SEGMENTED CDMA SEARCHING

• US 20070298739A1
• Filed: 05/08/2007
• Published: 12/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Kim, Jeong, Lin, Jeremy, Shiu, Da-shan, Rao, Subramanya
• Granted Patent: US 8,355,685 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/161.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/70753 Partial phase search
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7077 Multi-step acquisition, e.g. multi-dwell, coarse-fine or validation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2201/70707 Efficiency-related aspects

Abstract

Techniques for segmented CDMA searching are disclosed. In one aspect, a searcher comprises a plurality of storage elements selectable for performing a plurality of segmentable search tasks, each storage element operable for storage of and access to state information for one of the plurality of search tasks. In another aspect, a first search task is interrupted in progress, the state information for the first task is stored, a second search task is performed, and the first search task is continued using the stored state information. In yet another aspect, a search task is segmented into smaller search segments, sized to fit within contiguous available time in the searcher. Various other aspects of the invention are also presented. These aspects have the benefit of circuit area and search-time efficiency which translate into reduced costs, increased standby time, increased acquisition speed, higher quality signal transmission, increased data throughput, decreased power, and improved overall system capacity.

Claims

1. A single searcher, for performing a plurality of segmentable search tasks, comprising:

a plurality of storage elements, selectable for performing the plurality of search tasks, each storage element operable for storage of and access to state information for one of the plurality of search tasks.

2. The searcher of claim 1, further comprising a non-coherent accumulator, partial accumulations from which are stored in ones of the plurality of storage elements corresponding to ones of the plurality of search tasks.

3. The searcher of claim 1, further comprising a coherent accumulator, partial accumulations from which are stored in ones of the plurality of storage elements corresponding to ones of the plurality of search tasks.

4. The searcher of claim 1, further comprising a peak detector, peak detector state information for which is stored in ones of the plurality of storage elements corresponding to ones of the plurality of search tasks.

5. The searcher of claim 1, further comprising a sorter, sorting information for which is stored in ones of the plurality of storage elements corresponding to ones of the plurality of search tasks.

6. The searcher of claim 1, further comprising a processor connected to the plurality of storage elements, operable to load and retrieve state information therefrom.

7. The searcher of claim 1, wherein the plurality of storage elements are located in one random access memory (RAM).

8. The searcher of claim 1, wherein the plurality of storage elements are located in banks of registers.

9. A mobile station, including a searcher for performing a plurality of segmentable search tasks, comprising:

a plurality of storage elements, selectable for performing the plurality of search tasks, each storage element operable for storage of and access to state information for one of the plurality of search tasks.

10. A wireless communication system, including a mobile station configured for performing a plurality of segmentable search tasks in a single searcher, comprising:

a plurality of storage elements, selectable for performing the plurality of search tasks, each storage element operable for storage of and access to state information for one of the plurality of search tasks.

11. A method of performing a plurality of segmentable search tasks, in a single searcher, comprising:

interrupting a first search task in progress;

storing state information for the first search task;

performing a second search task;

accessing state information for the first search task; and

continuing the first search task using the accessed state information.

12. A method of performing a plurality of segmentable search tasks, in a single searcher, comprising:

performing a first search task, selecting a first storage element for storing partial results and state information for the first search task;

interrupting the first search task with a second search task;

performing the second search task, selecting a second storage element for storing partial results and state information for the second search task; and

returning to the first search task, re-selecting the first storage element for accessing partial results and state information for the first search task.

13. A method of segmenting a plurality of search tasks for processing with a single searcher, operable with a plurality of storage elements corresponding to the plurality of search tasks, comprising:

partitioning a first search task into a plurality of search segments, the length of time to process each segment being less than or equal to a contiguous segment of time allotted within the searcher for processing the first search task;

performing each of the plurality of search segments, storing the results in a first one of the plurality of storage elements; and

performing a plurality of alternate search tasks, selecting ones of the remainder of the plurality of storage elements for processing therewith, the alternate search tasks being processed in time periods between the processing of ones of the plurality of search segments of the first search task.

14. Processor readable media operable to perform the following steps:

interrupting a first search task in progress;

storing state information for the first search task;

performing a second search task;

accessing state information for the first search task; and

continuing the first search task using the accessed state information.

15. Processor readable media operable to perform the following steps:

performing a first search task, selecting a first storage element for storing partial results and state information for the first search task;

interrupting the first search task with a second search task;

performing the second search task, selecting a second storage element for storing partial results and state information for the second search task; and

returning to the first search task, re-selecting the first storage element for accessing partial results and state information for the first search task.

16. Processor readable media, operable for segmenting a plurality of search tasks for processing with a single searcher, configured with a plurality of storage elements corresponding to the plurality of search tasks, the media operable to perform the following steps:

partitioning a first search task into a plurality of search segments, the length of time to process each segment being less than or equal to a contiguous segment of time allotted within the searcher for processing the first search task;

performing each of the plurality of search segments, storing the results in a first one of the plurality of storage elements; and

performing a plurality of alternate search tasks, selecting ones of the remainder of the plurality of storage elements for processing therewith, the alternate search tasks being processed in time periods between the processing of ones of the plurality of search segments of the first search task.

17. A single searcher for performing a plurality of segmentable search tasks, comprising:

means for interrupting a first search task in progress;

means for storing state information for the first search task;

means for performing a second search task;

means for accessing state information for the first search task; and

means for continuing the first search task using the accessed state information.

18. A single searcher for performing a plurality of segmentable search tasks, comprising:

means for performing a first search task, selecting a first storage element for storing partial results and state information for the first search task;

means for interrupting the first search task with a second search task;

means for performing the second search task, selecting a second storage element for storing partial results and state information for the second search task; and

means for returning to the first search task, re-selecting the first storage element for accessing partial results and state information for the first search task.

19. An apparatus for segmenting a plurality of search tasks for processing with a single searcher, operable with a plurality of storage elements corresponding to the plurality of search tasks, comprising:

means for partitioning a first search task into a plurality of search segments, the length of time to process each segment being less than or equal to a contiguous segment of time allotted within the searcher for processing the first search task;

means for performing each of the plurality of search segments, storing the results in a first one of the plurality of storage elements; and

means for performing a plurality of alternate search tasks, selecting ones of the remainder of the plurality of storage elements for processing therewith, the alternate search tasks being processed in time periods between the processing of ones of the plurality of search segments of the first search task.