Method and apparatus for time-sharing a rake receiver structure

An integrated circuit for use in a rake receiver, the integrated circuit for time-sharing K correlators to process correlation of a block of input samples of pilot, control, and data channels of a plurality of branches requiring N correlations for complete processing of said block, wherein K is less than N, the integrated circuit comprising:

• a processor for controlling the integrated circuit;
• the K correlators coupled to the processor for processing the pilot channels for the plurality of branches to derive pilot symbols for each of the plurality of branches before processing the control and data channels;
• and
• a signal quality estimator coupled to the K correlators and coupled to the processor for determining a signal quality for each of the plurality of branches from said pilot symbols,
• wherein the processor is programmed to:
• cooperate with the K correlators to determine a timing estimate for each of the plurality of branches from said pilot symbols;
• and
• cooperate further with the K correlators to subsequently process the control and data channels of the plurality of branches, in an order determined by a plurality of branch attributes comprising at least one of the signal quality and the timing estimate determined for each of the plurality of branches.

A software program that when installed and executing on a processor causes the processor to form a rake receiver function having K correlators, the processor time-sharing the K correlators to process correlation of a block of input samples of pilot, control, and data channels of a plurality of branches requiring N correlations for complete processing of said block, wherein K is less than N, the software program further causing the processor, for said block of input samples, to:

• process the pilot channels for the plurality of branches by the K correlators to derive pilot symbols for each of the plurality of branches before processing the control and data channels;
• determine a timing estimate for each of the plurality of branches from said pilot symbols;
• determine a signal quality for each of the plurality of branches from said pilot symbols;
• and
• subsequently process the control and data channels of the plurality of branches by the K correlators, in an order determined by a plurality of branch attributes comprising at least one of the signal quality and the timing estimate determined for each of the plurality of branches.

A wireless receiver, comprising:

• a receiver front end for down-converting a wireless signal;
• and
• an apparatus, coupled to the receiver front end, for performing a rake receiver function on the wireless signal, the apparatus for time-sharing K correlators to process correlation of a block of input samples of pilot, control, and data channels of a plurality of branches requiring N correlations for complete processing of said block, wherein K is less than N, the apparatus comprising:
• a processor for controlling the apparatus;
• the K correlators coupled to the processor for processing the pilot channels for the plurality of branches to derive pilot symbols for each of the plurality of branches before processing the control and data channels;
• and
• a signal quality estimator coupled to the K correlators and coupled to the processor for determining a signal quality for each of the plurality of branches from said pilot symbols,
• wherein the processor is programmed to:
• cooperate with the K correlators to determine a timing estimate for each of the plurality of branches from said pilot symbols;
• and
• cooperate further with the K correlators to subsequently process the control and data channels of the plurality of branches, in an order determined by a plurality of branch attributes comprising at least one of the signal quality and the timing estimate determined for each of the plurality of branches.