Method and apparatus for performing packet detection processing

1. A method of performing packet processing, comprising:

receiving a signal having a preamble sequence comprising a plurality of subsymbols;

deriving a detection parameter estimate from a magnitude of an estimate of the autocorrelation of adjacent subsymbols within the preamble sequence; and

evaluating the detection parameter estimate to process at least one packet in said signal.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said evaluating comprises using the detection parameter estimate to detect a presence of said at least one packet.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein said presence of said at least one packet is detected in accordance with a threshold.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the threshold is set in accordance with a probability of false alarm.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein deriving the detection parameter estimate comprises:

applying a matched filter to each of said plurality of subsymbols;

determining a plurality of estimated detection parameters; and

summing the plurality of estimated detection parameters to derive said detection parameter estimate.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein a phase of each of the plurality of estimated detection parameters is used to determine a running estimate of a frequency offset.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein a phase of each of the plurality of estimated detection parameters is used to correct a phase of the preamble sequence.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said applying comprises using the detection parameter estimate to determine a frequency offset.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the signal comprises a reduced resolution signal.

10. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions including instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of a method of performing packet processing, comprising:

receiving a signal having a preamble sequence comprising a plurality of subsymbols;

deriving a detection parameter estimate from a magnitude of an estimate of the autocorrelation of adjacent subsymbols within the preamble sequence; and

evaluating the detection parameter estimate to process at least one packet in said signal.

11. An apparatus for performing packet processing, comprising:

means for receiving a signal having a preamble sequence comprising a plurality of subsymbols;

means for deriving a detection parameter estimate from a magnitude of an estimate of the autocorrelation of adjacent subsymbols within the preamble sequence; and

means for evaluating the detection parameter estimate to process at least one packet in said signal.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said evaluating means uses the detection parameter estimate to detect a presence of said at least one packet.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein said presence of said at least one packet is detected in accordance with a threshold.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the means for deriving the detection parameter estimate comprises:

means for applying a matched filter to each of said plurality of subsymbols;

means for determining a plurality of estimated detection parameters; and

means for summing the plurality of estimated detection parameters to derive said detection parameter estimate.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein a phase of each of the plurality of estimated detection parameters is used to determine a running estimate of a frequency offset.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein a phase of each of the plurality of estimated detection parameters is used to correct a phase of the preamble sequence.

17. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said applying means uses the detection parameter estimate to determine a frequency offset.

18. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the signal comprises a reduced resolution signal.