Method and apparatus for processing a received signal in a communications system

A receiver unit, in a wireless communications system, comprising:

• a first buffer operative to receive and store digitized samples at a particular sample rate;
• a data processor coupled to the first buffer and operative to retrieve segments of the digitized samples from the first buffer and to process each of the retrieved segments with a particular set of parameter values, wherein the data processor is operated based on a processing clock having a frequency that is higher than the sample rate;
• a controller coupled to the data processor and operative to dispatch tasks for the data processor and to process signaling data from the data processor;
• and
• a micro-controller coupled to the controller and operative to receive the dispatched tasks and to generate a set of control signals to direct the operation of the first buffer and the data processor to execute the dispatched tasks, wherein the micro-controller includes a set of latches operative to latch a dispatched task and one or more parameter values to be applied for the dispatched task, at least one counter, each of the counters coupled to a respective latch and operative to provide an indicator signal based on a value stored in the latch, and a sequencing controller operative to receive at least one indicator signal and the dispatched task and to generate the set of control signals.

A method for processing a received signal in a wireless communications system, the method comprising:

• buffering digitized samples of a received signal in a first buffer;
• retrieving segments of the digitized samples from the first buffer,
• processing each of the retrieved segments with a particular set of parameter values;
• dispatching tasks for a data processor to process the retrieved segments and to process signaling data from the data processor;
• receiving the dispatched tasks and generating a set of control signals to direct the operation of the first buffer and the data processor to execute the dispatched tasks;
• latching a dispatched task and one or more parameter values to be applied for the dispatched task;
• providing an indicator signal based on a value stored in the latch;
• and
• receiving at least one indicator signal and the dispatched task and to generate the set of control signals.

A method comprising:

• storing digitized samples comprising multiple instances of a received signal at a first buffer;
• at a data processor, retrieving different segments of the digitized samples one segment at a time from the first buffer, each of the retrieved different segments comprising one of the multiple signal instances;
• processing two or more of the retrieved different segments one segment at a time with one programmed despreading sequence to provide despread samples;
• decovering the despread samples with a channelization code of programmable length to provide decovered symbols;
• demodulating the decovered symbols to provide demodulated symbols;
• combining the demodulated symbols from the multiple signal instances to provide processed symbols;
• receiving tasks, instantiating a state machine for each task, and directing the data processor to process the retrieved multiple segments;
• implementing a counter to control a write address for writing digitized samples to the first buffer;
• and
• sending a signal to a controller to initiate processing of the stored samples by the data processor.