Spread spectrum system assigning information signals to message-code signals

• US 6,831,905 B1
• Filed: 08/09/2000
• Issued: 12/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jacques, Alexander, Ozluturk, Fatih, Kowalski, John, Lomp, Gary, Silverberg, Avi, Marra, Alexander, Luddy, Michael, Regis, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Yao, Kwang Bin
• Application Number:
  US09/634,400
• Time in Patent Office: 1,588 Days
• Field of Search: 370/328, 370/329, 370/330, 370/335, 370/342, 370/350, 370/465, 375/130, 375/140, 375/145, 375/146, 375/147, 375/149
• US Class Current: 370/335
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/707 using direct sequence modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7075 with code phase acquisition
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/70753 Partial phase search
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/70754 Setting of search window, i.e. range of code offsets to be searched H04B1/70758 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/70755 Setting of lock conditions, e.g. threshold
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/70758 Multimode search, i.e. using multiple search strategies
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/708 Parallel implementation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7085 using a code tracking loop, e.g. a delay-locked loop
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7093 Matched filter type
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7115 Constructive combining of multi-path signals, i.e. RAKE receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/712 Weighting of fingers for combining, e.g. amplitude control or phase rotation using an inner loop
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2201/70701 featuring pilot assisted reception
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2201/70702 Intercell-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2201/7071 with dynamic control of receiver resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2637 for logical channel control
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/264 for data rate control
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 13/10 Code generation
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 2013/0037 Multilevel codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0042 Encoding specially adapted to other signal generation operation, e.g. in order to reduce transmit distortions, jitter, or to improve signal shape H04L1/0067 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0059 Convolutional codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2027/003 : at baseband only
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2027/0053 : Closed loops
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/0212 : of impulse response
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/206 : using a pair of orthogonal carriers, e.g. quadrature carriers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2332 : using a non-coherent carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/08 : Closed loop power control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/146 : Uplink power control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/241 : taking into account channel quality metrics, e.g. SIR, SNR, CIR, Eb/lo
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/245 : taking into account received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/247 : where the output power of a terminal is based on a path parameter sent by another terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/26 : using transmission rate or quality of service QoS [Quality of Service]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/322 : Power control of broadcast channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/325 : Power control of control or pilot channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/343 : taking into account loading or congestion level
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/36 : with a discrete range or set of values, e.g. step size, ramping or offsets
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/44 : in connection with interruption of transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/50 : at the moment of starting communication in a multiple access environment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/52 : using AGC [Automatic Gain Control] circuits or amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/54 : Signalisation aspects of the TPC commands, e.g. frame structure

Abstract

A spread spectrum system having an assignor, a spread-spectrum processor and a transmitter. The assignor assigns each arriving information signal to a message-code signal. Each message-code signal is different then other message-code signals. The spread-spectrum processor generates a pilot code signal and processes the information signals with the message-code signals to generate spread-spectrum process-message signals synchronized to the pilot-code signal. A transmitter combines the spread-spectrum process-message signals and the pilot-code signal to generate a CDM signal. The transmitter modulates the CDM signal with a carrier signal for transmission over the communications channel.

Claims

1. A spread-spectrum system comprising:

assignment means for assigning each information signal, of a plurality of information signals arriving at an input to said spread-spectrum system, to a message-code signal, of a plurality of message-code signals, with each message-code signal in the plurality of message-code signals different from other message-code signals in the plurality of message-code signals;

spread-spectrum processing means for generating a pilot-code signal, and for spread-spectrum processing the plurality of information signals with the plurality of message-code signals to generate a plurality of spread-spectrum processed-message signals, respectively, with the plurality of message-code signals synchronized to the pilot-code signal; and

transmitter means, coupled to said spread-spectrum processing means, for combining the plurality of spread-spectrum processed-message signals and the pilot-code signal to generate a code-division-multiplexed (CDM) signal, for modulating the CDM signal with a carrier signal to generate a modulated-carrier signal, and for transmitting the modulated-carrier signal over a communications channel using radio waves; and

the spread-spectrum system with several information signals of the plurality of information signals having several different channel rates, and each of the plurality of message-code signals supporting a pre-determined information-channel rate, the spread-spectrum system further comprising;

call-processing means for providing a call-type signal corresponding to the information signal rate for the several information signals having several different channel rates; and

information-channel-mode modification means, coupled to said assignment means and to said spread-spectrum processing means, and responsive to the call-type type signal, for changing a combination of the plurality of information signals and the plurality of message-code signals to support the several different channel rates for the several information signals having several different channel rates.

