All digital maximum likelihood based spread spectrum receiver

A spread spectrum receiver for use in a spread spectrum communication system, said spread spectrum receiver comprising:

• an analog-to-digital converter for receiving an analog spread spectrum signal, and for converting said received analog signal to a digital signal, said received analog signal having a plurality of both main and multipath return signals of varying signal strengths;
• a frequency offset correction device, electrically connected to said analog-to-digital converter, for modifying said digital signal in accordance with a frequency correction term signal to thereby correct for frequency offset in said received analog signal;
• searching means for receiving said modified digital signal, and for searching through said modified digital signal to identify M of said main and multipath return signals having the strongest signal strengths;
• and
• processing means, electrically connected to said searching means and said frequency offset correction device, for processing said identified main and multipath return signals in accordance with predetermined maximum likelihood techniques to thereby generate said frequency correction term signal.