Detection of repetitive data signals

1. An apparatus for detecting repetitive information in data packets communicated between a first node and a second node over a wireless network, comprising:

processing circuitry configured to:

collect samples of a data communication signal transmitted between said first node and said second node over said wireless network at a plurality of respective times;

group said collected samples into a plurality of sequences of samples;

combine said plurality of sequences of samples into at least one united signal; and

based on an analysis of said at least one united signal, provide a signal indicative of repetitive information in a plurality of data packets carried by said data communication signal.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said analysis comprises identifying a presence or absence of repetitive information in said at least one united signal, said signal indicative of repetitive information comprising an indicator of said identified presence or said absence of repetitive information in said plurality of data packets.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said analysis comprises extracting repetitive information from said at least one united signal, said signal indicative of repetitive information comprising said extracted repetitive information.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of sequences of samples comprises a single data packet.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said processing circuitry is further configured to monitor said data communication signal transmitted between said first node and said second node.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a sampler configured for sampling a baseband input signal and for providing said samples to said processing circuitry for said collecting.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein frequency conversion is applied to each one of said plurality of sequences of samples prior to said combining said plurality of sequences of samples into said at least one united signal.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said processing circuitry is configured to perform said combining by forming a weighted linear combination of the plurality of sequences of samples and delayed versions of said plurality of said sequences of samples.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein said processing circuitry is configured to select weighting coefficients for said weighted linear combination in accordance with conditions of a communication channel of said network.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said processing circuitry is configured to perform said combining by:

specifying a plurality of sets of weighting coefficients; and

forming a respective united signal as a weighted linear combination of the plurality of sequences of samples and delayed versions of said plurality of sequences of samples for each one of said sets of weighting coefficients,

said signal indicative of repetitive information being provided when repetitive information is identified in at least one of said respective united signals.

11. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said processing circuitry is configured to perform said combining by:

detecting a respective data packet for each one of said plurality of sequences of samples;

using at least one of a preamble and a synchronization sequence of said data packets, calculating weights for combining said plurality of sequences of samples into a united signal; and

forming a weighted linear combination of said plurality of sequences of samples and delayed versions of said plurality of said plurality of sequences of samples using said calculated weights.

12. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said processing circuitry is configured to perform said combining by:

detecting a respective data packet for each one of said plurality of sequences of samples;

performing symbol detection on said detected data packets to obtain respective symbol sequences; and

linearly combining said symbol sequences.

13. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said processing circuitry is configured to perform said combining by:

detecting a respective data packet for each one of said plurality of sequences of samples;

decoding each of said detected data packets into respective bit sequences; and

for each position in said at least one united signal, selecting a bit level occurring in a majority of bits at said position in said respective bit sequences.

14. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said processing circuitry is configured to perform said combining by:

detecting a respective data packet for each one of said plurality of sequences of samples; and

for each position in said at least one united signal, selecting a bit level having a highest probability of occurrence at said position based on a likelihood-ratio analysis of said detected data packets.

15. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said processing circuitry is configured to collect said samples in synchronization with a detected data packet received from one of said first node and said second node.

16. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said processing circuitry is configured to collect said samples in synchronization with a detected request packet.

17. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said processing circuitry is configured to collect said samples in synchronization with a detected response packet.

18. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said processing circuitry is configured to collect said samples in synchronization with a cycle time of a plurality of detected data packets transmitted by at least one of said first node and said second node.

19. A method of detecting repetitive information in data packets communicated between a first node and a second node over a wireless network, comprising:

collecting samples of a data communication signal transmitted between said first node and said second node over said wireless network at a plurality of respective times;

grouping said collected samples into a plurality of sequences of samples;

combining said plurality of sequences of samples into at least one united signal; and

based on an analysis of said at least one united signal, providing a signal indicative of repetitive information in a plurality of data packets carried by said data communication signal.

20. A method according to claim 19 , wherein said analysis comprises identifying a presence or absence of repetitive information in said at least one united signal, said signal indicative of repetitive information comprising an indicator of said identified presence or absence of repetitive information.

21. A method according to claim 19 , wherein said analysis comprises extracting repetitive information from said at least one united signal, wherein said signal indicative of repetitive information comprises said extracted repetitive information.

22. A method according to claim 19 , further comprising monitoring said data communication signal between said first node and said second node.

23. A method according to claim 19 , further comprising sampling a baseband input signal and providing said samples for said collecting.

24. A method according to claim 19 , further comprising applying frequency conversion to each one of said plurality of sequences of samples prior to said combining said plurality of sequences of samples into said at least one united signal.

25. A method according to claim 19 , wherein said combining comprises forming a weighted linear combination of said plurality of sequences of said samples and delayed versions of said plurality of sequences of samples.

26. A method according to claim 25 , further comprising selecting weighting coefficients for said weighted linear combination in accordance with conditions of a communication channel of said network.

27. A method according to claim 19 , wherein said combining comprises:

specifying a plurality of sets of weighting coefficients; and

forming a respective united signal as a weighted linear combination of said plurality of sequences of samples and delayed versions of said plurality of sequences of samples for each one of said sets of weighting coefficients;

said signal indicative of repetitive information being provided when repetitive information is identified in at least one of said respective united signals.

28. A non-transitory computer program product including computer program code, which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to detect repetitive information in data packets communicated between a first node and a second node over a wireless network by:

collecting samples of a data communication signal transmitted between said first node and said second node over said wireless network at a plurality of respective times;

grouping said collected samples into a plurality of sequences of samples;

combining said plurality of sequences of samples into at least one united signal; and

based on an analysis of said at least one united signal, providing a signal indicative of repetitive information in a plurality of data packets carried by said data communication signal.