2. The spread-spectrum system as set forth in claim 1, with said spread-spectrum processing means including:

code-generation means for generating the pilot-code signal and the plurality of message-code signals; and

spreading means for spread-spectrum processing the plurality of information signals with the plurality of message-code signals to generate the plurality of spread-spectrum processed-message signals, respectively.

3. The spread-spectrum system as set forth in claim 2, with said code-generation means generating a timing signal, with the pilot-code signal and synchronizing the plurality of message-code signals to the timing signal.

4. The spread-spectrum system as set forth in claim 1, further including code means for generating the pilot-code signal and the plurality of message-code signals from a family of code-generation seeds.

5. The spread-spectrum system as set forth in claim 2, further including code means for generating the pilot-code signal and the plurality of message-code signals from a family of code-generation seeds.

6. The spread-spectrum system as set forth in claim 3, further including code means for generating the pilot-code signal and the plurality of message-code signals from a family of code-generation seeds.

7. A spread-spectrum system comprising:

an assignor for assigning each information signal, of a plurality of information signals arriving at an input to said spread-spectrum system, to a message-code signal, of a plurality of message-code signals, with each message-code signal in the plurality of message-code signals different from other message-code signals in the plurality of message-code signals;

a spread-spectrum processor, coupled to said assignor, for generating a pilot-code signal, and for spread-spectrum processing the plurality of information signals with the plurality of message-code signals to generate a plurality of spread-spectrum processed-message signals, respectively, with the plurality of message-code signals synchronized to the pilot-code signal; and

a transmitter, coupled to said spread-spectrum processor, for combining the plurality of spread-spectrum processed-message signals and the pilot-code signal to generate a CDM signal, for modulating the CDM signal with a carrier signal to generate a modulated-carrier signal, and for transmitting the modulated carrier-signal over a communications channel using radio waves; and

the spread-spectrum system with several information signals of the plurality of information signals having several different channel rates, and each of the plurality of message-code signals supporting a pre-determined information-channel rate, the spread-spectrum system further comprising;

a call processor for providing a call-type signal corresponding to the information signal rate for the several information signals having several different channel rates; and

information-channel-mode modification means, coupled to said assignor and to said spread-spectrum processor, and responsive to the call-type signal, for changing a combination of the plurality of information signals and the plurality of message-code signals to support the several different channel rates for the several information signals having several different channel rates.

8. The spread-spectrum system as set forth in claim 7, with said spread-spectrum processor including:

a code generator for generating the pilot-code signal and the plurality of message-code signals; and

a plurality of spreading devices, coupled to said code generator, for spread-spectrum processing the plurality of information signals with the plurality of message-code signals to generate the plurality of spread-spectrum processed-message signals, respectively.

9. The spread-spectrum system as set forth in claim 7, with said code generator generating a timing signal, with the pilot-code signal and the plurality of message-code signals synchronized to the timing signal.

10. The spread-spectrum system as set forth in claim 7, further including code means for generating the pilot-code signal and the plurality of message-code signals from a family of code-generation seeds.

11. The spread-spectrum system as set forth in claim 8, further including code means for generating the pilot-code signal and the plurality of message-code signals from a family of code-generation seeds.

12. The spread-spectrum system as set forth in claim 9, further including code means for generating the pilot-code signal and the plurality of message-code signals from a family of code-generation seeds.

13. A spread-spectrum method comprising the steps of:

assigning each information signal of a plurality of information signals, to a message-code signal, of a plurality of message-code signals, with each message-code signal in the plurality of message-code signals different from other message-code signals in the plurality of message-code signals;

spread-spectrum processing the plurality of information signals with the plurality of message-code signals to generate a plurality of spread-spectrum processed-message signals, respectively, with the plurality of message-code signals synchronized to a pilot-code signal;

combining the plurality of spread-spectrum processed-message signals and the pilot-code signal to generate a CDM signal;

modulating the CDM signal with a carrier signal to generate a modulated-carrier signal; and

transmitting the modulated carrier-signal over a communications channel using radio waves; and

the spread-spectrum method with several information signals of the plurality of information signals having several different channel rates, and each of the plurality of message-code signals supporting a pre-determined information-channel rate, the method further comprising the steps of;

providing a call-type signal corresponding to the information signal rate for the several information signals having several different channel rates; and

changing, in response to the call-type signal, a combination of the plurality of information signals and the plurality of message-code signals to support the several different channel rates for the several information signals having several different channel rates.

14. The spread-spectrum system as set forth in claim 13, with the step of spread-spectrum processing including the steps of:

generating the pilot-code signal and the plurality of message-code signals; and

spreading the plurality of information signals with a plurality of message-code signals to generate the plurality of spread-spectrum processed-message signals, respectively.

