Method and receiving unit for demodulating a multi-path signal

1. In a wireless communication system, wherein a receiving unit is configured to receive a multi-path signal, a method for demodulating the multi-path signal, the method comprising:

storing data samples associated with a plurality of paths of the multi-path signal within an input buffer, the input buffer being operatively coupled to a rake finger associated with the receiving unit;

time-aligning the data samples relative to each other;

delaying the data samples;

de-spreading and accumulating the delayed data samples for a sub-correlation length within the rake finger; and

combining a plurality of outputs from the rake finger within a sum generator to demodulate the multi-path signal, wherein the plurality of outputs include outputs corresponding to the plurality of paths of the multi-path signal.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of delaying the data samples within the input buffer comprises:

providing a delayed data sample as an input for a data correlator within the rake finger, and

providing a non-delayed data sample as an input for a pilot correlator within the rake finger.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of de-spreading and accumulating the delayed data samples for a sub-correlation length within the rake finger comprises de-spreading and accumulating the delayed data samples for a number of chips less than or equal to a spread factor.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising integrating the receiving unit into one of a mobile station and a base station.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the communication system comprises a code division multiple access (CDMA) based communication system.

6. The a wireless communication system, a receiving unit for demodulating a multi-path signal, a receiving unit comprising:

an input buffer, the input buffer configured to receive a multi-path signal, and to store data samples associated with a plurality of paths of the multi-path signal;

an input buffer controller operatively coupled to the input buffer, the input buffer controller being configured to time-align the data samples relative to each other, and to delay the data samples;

a rake finger operatively coupled to the input buffer, the rake finger configured to de-spread and to accumulate the delayed data samples for a sub-correlation length; and

a sum generator operatively coupled to the rake finger, the sum generator configured to accumulate a plurality of outputs from the rake finger, wherein the plurality of outputs include outputs corresponding to the plurality of paths of the multi-path signal.

7. The receiving unit of claim 6 is integrated into one of a mobile station and a base station.

8. The receiving unit of claim 6 , wherein the sub-correlation length is a number of chips less than or equal to a spread factor.

9. The receiving unit of claim 6 , wherein the rake finger comprises a data correlator configured to de-spread and to accumulate delayed data samples for a sub-correlation length.

10. The receiving unit of claim 6 is operable in accordance with a code division multiple access (CDMA) based communication protocol.

11. In a wireless communication system, wherein a receiving unit is configured to receive a multi-path signal, and wherein a processor operates in accordance with a computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium for demodulating the multi-path signal, the computer program comprising:

a first routine that directs the processor to store data samples associated with a plurality of paths of the multi-path signal within an input buffer, the input butter being operatively coupled to a rake finger associated with the receiving unit;

a second routine that directs the processor to time-align the data samples relative to each other;

a third routine that directs the processor to delay the data samples;

a fourth routine that directs die processor to de-spread and to accumulate the delayed data samples for a sub-correlation length within the rake finger; and

a fifth routine that directs the processor to combine a plurality of outputs from the rake finger within a sum generator to demodulate the multi-path signal, wherein the plurality of outputs include outputs corresponding to the plurality of paths of the multi-path signal.

12. The computer program of claim 11 , wherein the third routine comprises:

a routine that directs the processor to provide a delayed data sample as an input for a data correlator within the rake finger, and

a routine that directs the processor to provide a non-delayed data sample as an input for a pilot correlator within the rake finger.

13. The computer program of claim 11 , wherein the fourth routine comprises a routine that directs the processor-to de-spread and to accumulate the delayed data samples for a number of chips less than or equal to a spread factor.

14. The computer program of claim 11 , wherein the receiving unit is integrated into one of a mobile station and a base station.

15. The computer program of claim 11 is operable in accordance with a code division multiple access (CDMA) based communication protocol.

16. The computer program of claim 11 , wherein the medium is one of paper, a programmable gate array, application specific integrated circuit, erasable programmable read only memory, read only memory, random access memory, magnetic media, and optical media.

17. In a wireless communication system, a receiving means for demodulating a signal, a receiving means comprising:

a means for storing data samples associated with a plurality of paths of the multi-path signal;

a means for time-aligning the data samples relative to each other,

a means for delaying the data samples;

a means for de-spreading and accumulating the delayed data samples for a sub-correlation length; and

a means for combining a plurality of outputs from the rake finger within a sum generator to demodulate the multi-path signal, wherein the plurality of outputs include outputs corresponding to the plurality of paths of the multi-path signal.

18. The receiving means of claim 17 , wherein the means for de-spreading and accumulating the delayed data samples for a sub-correlation length within the rake finger comprises a means for de-spreading and accumulating the delayed data samples for a number of chips less than or equal to a spread factor.