System and method for assigning combiner channels in spread spectrum communications

In a spread spectrum communications demodulating finger integrated circuit to supply combiner channel assignments for a plurality of demodulated information channels in a sample stream, the demodulating finger comprising:

• a combiner channel assignment input to accept combiner channel assignments;
• a sample stream input to accept a sample stream;
• a soft symbol output to supply soft symbols from demodulated information channels;
• and
• a combiner channel assignment output to supply combiner channel assignments for the soft symbols wherein the combiner channel assignment output assigns combiner channels for soft symbols in response to accepting combiner channel assignments.

In a spread spectrum communications integrated circuit receiver, a method for supplying combiner channel assignments for a plurality of demodulated information channels in a sample stream, the method comprising:

• accepting a sample stream:
• demodulating information channels in the sample stream;
• and
• supplying combiner channel assignments with soft symbols of the demodulated information channels, including supplying combiner channel assignments corresponding to demodulated information channels;
• accepting combiner channel assignments;
• storing combiner channel assignments in a register;
• and
• wherein supplying combiner channel assignments includes supplying the combiner channel assignments from the register.

In a spread spectrum communications integrated circuit receiver, a method for supplying combiner channel assignments for a plurality of demodulated information channels in a sample stream, the method comprising:

• accepting a sample stream:
• demodulating information channels in the sample stream;
• and
• supplying combiner channel assignments with soft symbols of the demodulated information channels, including supplying combiner channel assignments corresponding to demodulated information channels;
• accepting combiner channel assignments;
• accepting a carrier signal with a plurality of multipath delays;
• converting the carrier signal into a sample stream with a plurality of corresponding delays;
• and
• wherein accepting the sample stream includes accepting a sample stream with a plurality of sample stream delays;
• and
• the method further comprising:
• assigning selected sample stream delays to parallel demodulation paths;
• wherein demodulating information channels includes demodulating a common information channel in each parallel demodulation path;
• and
• wherein supplying combiner channel assignments with the soft symbols includes supplying combiner channel assignments from each parallel demodulation path to the same combiner channel.

In a spread spectrum communications integrated circuit receiver, a method for supplying combiner channel assignments for a plurality of demodulated information channels in a sample stream, the method comprising:

• accepting a sample stream,
• demodulating information channels in the sample stream;
• and
• supplying combiner channel assignments with soft symbols of the demodulated information channels, including supplying combiner channel assignments corresponding to demodulated information channels;
• accepting combiner channel assignments;
• accepting a plurality of independent carrier signals including a common information channel;
• converting the plurality of independent carrier signals into a corresponding plurality of independent sample streams including a common information channel, and
• wherein accepting a sample stream includes accepting a plurality of independent sample streams with a common information channel;
• and
• the method further comprising:
• assigning each independent sample stream to a parallel demodulation path;
• wherein demodulating information channels includes demodulating a common information channel in each parallel demodulation path;
• and
• wherein supplying combiner channel assignments with the soft symbols includes supplying combiner channel assignments from each parallel demodulation to the same combiner channel.