Parameter estimation techniques applicable to multiple-signal communications media

A method for separating one or more individual signals, each individual signal having a corresponding bandwidth occupancy, from a composite signal that includes a plurality of individual signals and having a composite signal bandwidth, the method including the steps of:

• (a) taking a first set of samples from the composite signal during a first time duration;
• (b) taking a second set of samples from the composite signal during a second time duration, wherein the first and second time durations are selected such that at least a portion of the second time duration does not temporally overlap the first time duration;
• (c) applying a weighing function to the first and second sets of samples to generate, respectively, first and second weighted sample sets;
• and
• (d) measuring the autocorrelation between the first and second weighted sample sets so as to determine the bandwidth occupancies of the one or more individual signals relative to the composite signal bandwidth.

A method for separating one or more individual signals, each individual signal having a bandwidth occupancy, from a composite signal including a plurality of signals and having a composite signal bandwidth, the method including the steps of:

• (a) taking a first set of samples from the composite signal during a first time duration;
• (b) taking a second set of samples from the composite signal during a second time duration, wherein the first and second time durations are selected such that at least a portion of the second time duration does not temporally overlap the first time duration;
• and
• (c) measuring the autocorrelation between the first set of samples and the second set of samples, wherein the autocorrelation characterizes a spectral arrangement for the composite signal specifying the bandwidth occupancies of a plurality of individual signals relative to the composite signal bandwidth.