15. The spread-spectrum method as set forth in claim 13, further including the step of generating a timing signal, with the pilot-code signal and the plurality of message-code signals synchronized to the timing signal.

16. The spread-spectrum method as set forth in claim 13, further including the step of generating the pilot-code signal and the plurality of message-code signals from a family of code-generation seeds.

17. The spread-spectrum method as set forth in claim 14, further including the step of generating the pilot-code signal and the plurality of message-code signals from a family of code-generation seeds.

18. The spread-spectrum method as set forth in claim 15, further including the step of generating the pilot-code signal and the plurality of message-code signals from a family of code-generation seeds.

19. A spread-spectrum system comprising:

receiver means for receiving a modulated-carrier signal from a communications channel using radio waves, and for demodulating, from the modulated-carrier signal, a code-division-multiplexed (CDM) signal having a pilot-code signal and a plurality of spread-spectrum processed-message signals;

despreading means for correlating the CDM signal with a replica of a pilot-code signal to produce an acquisition signal when the pilot-code signal is present in the CDM signal, and responsive to the pilot-code signal present in the CDM signal, for producing a timing signal;

said despreading means, responsive to the acquisition signal, for adjusting, to minimize error, phase between the pilot-code signal and the replica of the pilot-code signal; and

said despreading processing means for correlating the CDM signal with a plurality of replicas of the message-code signals, with the plurality of replicas of the message code signals synchronized to the timing signal, to produce a plurality of message signals; and

the spread-spectrum system with a first message signal from the plurality of message signals including a first information signal and a first message-type signal corresponding to a first information-signal rate of the first information signal from the plurality of information signals, the spread-spectrum system further including information-channel-mode-modification means, responsive to the first message-type signal, for changing a receiver-information signal from a first message code to a second message code with the second message code supporting a second information-signal rate, with the second information-signal rate different from the first information-signal rate of the first message code.

20. The spread-spectrum system as set forth in claim 19, further including means for detecting from the modulated-carrier signal, a plurality of user identification signals and call-type signals, associated with the plurality of message signals, respectively.

21. The spread-spectrum system as set forth in claim 20, with the plurality of message signals including the plurality of user-identification signals and call-type signals, said spread-spectrum system further including a subscriber controller, responsive to the plurality of user-identification signals, for providing call-type signals for a plurality of received-information signals to a plurality of local subscribers.

22. A spread-spectrum system comprising:

a receiver for receiving a modulated-carrier signal from a communications channel using radio waves, and for demodulating, from the modulated-carrier signal, a code-division-multiplexed (CDM) signal having a pilot-code signal and a plurality of spread-spectrum processed-message signals;

a despreader for correlating the CDM signal with a replica of a pilot-code signal to produce an acquisition signal when the pilot-code signal is present in the CDM signal, and responsive to the pilot-code signal present in the CDM signal, for producing a timing signal;

said despreader, responsive to the acquisition signal, for adjusting, to minimize error, phase between the pilot-code signal and the replica of the pilot-code signal; and

said despreader for correlating the CDM signal with a plurality of replicas of the message-code signals, with the plurality of replicas of the message code signals synchronized to the timing signal, to produce a plurality of message signals; and

the spread-spectrum system with a first message signal from the plurality of message signals including a first information signal and a first message-type signal corresponding to a first information-signal rate of the first information signal from the plurality of information signals, the spread-spectrum system further including information-channel-mode-modification means, responsive to the first message-type signal, for changing a receiver-information signal from a first message code to a second message code with the second message code supporting a second information-signal rate, with the second information-signal rate different from the first information-signal rate of the first message code.

23. The spread-spectrum system as set forth in claim 22, further including a detector for detecting from the modulated-carrier signal, a plurality of user identification signals and call-type signals, associated with the plurality of message signals, respectively.

24. The spread-spectrum system as set forth in claim 22, with the plurality of message signals including the plurality of user-identification signals and call-type signals, said spread-spectrum system further including a subscriber controller, responsive to the plurality of user-identification signals, for providing call-type signals for a plurality of received-information signals to a plurality of local subscribers.

