Spread spectrum multipath processor system and method

Claim 2

A multipath processor for tracking a spread-spectrum signal within a plurality of groups of spread-spectrum signals, each group having a plurality of spread-spectrum signals, said multipath processor comprising: first means for despreading a first plurality of spread-spectrum signals within a first group, to generate, respectively, a first plurality of despread signals; first means, coupled to said first despreading means, for combining the first plurality of despread signals as a first combined-despread signal; second means for despreading a second plurality of spread-spectrum signals within a second group, to generate, respectively, a second plurality of despread signals; second means, coupled to said second despreading means, for combining the second plurality of despread signals, as a second combined-despread signal; and means, coupled to said first combining means and to said second combining means, for selecting one of the first combined-despread signal and the second combined-despread signal, as an output-despread signal.

Claim 3

The multipath processor as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said first despreading means includes a first plurality of correlators for despreading, respectively, the first plurality of spread-spectrum signals, thereby generating the first plurality of despread signals; and said second despreading means includes a second plurality of correlators for despreading, respectively, the second plurality of spread-spectrum signals, thereby generating the second plurality of despread signals.

Claim 4

The multipath processor as set forth in claim 2, wherein: each correlator of said first plurality of correlators despreads with a chipping-sequence signal having a time delay different from each time delay of each chipping-sequence signal used with other correlators of said first plurality of correlators; and each correlator of said second plurality of correlators despreads with a chipping-sequence signal having a time delay different from each time delay of each chipping-sequence signal used with other correlators of said second plurality of correlators, and having =he time delay different from each time delay of each chipping-sequence signal used with ocher correlators of said first plurality of correlators.

Claim 5

The multipath processor as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said first despreading means includes a first plurality of matched filters for despreading, respectively, the first plurality of spread-spectrum signals, thereby generating the first plurality of despread signals; and said second despreading means includes a second plurality of matched filters for despreading, respectively, the second plurality of spread-spectrum signals, thereby generating the second plurality of despread signals.

Claim 6

The multipath processor as set forth in claim 1, further comprising: third means for despreading a third plurality of spread-spectrum signals within a third group, to generate, respectively, a third plurality of despread signals; third means, coupled to said third despreading means, for combining the third plurality of despread signals as a third combined-despread signal; and wherein said selecting means, coupled to said third combining means, selects one of the first combined-despread signal, the second combined-despread signal and the third combined-despread signal, as the output-despread signal.

Claim 7

The multipath processor as set forth in claim 5, wherein: said first despreading means includes a first plurality of correlators for despreading, respectively, the first plurality of spread-spectrum signals, thereby generating the first plurality of despread signals; said second despreading means includes a second plurality of correlators for despreading, respectively, the second plurality of spread-spectrum signals, thereby generating the second plurality of despread signals; and said third despreading means includes a third plurality of correlators for despreading the third plurality of spread-spectrum signals, respectively, thereby generating the third plurality of spread-spectrum signals.

Claim 8

The multipath processor as set forth in claim 6, wherein: each correlator of said first plurality of correlators despreads with a chipping-sequence signal having a time delay different from each time delay of each chipping-sequence signal used with other correlators of said first plurality of correlators; each correlator of said second plurality of correlators despreads with a chipping-sequence signal having a time delay different from each time delay of each chipping-sequence signal used with other correlators of said second plurality of correlators, and having the time delay different from each time delay of each chipping-sequence signal used with other correlators of said first plurality of correlators; and each correlator of said third plurality of correlators despreads with a chipping-sequence signal having a time delay different from each time delay of each chipping-sequence signal used with other correlators of said third plurality of correlators, having the time delay different from each time delay of each chipping-sequence signal used with other correlators of said second plurality of correlators, and having the time delay different from each time delay of each chipping-sequence signal used with other correlators of said first plurality of correlators.

Claim 9

The multipath processor as set forth in claim 5, wherein: said first despreading means includes a first plurality of matched filters for despreading, respectively, the first plurality of spread-spectrum signals, thereby generating the first plurality of despread signals; said second despreading means includes a second plurality of matched filters for despreading, respectively, the second plurality of spread-spectrum signals, thereby generating the second plurality of despread signals; and said third despreading means includes a third plurality of matched filters for despreading, respectively, the third plurality of spread-spectrum signals, thereby generating the third plurality of despread signals.

Claim 10

The multipath processor as set forth in claim 5, further comprising: fourth means for despreading a fourth plurality of spread-spectrum signals within a fourth group, to generate, respectively, a fourth plurality of despread signals; fourth means, coupled to said fourth despreading means, for combining the fourth plurality of despread signals as a fourth combined-despread signal; and wherein said selecting means, coupled to said fourth combining means, selects one of the first combined-despread signal, the second combined-despread signal, the third combined-despread signal and the fourth combined-despread signal, as the output-despread signal.

Claim 11

The multipath processor as set forth in claim 9, wherein: said first despreading means includes a first plurality of correlators for despreading, respectively, the first plurality of spread-spectrum signals, thereby generating the first plurality of despread signals; said second despreading means including a second plurality of correlators for despreading, respectively, the second plurality of spread-spectrum signals, thereby generating the second plurality of despread signals; said third despreading means includes a third plurality of correlators for despreading the third plurality of spread-spectrum signals, respectively, for generating the third plurality of despread signals; and said fourth despreading means includes a fourth plurality of correlators for despreading the fourth plurality of spread-spectrum signals, respectively, for generating the fourth plurality of despread signals.

Claim 12

The multipath processor as set forth in claim 10, wherein: each correlator of said first plurality of correlators despreads with a chipping-sequence signal having a time delay different from each time delay of each chipping-sequence signal used with other correlators of said first plurality of correlators; each correlator of said second plurality of correlators despreads with a chipping-sequence signal having a time delay different from each time delay of each chipping-sequence signal used with other correlators of said second plurality of correlators, and having the time delay different from each time delay of each chipping-sequence signal used with other correlators of said first plurality of correlators; each correlator of said third plurality of correlators despreads with a chipping-sequence signal having the time delay different from each time delay of each chipping-sequence signal used with other correlators of said third plurality of correlators, having the time delay different from each time delay of each chipping-sequence signal used with other correlators of said second plurality of correlators, and having the time delay different from each time delay of each chipping-sequence signal used with other correlators of said first plurality of correlators; and each correlator of said fourth plurality of correlators despreads with a chipping-sequence signal having the time delay different from each time delay of each chipping-sequence signal used with other correlators of said fourth plurality of correlators, having the time delay different from each time delay of each chipping-sequence signal used with other correlators of said third plurality of correlators, having the time delay different from each time delay of each chipping-sequence signal used with other correlators of said second plurality of correlators, and having the time delay different from each time delay of each chipping-sequence signal used with other correlators of said first plurality of correlators.

Claim 13

The multipath processor as set forth in claim 9, wherein: said first despreading means includes a first plurality of matched filters for despreading the first plurality of spread-spectrum signals, thereby generating the first plurality of despread signals; said second despreading means includes a second plurality of matched filters for despreading the second plurality of spread-spectrum signals, thereby generating the second plurality of despread signals; said third despreading means includes a third plurality of matched filters for despreading, respectively, the third plurality of spread-spectrum signals, thereby generating the third plurality of despread signals; and said fourth despreading means includes a fourth plurality of matched filters for despreading, respectively, the fourth plurality of spread-spectrum signals, thereby generating the fourth plurality of despread signals.

Claim 16

The method as set forth in claim 13, wherein: the step of despreading the first plurality of spread-spectrum signal includes the step of decorrelating, respectively, the first plurality of spread-spectrum signals, thereby generating the first plurality of despread signals; and the step of despreading the second plurality of spread-spectrum signal includes the step of decorrelating, respectively, the second plurality of spread-spectrum signals, thereby generating the second plurality of despread signals.

Claim 17

The method as set forth in claim 13, wherein: the step of despreading each of the first plurality of spread-spectrum signals includes the step of despreading with a chipping-sequence signal having a time delay different from each time delay of each chipping-sequence signal used to despread other spread-spectrum signals of the first plurality of spread-spectrum signals; and the step of despreading each of the second plurality of spread-spectrum signals includes the step of despreading with a chipping-sequence signal having a time delay different from each time delay of each chipping-sequence signal used to despread other spread-spectrum signals of the second plurality of spread-spectrum signals, and having the time delay different from each time delay of each chipping-sequence signal used to despread each spread-spectrum signal of the first plurality of spread-spectrum signals.

Claim 18

The method as set forth in claim 13, wherein: the step of despreading the first plurality of spread-spectrum signals includes the step of filtering the first plurality of spread-spectrum signals, thereby generating the first plurality of despread signals; and the step of despreading the second plurality of spread-spectrum signals includes the step of filtering the second plurality of spread-spectrum signals, thereby generating the second plurality of despread signals.

Claim 19

The method as set forth in claim 13, further comprising the steps of: despreading a third plurality of spread-spectrum signals within a third group, to generate, respectively, a third plurality of despread signals; combining the third plurality of despread signals as a third combined-despread signal; and the step of selecting includes the step of selecting one of the first combined-despread signal, the second combined-despread signal and the third combined-despread signal, as the output-despread signal.

Claim 20

The method as set forth in claim 17, wherein: the step of despreading the first plurality of spread-spectrum signals includes the step of decorrelating, respectively, the first plurality of spread-spectrum signals, thereby generating the first plurality of despread signals; the step of despreading the second plurality of spread-spectrum signals includes the step of decorrelating, respectively, the second plurality of spread-spectrum signals, thereby generating the second plurality of despread signals; and the step of despreading the third plurality of spread-spectrum signals includes the step of decorrelating, respectively, the third plurality of spread-spectrum signals, thereby generating the third plurality of despread signals.

