Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.v.

St Wireless Sa

St-Ericsson Sa

Greg Luker

Gibong Jeong

Luis Aldaz

Juncheng C Liu

Daniel Jeng Hsia

Dan Hsia

A method of managing fingers for multipath signals in a wireless communication device. In one embodiment, the present invention recites receiving multipath signals at a wireless communication device. The present embodiment then acquires one of the multipath signals in a searcher portion of the wireless communication device and determines a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) level of the one multipath signal. Next, the present embodiment evaluates the multipath signal for categorization into one of a plurality of states and then generates a finger assignment by selectively providing the multipath signal for a demodulation operation based upon its state. The present embodiment then receives the finger assignment from the searcher portion of the communication device and determines a signal-strength for the finger assignment. The present embodiment then enables the finger assignment for a combine operation if the signal-strength for the finger assignment satiates a first signal-strength threshold. The present embodiment also prevents the finger assignment from being deassigned if the signal-strength of the finger assignment satiates a second threshold, wherein the second signal-strength threshold is less than the first signal-strength threshold.

Method and apparatus for combined finger management and finger lock for a multipath signals in a wireless communication system

A method for managing multipath signals to be demodulated by a receiver with multiple demodulators. The method includes a series of steps, including receiving the multipath signals at a wireless communication receiver device, finding the multipath signals having sufficient signal strength for demodulation, and measuring an arrival time of one of the multipath signals. In one embodiment, the present invention also recites measuring a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) level of one of the multipath signals, updating a multipath list with the arrival time and the signal-to-noise ratio if the multipath signal is identified based upon the arrival time with one of the multipath signals existing in the multipath list, and identifying newly-found multipath signals and evaluating one of the newly-found multipath signals based on the signal-to-noise ratio for categorization into one of a plurality of states. Additionally, in one embodiment of the present invention, the present method includes evaluating one of the existing multipath signals based on the signal-to-noise ratio for moving the multipath signal from one to another of a plurality of states, selectively providing one of the multipath signals for a demodulation operation based upon its state, selectively rejecting one of the multipath signals from the multipath list based on the signal-to-noise ratio, and repeating several of the above mentioned operations to process all found multipath signals.

Method and apparatus for managing multipath signals for a receiver with multiple demodulators

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Greg Luker