Receiving and transmitting signals across non-contiguous channels in a communication system

1. A method for processing signals, the method comprising:

receiving signals from at least two non-contiguous channels, wherein the at least two non-contiguous channels are within a predetermined bandwidth, and wherein each of the at least two non-contiguous channels has a center frequency;

utilizing an average of the center frequencies of the at least two non-contiguous channels to down convert the at least two non-contiguous channels to a combined intermediate frequency (IF) channel that has a center frequency that is an average of a difference between the center frequencies of the at least two non-contiguous channels;

down converting the combined IF channel to a combined channel at a baseband frequency; and

recovering the at least two non-contiguous channels from the combined channel at a baseband frequency utilizing an upper sideband and lower sideband recovery mechanism.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least two non-contiguous channels are of equal bandwidth.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the receiving step comprises utilizing an amplifier to receive signals from the at least two non-contiguous channels.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the utilizing step comprises utilizing a plurality of mixers to down convert the at least two non-contiguous channels to the combined IF channel.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the mixers provide signals that are shifted by 90 degrees from each other.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the utilizing step comprises utilizing at least two sets of mixers to down convert the at least two non-contiguous channels to a combined IF channel.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the utilizing step comprises utilizing a plurality of bandpass filters to down convert the at least two non-contiguous channels to a combined IF channel.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the down converting step comprises utilizing at least one analog-to-digital converter to down convert the combined IF channel to the combined channel at the baseband frequency.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the recovering step utilizes a digital signal processor to recover the least two non-contiguous channels from the combined channel at the baseband frequency utilizing an upper sideband and lower sideband recovery mechanism.

10. A system comprising:

an amplifier for receiving signals from at least two non-contiguous channels, wherein the at least two non-contiguous channels are within a predetermined bandwidth, and wherein each of the at least two non-contiguous channels has a center frequency;

at least two down converters coupled to the amplifier, wherein the at least two down converters:

utilize an average of the center frequencies of the at least two non-contiguous channels to down convert the at least two non-contiguous channels to a combined intermediate frequency (IF) channel that has a center frequency that is an average of a difference between the center frequencies of the at least two non-contiguous channels; and

down convert the combined IF channel to a combined channel at a baseband frequency; and

a signal processor coupled to the at least two down converters, wherein the signal processor recovers the at least two non-contiguous channels from the combined channel at a baseband frequency utilizing an upper sideband and lower sideband recovery mechanism.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the at least two non-contiguous channels are of equal bandwidth.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein one channel of the at least two non-contiguous channels is an image of the other channel of the at least two non-contiguous channels.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the down converters comprise a plurality of mixers.

14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the down converters comprise a plurality of bandpass filters.

15. A receiver comprising:

an amplifier for receiving signals from at least two non-contiguous channels, wherein the at least two non-contiguous channels are within a predetermined bandwidth, and wherein each of the at least two non-contiguous channels has a center frequency;

at least two sets of mixers coupled to the amplifier, wherein the at least two sets of mixers utilize an average of the center frequencies of the at least two non-contiguous channels to down convert the at least two non-contiguous channels to a combined intermediate frequency (IF) channel that has a center frequency that is an average of a difference between the center frequencies of the at least two non-contiguous channels;

an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) coupled to at least two sets of mixers, wherein the ADC down converts the combined IF channel to a combined channel at a baseband frequency; and

a signal processor coupled to the ADC, wherein the signal processor recovers the at least two non-contiguous channels from the combined channel at a baseband frequency utilizing an upper sideband and lower sideband recovery mechanism.

16. The receiver of claim 15 , wherein the at least two channels are of equal bandwidth.

17. The receiver of claim 15 , wherein one channel of the at least two non-contiguous channels is an image of the other channel of the at least two non-contiguous channels.

18. The receiver of claim 15 , wherein one set of the at least two sets of mixers down converts the at least two non-contiguous channels utilizing an average of the center frequencies of the at least two non-contiguous channels.

19. The receiver of claim 15 , wherein one set of the at least two sets of mixers down converts the at least two non-contiguous channels to the combined IF channel having a center frequency that is the average of the difference between the center frequencies of the at least two non-contiguous channels.

20. The receiver of claim 15 , further comprising at least two low-pass filters.