Claim 21

The method as set forth in claim 17, wherein: the step of despreading each of the first plurality of spread-spectrum signals includes the step of despreading with a chipping-sequence signal having a time delay different from each time delay of each chipping-sequence signal used to despread other spread-spectrum signals of the first plurality of spread-spectrum signals; the step of despreading each of the second plurality of spread-spectrum signals includes the step of despreading with a chipping-sequence signal having a time delay different from each time delay of each chipping-sequence signal used to despread other spread-spectrum signals of the second plurality of spread-spectrum signals, and having the time delay different from each time delay of each chipping-sequence signal used to despread spread-spectrum signals of the first plurality of spread-spectrum signals; and the step of despreading each of the third plurality of spread-spectrum signals includes the step of despreading with a chipping-sequence signal having a time delay different from each time delay of each chipping-sequence signal used to despread other spread-spectrum signals of the third plurality of spread-spectrum signals, having a time delay different from each time delay of each chipping-sequence signal used to despread spread-spectrum signals of the second plurality of spread-spectrum signals, and having the time delay different from each time delay of each chipping-sequence signal used to despread spread-spectrum signals of the first plurality of spread-spectrum signals.

Claim 22

The method processor as set forth in claim 17, wherein: the step of despreading the first plurality of spread-spectrum signals includes the step of matched filtering the first plurality of spread-spectrum signals, thereby generating the first plurality of despread signals; the step of despreading the second plurality of spread-spectrum signals includes the step of matched filtering the second plurality of spread-spectrum signals, thereby generating the second plurality of despread signals; and the step of despreading the third plurality of spread-spectrum signals includes the step of matched filtering the third plurality of spread-spectrum signals, thereby generating the third plurality os despread signals.

Claim 23

The method as set forth in claim 17, further comprising the steps of: despreading a fourth plurality of spread-spectrum signals within a fourth group, to generate, respectively, a fourth plurality of despread signals; combining the fourth plurality of despread signals as a fourth combined-despread signal; and the step of selecting includes the step of selecting one of the first combined-despread signal, the second combined-despread signal, the third combined-despread signal and the fourth combined-despread signal, as the output-despread signal.

Claim 24

The method as set forth in claim 21, wherein: the step of despreading the first plurality of spread-spectrum signals includes the step of decorrelating, respectively, the first plurality of spread-spectrum signals, thereby generating the first plurality of despread signals; the step of despreading the second plurality of spread-spectrum signals includes the step of decorrelating the second plurality of spread-spectrum signals, thereby generating the second plurality of despread signals; the step of despreading the third plurality of spread-spectrum signals includes the step of decorrelating the third plurality of spread-spectrum signals, thereby generating the third plurality of despread signals; and the step of despreading the fourth plurality of spread-spectrum signals includes the step of decorrelating the fourth plurality of spread-spectrum signals, thereby generating the fourth plurality of despread signals.

Claim 25

The method as set forth in claim 21, wherein: the step of despreading each of the first plurality of spread-spectrum signals includes the step of despreading with a chipping-sequence signal having a time delay different from each time delay of each chipping-sequence signal used to despread other spread-spectrum signals of the first plurality of spread-spectrum signals; the step of despreading each of the second plurality of spread-spectrum signals includes the step of despreading with a chipping-sequence signal having a time delay different from each time delay of each chipping-sequence signal used to despread other spread-spectrum signals of the second plurality of spread-spectrum signals, and having the time delay different from each time delay of each chipping-sequence signal used to despread other spread-spectrum signals of the first plurality of spread-spectrum signals; the step of despreading each of the third plurality of spread-spectrum signals includes the step of despreading with a chipping-sequence signal having a time delay different from each time delay of each chipping-sequence signal used to despread other spread-spectrum signals of the third plurality of spread-spectrum signals, having a time delay different from each time delay of each chipping-sequence used to despread other spread-spectrum signals of the second plurality of spread-spectrum signals, and having the time delay different from each time delay of each chipping-sequence signal used to despread spread-spectrum signals of the first plurality of spread-spectrum signals; and the step of despreading each of the fourth plurality of spread-spectrum signals includes the step of despreading with a chipping-sequence signal having a time delay different from each time delay of each chipping-sequence signal used to despread other spread-spectrum signals of the fourth plurality of spread-spectrum signals, having a time delay different from each time delay of each chipping-sequence signal used to despread spread-spectrum signals of the third plurality of spread-spectrum signals, having a time delay different from each time delay of each chipping-sequence used to despread other spread-spectrum signals of the second plurality of spread-spectrum signals, and having the time delay different from each time delay of each chipping-sequence signal used to despread spread-spectrum signals of the first plurality of spread-spectrum signals.

Claim 26

The method as set forth in claim 21, wherein: the step of despreading the first plurality of spread-spectrum signals includes the step of matched filtering the first plurality of spread-spectrum signals, thereby generating the first plurality of despread signals; the step of despreading the second plurality of spread-spectrum signals includes the step of matched filtering the second plurality of spread-spectrum signals, thereby generating the second plurality of despread signals; the step of despreading the third plurality of spread-spectrum signals includes the step of matched filtering the third plurality of spread-spectrum signals, thereby generating the third plurality of despread signals; and the step of despreading the fourth plurality of spread-spectrum signals includes the step of matched filtering the fourth plurality of spread-spectrum signals, thereby generating the fourth plurality of despread signals.