The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 28, 2001
Filed:
Apr. 01, 1998
Robert F. Fleming, III, Derwood, MD (US);
William A. Check, Great Falls, VA (US);
Joseph A. Chisholm, Manassas, VA (US);
Brian J. Glinsman, Herndon, VA (US);
David B. Kim, Great Falls, VA (US);
Ronald L. Kronz, Fairfax, VA (US);
David G. Decker, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Norman F. Krasner, San Carlos, CA (US);
Spacenet, Inc., McLean, VA (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for receiving and processing burst-mode code-division multiple access (CDMA) direct-sequence spread-spectrum (DSSS) signals is provided. In this apparatus and method, a number of demodulators are provided in a set enumerated order. Each demodulator is either “ready,” meaning that it is free to process signals, or busy meaning that it is currently processing a signal. The ready demodulators each receive an input IF signal and try to detect a preamble in the IF signal. Once they detect the preamble, each ready demodulator then sends a request signal to an arbitrator. In response to a received request signal, the arbitrator sends a grant signal to the first ready demodulator in the enumerated order. This grant signal passes through each busy demodulator that is higher in the enumerated order than the first ready demodulator. The first ready demodulator then begins processing the signal, and is moved from the set of ready demodulators to the set of busy demodulators. The remaining ready demodulators then continue processing incoming signals. When a busy demodulator completes processing a signal, it is returned to the set of ready demodulators.