Dual paging channel receiver for a wireless communications system

An efficient system for determining if a primary paging channel should be received and processed via a wireless communications device based on a quick paging channel in a wireless communications system comprising:

• first means for receiving an electromagnetic signal including pilot signal and quick paging signal components;
• second means for providing a first quality parameter, a first decision metric, and a second quality parameter, said first quality parameter indicative of a quality of a signal environment in which said electromagnetic signal is propagating based on said pilot signal, said first decision metric indicative of a value of said first symbol, and said third quality parameter indicative of an energy of said pilot signal, said first quality parameter, said first decision metric, and said second quality parameter associated with a first symbol of said quick paging signal;
• third means for ascertaining whether a second symbol of said quick paging channel signal or said primary paging channel should be processed based on said first quality parameter, said first decision metric, and said third quality parameter, and providing a first indication in response thereto;
• and
• fourth means for determining if said subsequent paging channel should be processed based on a fourth quality parameter and one or more combined decision metrics associated with both said first symbol and said second symbol when said first indication indicates that said second symbol should be processed and providing a second indication response thereto.

An efficient wireless communications device adapted for use with a wireless communications network employing a quick paging channel and a primary paging channel comprising:

• a transceiver for receiving receive signals and transmitting transmit signals;
• a processor for processing said receive signals and controlling said transceiver, said processor including a system for selectively receiving and processing said primary paging channel in response to said quick paging channel, said system including first means for receiving an electromagnetic signal that includes pilot signal and quick paging signal components;
• second means for providing a first quality parameter indicative of a quality of a signal environment in which said electromagnetic signal is propagating based on said pilot signal, said first parameter associated with a first symbol of said quick paging signal;
• third means for checking whether a second symbol of said quick paging channel signal or said primary paging channel should be processed based on said first quality parameter and providing a first indication in response thereto;
• and fourth means for determining if said primary paging channel should be processed based on a second quality parameter and based on one or more combined decision metrics associated with both said first symbol and said second symbol when said first indication indicates that said second symbol should be processed and providing a second indication response thereto;
• and
• a controller running on said processor for selectively processing said primary paging channel and establishing any subsequent traffic channels specified via said primary paging channel in response to said first indication and/or said second indication of said system.

An efficient system for determining if a paging channel should be received and processed via a wireless communications device based on a quick paging channel in a wireless communications system comprising:

• first means for receiving and demodulating a receive signal, said receive signal including a pilot channel signal associated with a first symbol of a quick paging channel signal of said quick paging channel and providing a pilot energy value representative of an energy of said pilot channel signal;
• second means for computing a normalized pilot energy based on said pilot energy value and a total energy value associated with said receive signal and said first symbol;
• third means for calculating a first decision metric based on said first symbol, said pilot channel signal, and said pilot energy value;
• fourth means for comparing said normalized pilot energy to a first erasure threshold and providing a first erasure indication in response thereto;
• fifth means for selectively comparing said first decision metric to a first on-off threshold when said first erasure indication indicates no erasure and providing a first on-off indication in response thereto;
• sixth means for directly comparing said pilot energy value to a second on-off threshold when said first on-off indication indicates on and/or when said first erasure indication indicates erasure and providing a second on-off indication in response thereto;
• seventh means for employing said first means and said second means to provide a second pilot energy value and a second carrier to signal interference ratio both associated with a second symbol of said quick paging channel signal, when said second on-off indication indicates off;
• eighth means for comparing said second normalized pilot energy to a second erasure threshold and providing a second erasure indication in response thereto;
• ninth means for computing a second decision metric or a third decision metric based on first and second noise power estimates each associated with said first quick paging channel symbol and said second quick paging channel symbol, respectively;
• based on combined symbol and pilot energies for the first and second quick paging channel symbols, respectively;
• and based on said first pilot energy and a second pilot energy associated with said first and second quick paging channel symbols, respectively, said ninth means activated when said second erasure indication indicates no erasure;
• tenth means for comparing said first or second decision metric to a third on-off threshold and providing a third on-off indication in response thereto;
• eleventh means for selectively placing said wireless communications device in a sleep state when said first on-off indication indicates off and/or when said third on-off indication indicates off;
• twelfth means for selectively receiving and processing said primary paging channel when said third on-off indication indicates on, said second erasure indication indicates erasure, and/or said second on-off indication indicates on.

An efficient method for determining if a paging channel should be received and processed via a wireless communications device based on a quick paging channel in a wireless communications system comprising the steps of:

• receiving an electromagnetic signal including pilot signal and quick paging signal components;
• providing a first quality parameter indicative of a quality of a signal environment in which said electromagnetic signal is propagating based on said pilot signal, said first quality parameter associated with a first symbol of said quick paging signal;
• ascertaining whether a second symbol of said quick paging channel signal or said subsequent paging channel should be processed based on said first quality parameter and providing a first indication in response thereto;
• and
• determining if said subsequent paging channel should be processed based on a second quality parameter and one or more combined decision metrics associated with both said first symbol and said second symbol when said first indication indicates that said second symbol should be processed and providing a second indication response thereto.

A system for interpreting a quick paging channel signal in a wireless communications system comprising:

• a receiver circuit having an antenna and a receive chain;
• a pilot estimation circuit in communication with said receiver;
• a total received energy computation circuit in communication with said receiver;
• a quick paging channel symbol combiner in communication with said pilot estimation circuit, said total received energy computation circuit, and said receiver;
• and
• a page detector in communication with said quick paging channel symbol combiner.