Multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) timing synchronization using correlation with first and second known signal

1. A receiving apparatus, comprising:

a receiver which receives a packet signal wherein the packet signal is such that a first data signal is assigned posterior to a first known signal, a second known signal is assigned posterior to the first data signal, and a second data signal is assigned posterior to the second known signal;

a first detector which detects a temporary timing in a manner such that the presence of the first known signal in the packet signal is detected by performing correlation processing on the first known signal in the packet signal received by said receiver;

a first processing unit which detects the presence of the second known signal in the packet signal, by processing the first data in the packet signal at the temporary timing detected in said first detector;

a second detector which detects a timing by performing correlation processing on the second known signal in the packet signal received by said receiver when the presence of the second known signal is detected by said first detector; and

a second processing unit which processes the second data signal in the packet signal, at the timing detected by said second detector,

wherein an identical pattern is contained both in the first known signal and the second known signal in the packet signal received in said receiver.

2. A receiving apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a correlator to perform the correlation processing in said first detector and a correlator to perform the correlation processing in said second detector are put to a common use.

3. A receiving apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said receiver receives another packet signal that contains a first known signal and, in the another packet signal, constellation of part posterior to the first known signal differs from constellation of at least part of a first data, and

wherein when in the packet signal received by said receiver the constellation of part posterior to the first known signal corresponds to the constellation of at lease part of the first data signal, it is determined by said first processing unit that the presence of the second known signal in the packet signal has been detected.

4. A receiving apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the packet signal received in said receiver is composed of a plurality of streams, and while using as a reference a second known signal assigned to one of a plurality of streams, a cyclic timing shift within the second known signal is applied to a second known signal assigned to other stream,

said second detector including:

a derivation unit which derives, as candidates for timing, a timing corresponding to the second known signal serving as the reference and a timing corresponding to the second known signal to which a timing shift is applied, based on a correlation value;

a shift unit which applies a timing shift corresponding to an amount of timing shift, to the second known signal to which a timing shift is applied, among the candidates for timing derived by the derivation unit; and

a decision unit which determines a timing, based on the timing shifted by the shift unit and the timing corresponding to the second known signal serving as the reference among the candidates for timing derived by the derivation unit.

5. A receiving apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a storage unit which stores the packet signal received by said receiver,

wherein when the second data signal in the packet signal is processed at the timing detected by said second detector, said second processing unit processes again the first data signal in the packet signal stored in said storage unit.