Signal grading in a selective call receiver for automatic gain control

A selective call receiver comprising:

• a receiver circuit for receiving a selective call signal at one of a plurality of predetermined baud rates and having at least one radio frequency amplifier and at least one mixer, wherein the at least one radio frequency amplifier is coupled to the at least one mixer;
• a baud rate detector for performing at least one baud rate detection to detect said selective call signal, wherein output of the at least one mixer is coupled to the baud rate detector;
• a signal grader coupled to the baud rate detector for collating results of the at least one baud rate detection with a plurality of predetermined criteria including a number of bit edges detected by the baud rate detector within one of a plurality of predetermined periodic time intervals in the at least one baud rate detection to determine a signal quality of said selective call signal, and wherein a signal grade is assigned to said selective call signal based on the signal quality, and further wherein the signal grade is one of at least three signal grades;
• and
• a gain controller, coupled to the signal grader, the at least one radio frequency amplifier and the at least one mixer for setting the at least one radio frequency amplifier and the at least one mixer to operate with one of a plurality of selectable predetermined parameters corresponding to the signal grade assigned to said selective call signal.

A selective call receiver comprising:

• a receiver circuit for receiving a selective call signal at one of a plurality of predetermined baud rates and having at least one radio frequency amplifier and at least one mixer, wherein the at least one radio frequency amplifier is coupled to the at least one mixer;
• a codeplug for storing a plurality of selective call signal parameters including the one of a plurality of predetermined baud rates;
• a decoder for decoding a selective call message encoded within said selective call signal;
• and
• a microcontroller coupled to the receiver circuit, the codeplug, and the decoder, and wherein the microcontroller comprises:
• a baud rate detector for performing at least one baud rate detection to detect said selective call signal, wherein output of the at least one mixer couples to the baud rate detector;
• a signal grader coupled to the baud rate detector for collating results of the at least one baud rate detection with a plurality of predetermined criteria including a number of bit edges detected by the baud rate detector within one of a plurality of predetermined periodic time intervals in the at least one baud rate detection to determine a signal quality of said selective call signal, wherein the bit edges correspond to data bit edge transitions from one value to an opposite value and further wherein a signal grade is assigned to said selective call signal based on the signal quality, and further wherein the signal grade is one of at least three signal grades;
• and
• a gain controller, coupled to the signal grader, the at least one radio frequency amplifier, and the at least one mixer receiver circuit for setting the at least one radio frequency amplifier and the at least one mixer to operate with one of a plurality of selectable predetermined parameters corresponding to the signal grade assigned to said selective call signal.