Multirate circular buffer and method of operating the same

A circular buffer having an address generator for generating an address for the circular buffer in a memory, comprising:

• a first memory storage location storing a first reference value representative of a begin address of the circular buffer;
• a second memory storage location storing a second reference value representative of an end address of the circular buffer;
• a third memory storage location storing a third reference value representative of a current write address of the circular buffer;
• a fourth memory storage location storing a fourth reference value representative of a current read address of the circular buffer;
• a memory controller for protecting data stored in memory locations within the circular buffer to prevent stored data being overwritten by further data;
• means for allocating an amount of memory space of the memory in the circular buffer for storing of data;
• and
• means for writing data into an allocated memory space of the memory in the circular buffer as said data is received at the memory.

A mobile telecommunications system comprising a circular buffer having an address generator for generating an address for the circular buffer in a memory, the address generator comprising:

• a first memory storage location storing a first reference value representative of a begin address of the circular buffer;
• a second memory storage location storing a second reference value representative of an end address of the circular buffer;
• a third memory storage location storing a third reference value representative of a current write address of the circular buffer;
• a fourth memory storage location storing a fourth reference value representative of a current read address of the circular buffer;
• and
• a memory controller for protecting data stored in memory locations within the circular buffer to prevent stored data being overwritten by further data.