25. A spread-spectrum method comprising the steps of:

receiving a modulated-carrier signal from a communications channel using radio waves;

demodulating, from the modulated-carrier signal, a code-division-multiplexed (CDM) signal having a pilot-code signal and a plurality of spread-spectrum processed-message signals;

correlating the CDM signal with a replica of a pilot-code signal to produce an acquisition signal when the pilot-code signal is present in the CDM signal;

producing, in response to the pilot-code signal present in the CDM signal, a timing signal;

adjusting, in response to the acquisition signal, to minimize error, phase between the pilot-code signal and the replica of the pilot-code signal; and

correlating the CDM signal with a plurality of replicas of the message-code signals, with the plurality of replicas of the message code signals synchronized to the timing signal, to produce a plurality of message signals; and

the spread-spectrum method with a first message signal from the plurality of message signals including a first information signal and a first message-type signal corresponding to a first information-signal rate of the first information signal from the plurality of information signals, the spread-spectrum method further including the step of changing, in response to the first message-type signal, a receiver-information signal from a first message code to a second message code with the second message code supporting a second information-signal rate, with the second information-signal rate different from the first information-signal rate of the first message code.

26. The spread-spectrum method as set forth in claim 25, further including the step of detecting from the modulated-carrier signal, a plurality of user identification signals and call-type signals, associated with the plurality of message signals, respectively.

27. The spread-spectrum method as set forth in claim 25, with the plurality of message signals including the plurality of user-identification signals and call-type signals, the spread-spectrum method further including the step of providing, to the plurality of user-identification signals, call-type signals for a plurality of received-information signals to a plurality of local subscribers.

28. A spread-spectrum system comprising:

assignment means for assigning each information signal of a plurality of information signals arriving at an input to said spread-spectrum system, to a message-code signal, of a plurality of message-code signals, with each message-code signal in the plurality of message-code signals different from other message-code signals in the plurality of message-code signals;

spread-spectrum processing means for generating a pilot-code signal, and for spread-spectrum processing the plurality of information signals with the plurality of message-code signals to generate a plurality of spread-spectrum processed-message signals, respectively, with the plurality of message-code signals synchronized to the pilot-code signal;

transmitter means, coupled to said spread-spectrum processing means, for combining the plurality of spread-spectrum processed-message signals and the pilot-code signal to generate a code-division-multiplexed (CDM) signal, for modulating the CDM signal with a carrier signal to generate a modulated-carrier signal, and for transmitting the modulated-carrier signal over a communications channel using radio waves;

receiver means for receiving the modulated-carrier signal from the communications channel, and for demodulating the CDM signal from the modulated-carrier signal;

despreading means for correlating the CDM signal with a replica of the pilot-code signal to produce an acquisition signal when the pilot-code signal is present in the CDM signal, and responsive to the pilot-code signal present in the CDM signal, for producing a timing signal;

said despreading means, responsive to the acquisition signal, for adjusting, to minimize error, phase between the pilot-code signal and the replica of the pilot-code signal; and

said despreading means for correlating the CDM signal with a plurality of replicas of the message-code signals, with the plurality of replicas of the message code signals synchronized to the timing signal, to produce a plurality of message signals; and

the spread-spectrum method with a first message signal from the plurality of message signals including a first information signal and a first message-type signal corresponding to a first information-signal rate of the first information signal from the plurality of information signals, the spread-spectrum method further including the step of changing, in response to the first message-type signal, a receiver-information signal from a first message code to a second message code with the second message code supporting a second information-signal rate, with the second information-signal rate different from the first information-signal rate of the first message code.

29. The spread-spectrum system as set forth in claim 28, with said spread-spectrum processing means including:

code-generation means for generating the pilot-code signal and the plurality of message-code signals; and

spreading means for spread-spectrum processing the plurality of information signals with the plurality of message-code signals to generate the plurality of spread-spectrum processed-message signals, respectively.

30. The spread-spectrum system as set forth in claim 29, with said code-generation means generating a timing signal with the pilot-code signal and the plurality of message-code signals synchronized to the timing signal.

31. The spread-spectrum system as set forth in claim 28, further including code means for generating the pilot-code signal and the plurality of message-code signals from a family of code-generation seeds.

32. The spread-spectrum system as set forth in claims 29, further including code means for generating the pilot-code signal and the plurality of message-code signals from a family of code-generation seeds.

33. The spread-spectrum system as set forth in claim 30, further including code means for generating the pilot-code signal and the plurality of message-code signals from a family of code-generation seeds.

34. The spread-spectrum system as set forth in claim 28, further including detecting means for detecting from the modulated-carrier signal, a plurality of user identification signals and call-type signals, associated with the plurality of message signals, respectively.

35. The spread-spectrum system as set forth in claim 29, with the plurality of message signals including the plurality of user-identification signals and call-type signals, said spread-spectrum system further including a subscriber controller, responsive to the plurality of user-identification signals, for providing call-type signals for a plurality of received-information signals to a plurality of local subscribers.

