Method and apparatus for producing channel estimate of a communication channel in a CDMA communication system

In a communication system that provides wireless communication between a base station and a plurality of mobile stations via a plurality (1 through M) of communication channels, wherein each of said plurality (1 through M) of communication channels includes data and pilot symbols, spread according to at least a predefined code, selected from 1 through M predefined orthogonal codes, assigned to each of said plurality (1 through M) of communication channels, a method of producing a combined channel estimate for decoding a first data symbol of a first (1) communication channel comprising the steps of:

• extracting data and pilot symbols of said first (1) communication channel based on a first (1) predefined code assigned to said first (1) communication channel to produce a first (1) extracted data symbol and a first (1) extracted pilot symbol;
• extracting pilot symbols of a remaining (2 through M) plurality of communication channels based on corresponding 2 through M assigned codes to produce a plurality (2 through M) of extracted pilot symbols;
• combining said first (1) extracted pilot symbol and said plurality (2 through M) of extracted pilot symbols to produce a combined extracted pilot symbol;
• determining said combined channel estimate based on said combined extracted pilot symbol.

In a communication system that provides wireless communication between a base station and a plurality of mobile stations via a plurality (1 through M) of communication channels, wherein each of said plurality (1 through M) of communication channels includes data and pilot symbols, coded according to at least a predefined code, selected from 1 through M predefined codes, assigned to each of said plurality (1-M) of communication channels, an apparatus for producing a combined channel estimate for decoding a first data symbol of a first (1) communication channel comprising the steps of:

• means for extracting data and pilot symbols of said first (1) communication channel based on a first (1) predefined code assigned to said first (1) communication channel to produce a first (1) extracted data symbol and a first (1) extracted pilot symbol;
• means for extracting pilot symbols of a remaining (2-M) plurality of communication channels based on corresponding 2-M assigned codes to produce a plurality (2-M) of extracted pilot symbols;
• means for determining a first channel estimate based on said first (1) extracted pilot symbol;
• means for combining said first (1) extracted pilot symbol and said plurality (2-M) of extracted pilot symbols to produce a combined extracted pilot symbol;
• means for determining a second channel estimate based on said combined extracted pilot symbol;
• means for combining said first and second channel estimates to produce said combined channel estimate.