q pairs. The data with the modulation removed is then subjected to a Chirp-Z Transform to move the data into the frequency domain. The highest spectral power is used to determine the frequency offset. The phase offset is determined and the resampled data burst is derotated and dephased according to the phase offset and the frequency offset.