Method and apparatus for code identification in wireless applications

1. In a communications system, a method of determining whether a chipping code from a group of codes is used in a signal, the method comprising steps of:

a) receiving a signal which uses a chipping code;

b) calculating, for each respective code in the group of codes, a correlation value of the received signal and the respective code;

c) comparing, responsive to the step b) of calculating, a highest correlation value and a next highest correlation value;

d) determining if the comparison of step c) exceeds a first threshold;

e) comparing the highest correlation value and a total received power of the signal;

f) determining if the comparison of step e) exceeds a second threshold; and

g) selecting the code with the highest correlation value as the correct code if the determination in d) exceeds the first threshold and the determination in f) exceeds the second threshold.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining correlation values of codes used by the transmitter;

predicting a correlation value for the chipping code, based on the correlation values of the known codes and power offsets among the codes;

deriving a threshold from the predicted correlation value; and

comparing the highest correlation value using the threshold.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step e) further comprises:

dividing the highest correlation value by the total received power of the signal.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step c) further comprises:

dividing the highest correlation value by the next highest correlation value to produce a comparison value.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein step d) comprises determining if the comparison value exceeds the first threshold.

6. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

repeating steps a)-d) if the comparison value is less than a third threshold.

7. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

repeating the steps a)-d) using a reduced set of codes in the group of codes if the comparison value is in between the first threshold and a third threshold.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step a) further comprises:

determining a slot timing and a frame timing of the signal.

9. In a communications system, apparatus for determining whether a chipping code from a group of codes is used in the received signal, the apparatus comprising:

a) means for receiving a signal which uses a chipping code;

b) means for calculating, for each respective chipping code in the group of chipping codes, a correlation value of the received signal and the respective chipping code;

c) means for comparing, responsive to the act b) of calculating, a highest correlation value and a next highest correlation value;

d) means for determining if the comparison of step c) exceeds a first threshold;

e) means for comparing the highest correlation value and a total received power of the signal;

f) means for determining if the comparison of step e) exceeds a second threshold; and

g) means for selecting the chipping code with the highest correlation value as the correct chipping code based on steps d) and f).

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the group of chipping codes includes 8 chipping codes.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the means for receiving the signal is part of a mobile station.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising:

means for determining correlation values of codes used by the transmitter;

means for predicting a correlation value for the chipping code, based on the correlation values of the known codes and power offsets among the codes;

means for deriving a threshold from the predicted correlation value; and

means for comparing the highest correlation value using the threshold derived in the step c).

13. In a wireless communications network having a base station which uses a corresponding chipping code to transmit data to a plurality of mobile stations the base station using the corresponding chipping code to spread the data before transmission, a method of selecting the corresponding chipping code from the group of chipping codes:

a) transmitting a signal which includes the corresponding chipping code from the base station to a mobile station;

b) using the mobile station to calculate, for each respective chipping code in the group of chipping codes, a correlation value of the signal and the respective chipping code;

c) using the mobile station to compare, responsive to the step b), a highest correlation value and a next highest correlation value;

d) using the mobile station to determine if the comparison of step c) exceeds a first threshold;

e) using the mobile station to compare the highest correlation value and a total received power of the signal;

f) using the mobile station to determine if the comparison of step e) exceeds a second threshold;

g) using the mobile station to select the chipping code with the highest correlation value as the correct chipping code if the determination in d) exceeds the first threshold and the determination in f) exceeds the second threshold.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the step e) further comprises:

using the mobile station to divide the highest correlation value by the total received power of the signal.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the step c) further comprises:

using the mobile station to divide the highest correlation value by the next highest correlation value to produce a comparison value.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein step d) comprises using the mobile station to determine if the comparison value exceeds the first threshold.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

repeating steps a)-d) if the comparison value is less than a third threshold.

18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

repeating the steps a)-d) using a reduced set of chipping codes in the group of chipping codes if the comparison value is in between the first threshold and a third threshold.

19. The method of claim 13 , wherein the step a) further comprises:

using the mobile station to determine a slot timing and a frame timing used by the base station to transmit the signal.

20. In a communication system, a method of determining whether a chipping code from a group of codes is used in a signal, the method comprising steps of:

a) receiving a signal which uses a chipping code;

b) calculating, for each respective chipping code in the group of chipping codes, a correlation value of the signal and the respective chipping code;

c) comparing, responsive to the step b), a highest correlation value and a total received power of the signal;

d) determining if the comparison of step c) exceeds a first threshold;

e) comparing the highest correlation value and a next highest correlation value; and

f) determining if the comparison of step e) exceeds a second threshold;

g) selecting the chipping code with the highest correlation value as the correct chipping code if the determination in d) exceeds the first threshold and the determination in f) exceeds the second threshold.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the step e) further comprises:

dividing the highest correlation value by the next highest correlation value.

22. The method of claim 20 , wherein the step c) further comprises:

dividing the highest correlation value by the total received power of the signal to produce a comparison value.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein step d) comprises determining if the comparison value exceeds the first threshold.

24. The method of claim 22 , further comprising:

repeating steps a)-d) if the comparison value is less than a third threshold.

25. The method of claim 22 , further comprising:

repeating the steps a)-d) using a reduced set of chipping codes in the group of chipping codes if the comparison value is in between the first threshold and a third threshold.

26. The method of claim 20 , wherein the step a) further comprises:

determining a slot timing and a frame timing used by the base station to transmit the signal.

27. The method of claim 20 , further comprising:

determining correlation values of codes used by the transmitter;

predicting a correlation value for the chipping code, based on the correlation values of the known codes and power offsets among the codes;

deriving a threshold from the predicted correlation value; and

comparing the highest correlation value using the threshold.

28. In a wireless communications network having a base station which broadcasts data to a plurality of mobile stations according to a corresponding chipping code belonging to a group of chipping codes, the base station using its corresponding chipping code to divide the data before transmission, the base station broadcasting the chipping code in a radio frame having a plurality of slots, a method of selecting the corresponding chipping code from a group of chipping codes:

a) using the mobile station to determine a slot timing a radio frame used in transmissions by the base station by determining a timing of a first signal broadcast at the beginning of each slot in the radio frame by the base station on a primary synchronization channel;

b) using the mobile station to determine a frame timing of a radio frame used in transmissions by the base station by determining a pattern of second signals broadcast by the base station at the beginning of each slot of the radio frame on a secondary synchronization channel;

c) determining the group of chipping codes based on the pattern;

d) transmitting a third signal from the base station to a mobile station according to the frame timing determined in step b);

e) using the mobile station to calculate, for each respective chipping code in the determined group of chipping codes, a correlation value of the signal and the respective chipping code;

f) using the mobile station to compare, responsive to the step e), a highest correlation value and a next highest correlation value;

g) using the mobile station to determine if the comparison of step f) exceeds a first threshold;

h) using the mobile station to compare the highest correlation value and a total received power of the signal;

i) using the mobile station to determine if the comparison of step h) exceeds a second threshold; and

j) using the mobile station to select the code with the highest correlation value as the correct code if the determination in g) exceeds the first threshold and the determination in i) exceeds the second threshold.

29. In a communications system a method of determining whether a chipping code from a group of codes is used in a signal, the method comprising steps of:

a) determining correlation values of codes used by the transmitter;

b) predicting a correlation value for the chipping code, based on the correlation values of the known codes and power offsets among the codes;

c) deriving a threshold from the predicted correlation value;

d) comparing the highest correlation value using the threshold derived in the step c); and

e) selecting the code with the highest correlation value as the correct code if the comparison in step d) indicates the highest correlation value exceeds the threshold.