US6072807A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Searching for signals to assign to the fingers of a rake receiver
Assignee: Nokia of America Corp
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Filing: 1997-12-09
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Granted: 2000-06-06
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Expires: 2017-12-09
Abstract
Abstract A technique for searching for signals to assign to the fingers of a rake receiver is disclosed. In particular, some embodiments of the present invention identify signals with some PN sequence offsets as more likely to have signals appear at them than other offsets, and monitor the more promising offsets more closely than the less promising offsets, thus enabling signals to be more quickly discovered and assigned to a finger. One embodiment of the present invention comprises: assigning a signal to a finger of a rake receiver; de-assigning the signal from the finger; searching for the signal with the finger after the signal has been de-assigned from the finger; and re-assigning the signal to the finger, if a measure of signal quality of the signal crosses a threshold.
Inventors
- 👤 Douglas Streeter Daudelin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 16:05
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04B; H04B1/00; H04B1/69; H04B1/707; H04B1/7097; H04B1/711; H04B1/7115; H04B1/7117
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
58 words
A method comprising: assigning a signal to a finger of a rake receiver; de-assigning said signal from said finger; searching for said signal with said finger after said signal has been de-assigned from said finger; and re-assigning said signal to said finger, if a measure of signal quality of said signal crosses a threshold within a reserved period.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
58 words
A method comprising: assigning a signal to a finger of a rake receiver; de-assigning said signal from said finger; searching for said signal with said finger after said signal has been de-assigned from said finger; and re-assigning said signal to said finger, if a measure of signal quality of said signal crosses a threshold within a reserved period.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said signal was associated with a first offset in a linear sequence of offsets when said signal was assigned to said finger, and said finger searches for said signal only in said first offset.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said signal was associated with a first offset in a linear sequence of offsets when said signal was assigned to said finger, and said finger searches for said signal in a range of offsets that contains said first offset, and wherein said range of offsets contains less than one-half of the offsets of said linear sequence of offsets.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising classifying said finger as in an inactive state, if a measure of signal quality of said signal fails to cross said threshold within said reserved period.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising searching for said signal with a fingertip, if said finger is assigned to a second signal during said reserved period.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said signal was associated with a first offset in a linear sequence of offsets when said signal was assigned to said finger, and said fingertip searches for said signal only in said first offset.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said signal was associated with a first offset in a linear sequence of offsets when said signal was assigned to said finger, and said fingertip searches for said signal only in a range of offsets that contains said first offset, and wherein said range of offsets contains less than one-half of the offsets of said linear sequence of offsets.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said threshold changes as a function of time.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said threshold changes as a function of the duration that said signal has been de-assigned from said finger.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said threshold increases in discrete steps as a function of the duration that said signal has been de-assigned from said finger.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
64 words
An apparatus comprising: means for assigning a signal to a finger of a rake receiver; means for de-assigning said signal from said finger; said finger for searching for said signal after said signal has been de-assigned from said finger; and means for re-assigning said signal to said finger, if a measure of signal quality of said signal crosses a threshold within a reserved period.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
64 words
An apparatus comprising: means for assigning a signal to a finger of a rake receiver; means for de-assigning said signal from said finger; said finger for searching for said signal after said signal has been de-assigned from said finger; and means for re-assigning said signal to said finger, if a measure of signal quality of said signal crosses a threshold within a reserved period.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said signal was associated with a first offset in a linear sequence of offsets when said signal was assigned to said finger, and said finger searches for said signal only in said first offset.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
64 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said signal was associated with a first offset in a linear sequence of offsets when said signal was assigned to said finger, and said finger searches for said signal in a range of offsets that contains said first offset, and wherein said range of offsets contains less than one-half of the offsets of said linear sequence of offsets.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said finger is classified as in an inactive state, if a measure of signal quality of said signal fails to cross said threshold within said reserved period.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a fingertip for searching for said signal with a fingertip, if said finger is assigned to a second signal during said reserved period.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said signal was associated with a first offset in a linear sequence of offsets when said signal was assigned to said finger, and said fingertip searches for said signal only in said first offset.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
65 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said signal was associated with a first offset in a linear sequence of offsets when said signal was assigned to said finger, and said fingertip searches for said signal only in a range of offsets that contains said first offset, and wherein said range of offsets contains less than one-half of the offsets of said linear sequence of offsets.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said threshold changes as a function of time.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said threshold changes as a function of the duration that said signal has been de-assigned from said finger.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said threshold decreases in discrete steps as a function of the duration that said signal has been de-assigned from said finger.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
65 words
A method comprising: searching for a signal in a contiguous range of offsets that is a subset of a linear sequence of offsets with a first finger, wherein said range of offsets contains less than one-half of the offsets in said linear sequence of offsets; and assigning said signal to a second finger, if a measure of signal quality of said signal crosses a threshold.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
65 words
A method comprising: searching for a signal in a contiguous range of offsets that is a subset of a linear sequence of offsets with a first finger, wherein said range of offsets contains less than one-half of the offsets in said linear sequence of offsets; and assigning said signal to a second finger, if a measure of signal quality of said signal crosses a threshold.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 21 wherein said first finger is said second finger.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-06-06 | 2003-12-06 | 2004-06-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-06-06 | 2007-12-06 | 2008-06-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-06-06 | 2011-12-06 | 2012-06-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |