Radio frequency (RF) communications system having RF nodes that determine a despreading sequence and phase and timing offsets for frequency agility

A radio frequency (RF) communications system comprising:

• a first RF node configured to
• transmit data including a new frequency of operation, and
• transmit a sequence of pilot symbols spread with a spreading code sequence;
• and
• a second RF node comprising
• at least one data delay block,
• at least one multiplier downstream from the at least one data delay block, and
• at least one accumulator downstream from the at least one multiplier;
• the second RF node configured to
• receive an incoming signal from the first RF node comprising at least the sequence of pilot symbols,
• perform despreading for N sample offset delays to generate N despreading sequences for the sequence of pilot symbols, a starting position of the sequence of pilot symbols being within N samples,
• select a strongest despreading sequence from the N despreading sequences, and determine a timing offset,
• process the incoming signal based upon the strongest despreading sequence, and timing offset, and
• switch to the new frequency of operation.

A method of radio frequency (RF) communications comprising:

• operating a first RF node to
• transmit data including a new frequency of operation, and
• transmit a sequence of pilot symbols spread with a spreading code sequence;
• and
• operating a second RF node comprising at least one data delay block, at least one multiplier downstream from the at least one data delay block, and at least one accumulator downstream from the at least one multiplier to
• receive an incoming signal from the first RF node comprising at least the sequence of pilot symbols,
• perform despreading for N sample offset delays to generate N despreading sequences for the sequence of pilot symbols,
• select a despreading sequence from the N despreading sequences, and determine a timing offset,
• process the incoming signal based upon the despreading sequence, and timing offset, and
• switch to the new frequency of operation.