Method and apparatus for providing random access detection in a communication system

A method for operating a communication system, the method comprising the acts of:

• creating a pre-whitened signal by applying pre-whitening data to a received signal;
• detecting a pattern that corresponds to a request for access in the pre-whitened signal;
• computing correlation data corresponding to the pattern, wherein computing correlation data comprises computing a correlation matrix and a maximum eigenvalue;
• determining whether the maximum eigenvalue exceeds a threshold;
• and
• indicating that an acknowledgement signal should be transmitted if the threshold is exceeded.

A communication system, comprising:

• means for applying pre-whitening data to a received signal to produce a pre-whitened signal;
• means for recognizing a pattern in the pre-whitened signal, the pattern corresponding to a request for access;
• means for computing correlation data corresponding to the pattern, wherein computing correlation data comprises computing a correlation matrix and a maximum eigenvalue;
• and
• means for determining whether the maximum eigenvalue exceeds a threshold and for providing an indication if the threshold is exceeded.

A cellular base station, comprising:

• an antenna array that receives a communication signal;
• a pre-whitening device adapted to apply pre-whitening data to the communication signal to produce a pre-whitened signal;
• at least one detector adapted to recognize a pattern corresponding to a request for access in the pre-whitened signal and compute correlation data corresponding to the pattern, wherein computing correlation data comprising computing a correlation matrix and a maximum eigenvalue;
• a threshold detector adapted to determine whether the maximum eigenvalue exceeds a threshold and indicate that an acknowledgement signal should be transmitted if the threshold is exceeded;
• and
• processing circuitry adapted to support a communication session if an acknowledgment signal is transmitted.