Frequency and timing error estimation and corresponding channel characterization in a communication system

A method for determining a timing synchronization error over at least one timing search space for a received signal, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) calculating a first noise estimation for a first timing offset in a timing search space;
• b) calculating at least a second noise estimation for a second timing offset in said timing search space;
• and
• c) determining a minimum noise estimation from said calculated noise estimations, wherein said timing error is the timing offset corresponding to said minimum noise estimation.

A method for determining a frequency error and a timing synchronization error over at least one combined frequency and timing search space for a received signal;

• the method comprising the steps of:
• a) calculating a first noise estimation for a first frequency and timing offset pair in a combined frequency and timing search space;
• b) calculating at least a second noise estimation for a second frequency and timing offset pair in said combined frequency and timing search space;
• and
• c) determining a minimum noise estimation from said calculated noise estimations, wherein said frequency error is the frequency offset corresponding to said minimum noise estimation, and said timing error is the timing offset corresponding to said minimum noise estimation.

A method for determining a frequency error over at least one frequency search space for a received signal, the method comprising the steps of:

• for a first channel characterization over a first frequency search space,
• calculating a first noise estimation for a first frequency offset in said first frequency search space;
• calculating at least a second noise estimation for a second frequency offset in said first frequency search space;
• and
• determining a corresponding first preliminary minimum noise estimation from said calculated noise estimations;
• for at least a second channel characterization over a second frequency search space,
• calculating a first noise estimation for a first frequency offset in said second frequency search space;
• calculating at least a second noise estimation for a second frequency offset in said second frequency search space;
• and
• determining a corresponding second preliminary minimum noise estimation from said calculated noise estimations;
• and
• selecting a minimum noise estimation from said preliminary minimum noise estimations, wherein said frequency error is the frequency offset corresponding to said minimum noise estimation.

A method for determining a timing synchronization error over at least one timing search space for a received signal, the method comprising the steps of:

• for a first channel characterization over a first timing search space,
• calculating a first noise estimation for a first timing offset in said first timing search space;
• calculating at least a second noise estimation for a second timing offset in said first timing search space;
• and
• determining a corresponding first preliminary minimum noise estimation from said calculated noise estimations;
• for at least a second channel characterization over a second timing search space,
• calculating a first noise estimation for a first timing offset in said second timing search space;
• calculating at least a second noise estimation for a second timing offset in said second timing search space;
• and
• determining a corresponding second preliminary minimum noise estimation from said calculated noise estimations;
• and
• selecting a minimum noise estimation from said preliminary minimum noise estimations, wherein said timing error is the timing offset corresponding to said minimum noise estimation.

A method for determining a frequency error and a timing synchronization error over at least one combined frequency and timing search space for a received signal, the method comprising the steps of:

• for a first channel characterization over a first combined frequency and timing search space,
• calculating a first noise estimation for a first frequency and timing offset pair in said first combined frequency and timing search space;
• calculating at least a second noise estimation for a second frequency and timing offset pair in said first combined frequency and timing search space;
• and
• determining a corresponding first preliminary minimum noise estimation from said calculated noise estimations;
• for at least a second channel characterization over a second combined frequency and timing search space,
• calculating a first noise estimation for a first frequency and timing offset pair in said second combined frequency and timing search space;
• calculating at least a second noise estimation for a second frequency and timing offset pair in said second combined frequency and timing search space;
• and
• determining a corresponding second preliminary minimum noise estimation from said calculated noise estimations;
• and
• selecting a minimum noise estimation from said preliminary minimum noise estimation, wherein said frequency error is the frequency offset corresponding to said minimum noise estimation and said timing error is the timing offset corresponding to said minimum noise estimation.