Method and apparatus for maximal-ratio combining of received frame data

A system for determining a received datum from a plurality of data from a plurality of independent receivers, the system comprising:

• a first signal-to-noise ratio value determination subsystem operatively coupled to a first receiver of the plurality of independent receivers to determine a first signal-to-noise ratio value based on a first metric signal received from the first receiver;
• a first multiplier operatively coupled to the first signal-to-noise ratio value determination subsystem to multiply the first signal-to-noise ratio value by a first representation of a first datum to provide a first weighted value, the first datum provided by the first receiver;
• a second signal-to-noise ratio value determination subsystem operatively coupled to a second receiver of the plurality of independent receivers to determine a second signal-to-noise ratio value based on a second metric signal received from the second receiver;
• a second multiplier operatively coupled to the second signal-to-noise ratio value determination subsystem to multiply the second signal-to-noise ratio value by a second representation of a second datum to provide a second weighted value, the second datum provided by the second receiver;
• an adder operatively coupled to the first multiplier and the second multiplier to combine the first weighted value and the second weighted value to provide a combined weighted value
• a first mapping subsystem operatively coupled to the first receiver to map the first datum to provide the first representation of the fist datum;
• and
• a second mapping subsystem operatively coupled to the second receiver to map the second datum to provide the second representation of the second datum.

A method for providing a lookup table memory device for providing a signal-to-noise ratio value based on a metric signal comprising the steps of:

• applying an average metric relationship to a plurality of possible signal-to-noise ratio values to yield a plurality of average metric values;
• for a first average metric value of the plurality of average metric values, determining a first signal-to-noise ratio value corresponding to the first average metric value from the plurality of possible signal-to-noise ratio values;
• and
• storing the first signal-to-noise ratio value corresponding to the first average metric value such that the first signal-to-noise ratio value is addressable by the first average metric value, the first signal-to-noise ratio value to select a first datum from a plurality of data from a plurality of independent receivers, the first signal-to-noise ratio value corresponding to the first datum.

An apparatus for converting a first metric signal to a first signal-to-noise ratio value, the first signal-to-noise ratio value to select a first datum from a plurality of data from a plurality of independent receivers, the first signal-to-noise ratio value corresponding to the first datum, the apparatus comprising:

• a relationship memory device;
• a processor operatively coupled to the relationship memory device to receive an average metric relationship stored In the relationship memory device;
• and
• a metric signal to signal-to-noise-ratio value converter operatively coupled to a first receiver of the plurality of independent receivers to receive a first metric signal and to the processor, the processor to provide to the metric signal to signal-to-noise ratio value converter the first signal-to-noise ratio value corresponding to a first average metric value.

A method for a soft handoff between a first base station and a second base station of a mobile unit transmitting a transmitted signal comprising the steps of:

• while the mobile unit is within an area of coverage of the first base station, receiving the transmitted signal at a first receiver of the first base station;
• while the mobile unit is in a soft handoff region, searching for the transmitted signal at a second receiver of the second base station;
• determining a first signal-to-noise ratio value based on a first metric signal obtained from the first receiver of the first base station;
• determining a second signal-to-noise ratio value based on a second metric signal obtained from the second receiver of the second base station;
• multiplying the first signal-to-noise ratio value by a first datum obtained from the first receiver to provide a first weighted value;
• multiplying the second signal-to-noise ratio value by a second datum obtained from the second receiver to provide a second weighted value;
• combining the first weighted value and the second weighted value to provide a combined weighted value;
• determining the received datum based on the combined weighted value;
• mapping the first datum according to a first mapping function;
• mapping the second datum according to the first mapping functions;
• and
• mapping the received datum according to a second mapping function, wherein the second mapping function is an inverse of the first mapping function.

A system for determining a received datum from a plurality of data from a Plurality of independent receivers, the plurality of data obtained from a transmitted signal transmitted by a mobile unit during a soft handoff, the system comprising:

• a first signal-to-noise ratio value determination subsystem operatively coupled to a first receiver of the plurality of independent receivers to determine a first signal-to-noise ratio value based an a first metric signal received from the first receiver,
• a first multiplier operatively coupled to the first signal-to-noise ratio value determination subsystem to multiply the first signal-to-noise ratio value by a first representation of a first datum to provide a first weighted value, the first datum provided by the first receiver;
• a second signal-to-noise ratio value determination subsystem operatively coupled to a second receiver of the plurality of independent receivers to determine a second signal-to-noise ratio value based on a second metric signal received from the second receiver;
• a second multiplier operatively coupled to the second signal-to-noise ratio value determination subsystem to multiply the second signal-to-noise ratio value by a second representation of a second datum to provide a second weighted value, the second datum provided by the second receiver;
• an adder operatively coupled to the first multiplier and the second multiplier to combine the first weighted value and the second weighted value to provide a combined weighted value
• a first mapping subsystem operatively coupled to the first receiver to map the first datum to provide the first representation of the first datum;
• and
• a second mapping subsystem operatively coupled to the second receiver to map the second datum to provide the second representation of the second datum.