Method and apparatus for tracking a communication signal in a wireless communication system

Claim 2

In a code division multiple access wireless communication system, the system including an antenna and a base site receiver for demodulating a plurality of multipath rays representing a mobile communication signal, the base site receiver including at least two receiver tracking fingers, a method for tracking the mobile communication signal comprising: receiving at the antenna a first multipath signal arriving at a first pn-offset; receiving at the antenna a second multipath signal arriving at a second pn-offset; despreading the first multipath signal utilizing a third pn-offset value that is advanced in time from the first pn-offset; and despreading the second multipath signal utilizing a fourth pn-offset value that is retarded in time from the second pn-offset.

Claim 3

The method according to claim 1, wherein the pn-offsets are measured in PN chips.

Claim 4

The method according to claim 2, wherein the third pn-offset value is 1/2 PN chip above the first pn-offset.

Claim 5

The method according to claim 3, wherein the fourth pn-offset value is 1/2 chip below the second pn-offset.

Claim 6

The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of despreading the first multipath signal further comprises the steps of: receiving at a controller, a plurality of finger manager outputs comprising at least the the first pn-offset associated with the first multipath signal and the second pn-offset associated with the second multipath signal; and establishing a time difference between the first and the second pn-offset forming an established time difference; and despreading the first multipath signal utilizing a third pn-offset value that is advanced in time from the first pn-offset, wherein the advancement in time is based on the established time difference.

Claim 7

In a code division multipole access wireless communication system, the system including an antenna and a base site receiver for demodulating a plurality of multipath rays representing a mobile communication signal, the base site receiver including at least two receiver fingers, a method for tracking the communication signal comprising: receiving at the antenna a first multipath signal arriving at a first pn-offset; receiving at the antenna a second multipath signal arriving at a second pn-offset; calculating by first delay lock loop associated with one of the at least two receiver fingers, a first advanced pn-offset value and a first retard pn-offset value associated with the first pn-offset; calculating by a second delay lock loop associated with the other of the at least two receiver fingers, a second advanced pn-offset value and a second retard pn-offset value associated with the second pn-offset; storing the first and second advanced pn-offset values and the first and second retard pn-offset values; receiving and storing at the controller, a plurality of finger manager outputs, the plurality comprising at least the first pn-offset associated with the first multipath signal and the second pn-offset associated with the second multipath signal; establishing, a time difference between the first pn-offset associated with the first multipath signal and the second pn-offset associated with the second multipath signal; comparing the time difference to a predetermined time difference threshold; retrieving a previous retard pn-offset value associated with the first multipath signal and a previous advanced pn-offset value associated with the second multipath signal if the time difference is less than the predetermined time difference threshold; substituting the previous retard pn-offset value and the previous advanced pn-offset values in an operation of the first and second delay lock loop, forming a new adjusted on-time pn-offset location; and tracking the mobile communication signal at the new adjusted on-time pn-offset location.

Claim 8

In a code division multipole access wireless communication system, the system including an antenna and a base site receiver for demodulating a plurality of multipath rays representing a mobile communication signal, the base site receiver including at least two receiver fingers, a method for tracking the communication signal comprising: receiving at the antenna a first multipath signal arriving at a first pn-offset; receiving at the antenna a second multipath signal arriving at a second pn-offset; calculating by first delay lock loop associated with one of the at least two receiver fingers, a first advanced pn-offset value and a first retard pn-offset value associated with the first pn-offset; calculating by a second delay lock loop associated with the other of the at least two receiver fingers, a second advanced pn-offset value and a second retard pn-offset value associated with the second pn-offset; storing the first and second advanced pn-offset values and the first and second retard pn-offset values; receiving and storing at the controller, a plurality of finger manager outputs, the plurality comprising at least the first pn-offset associated with the first multipath signal and the second pn-offset associated with the second multipath signal; establishing, a time difference between the first pn-offset associated with the first multipath signal and the second pn-offset associated with the second multipath signal; comparing the time difference to a predetermined time difference threshold; retrieving a previous retard pn-offset value associated with the first multipath signal and a previous advanced pn-offset value associated with the second multipath signal if the time difference is less than the predetermined time difference threshold; substituting the previous retard pn-offset value and the previous advanced pn-offset values in an operation of the first and second delay lock loop, forming a new adjusted on-time pn-offset location; and tracking the mobile communication signal at the new adjusted on-time pn-offset location.

Claim 9

The method according to claim 6, wherein the pn-offsets are measured in PN chips.

Claim 10

In a code division multiple access wireless communication system, the system including a base site receiver for demodulating a plurality of multipath signals representing a mobile communication signal, the base site receiver including at least two receiver fingers, an apparatus for tracking the mobile communication signal comprising: an antenna for receiving a first and second multipath signal associated with the mobile communication signal; a searcher for determining a first pn-offset value of the first multipath signal and second pn-offset value of the second multipath signal; a finger manager for providing the first pn-offset value to one of the at least two receiver fingers, and the second pn-offset value to a the other of the at least two receiver fingers; a first delay lock loop associated with one of the at least two receiver fingers for calculating a third pn-offset value and a fourth pn-offset value associated with the first pn-offset value of the first multipath signal, and outputting an adjusted first pn-offset to a despreader; and a second delay lock loop associated with the other of the at least two receiver fingers, for calculating a fourth pn-offset value and a fifth pn-offset value associated with the second pn-offset value, and outputting an adjusted second pn-offset to a despreader.

Claim 11

In a code division multiple access wireless communication system, the system including a base site receiver for demodulating a plurality of multipath signals representing a mobile communication signal, the base site receiver including at least two receiver fingers, an apparatus for tracking the mobile communication signal comprising: an antenna for receiving a first and second multipath signal associated with the mobile communication signal; a searcher for determining a first pn-offset value of the first multipath signal and second pn-offset value of the second multipath signal; a finger manager for providing the first pn-offset value to one of the at least two receiver fingers, and the second pn-offset value to a the other of the at least two receiver fingers; a first delay lock loop associated with one of the at least two receiver fingers for calculating a third pn-offset value and a fourth pn-offset value associated with the first pn-offset value of the first multipath signal, and outputting an adjusted first pn-offset to a despreader; and a second delay lock loop associated with the other of the at least two receiver fingers, for calculating a fourth pn-offset value and a fifth pn-offset value associated with the second pn-offset value, and outputting an adjusted second pn-offset to a despreader.