36. A spread-spectrum system comprising:

an assignor for assigning each information signal of a plurality of information signals arriving at an input to said spread-spectrum system, to a message-code signal, of a plurality of message-code signals, with each message-code signal in the plurality of message-code signals different from other message-code signals in the plurality of message-code signals;

a spread-spectrum processor, coupled to said assignor, for generating a pilot-code signal, and for spread-spectrum processing the plurality of information signals with the plurality of message-code signals to generate a plurality of spread-spectrum processed-message signals, respectively, with the plurality of message-code signals synchronized to the pilot-code signal;

a transmitter, coupled to said spread-spectrum processor, for combining the plurality of spread-spectrum processed-message signals and the pilot-code signal to generate a CDM signal, for modulating the CDM signal with a carrier signal to generate a modulated-carrier signal, and for transmitting the modulated carrier-signal over a communications channel using radio waves;

a receiver for receiving the modulated-carrier signal from the communications channel, and for demodulating the CDM signal from the modulated-carrier signal;

a despreader for correlating the CDM signal with a replica of the pilot-code signal to produce an acquisition signal when the pilot-code signal is present in the CDM signal, and responsive to the pilot-code signal present in the CDM signal, for producing a timing signal;

said despreader, responsive to the acquisition signal, for adjusting, to minimize error, phase between the pilot-code signal and the replica of the pilot-code signal; and

said despreader for correlating the CDM signal with a plurality of replicas of the message-code signals, with the plurality of replicas of the message code signals synchronized to the timing signal, to produce a plurality of message signals; and

the spread-spectrum system with several information signals of the plurality of information signals having several different channel rates, and each of the plurality of message-code signals supporting a pre-determined information-channel rate, the spread-spectrum system further comprising;

a call processor for providing a call-type signal corresponding to the information signal rate for the several information signals having several different channel rates; and

information-channel-mode modification means, coupled to said assignor and to said spread-spectrum processor, and responsive to the call-type signal, for changing a combination of the plurality of information signals and the plurality of message-code signals to support the several different channel rates for the several information signals having several different channel rates.

37. The spread-spectrum system as set forth in claim 36, with said spread-spectrum processor including:

a code generator for generating the pilot-code signal and the plurality of message-code signals; and

a plurality of spreading devices, coupled to said code generator, for spread-spectrum processing the plurality of information signals with the plurality of message-code signals to generate the plurality of spread-spectrum processed-message signals, respectively.

38. The spread-spectrum system as set forth in claim 36, with said code generator generating a timing signal with the pilot-code signal and the plurality of message-code signals synchronized to the timing signal.

39. The spread-spectrum system as set forth in claim 36, further including code means for generating the pilot-code signal and the plurality of message-code signals from a family of code-generation seeds.

40. The spread-spectrum system as set forth in claim 37, further including code means for generating the pilot-code signal and the plurality of message-code signals from a family of code-generation seeds.

41. The spread-spectrum system as set forth in claim 38, further including code means for generating the pilot-code signal and the plurality of message-code signals from a family of code-generation seeds.

42. The spread-spectrum system as set forth in claim 36, further including a detector for detecting from the modulated-carrier signal, a plurality of user identification signals and call-type signals, associated with the plurality of message signals, respectively.

43. The spread-spectrum system as set forth in claim 36, with the plurality of message signals including the plurality of user-identification signals and call-type signals, said spread-spectrum system further including a subscriber controller, responsive to the plurality of user-identification signals, for providing call-type signals for a plurality of received-information signals to a plurality of local subscribers.

44. A spread-spectrum method comprising the steps of:

assigning each information signal of a plurality of information, to a message-code signal, of a plurality of message-code signals, with each message-code signal in the plurality of message-code signals different from other message-code signals in the plurality of message-code signals;

spread-spectrum processing the plurality of information signals with the plurality of message-code signals to generate a plurality of spread-spectrum processed-message signals, respectively, with the plurality of message-code signals synchronized to a pilot-code signal;

combining the plurality of spread-spectrum processed-message signals and the pilot-code signal to generate a CDM signal;

modulating the CDM signal with a carrier signal to generate a modulated-carrier signal;

transmitting the modulated-carrier signal over a communications channel using radio waves;

receiving a modulated-carrier signal from a communications channel;

demodulating the CDM signal from the modulated-carrier signal;

correlating the CDM signal with a replica of the pilot-code signal to produce an acquisition signal when the pilot-code signal is present in the CDM signal;

producing, in response to the pilot-code signal present in the CDM signal, a timing signal;

adjusting, in response to the acquisition signal, to minimize error, phase between the pilot-code signal and the replica of the pilot-code signal; and

correlating the CDM signal with a plurality of replicas of the message-code signals, with the plurality of replicas of the message code signals synchronized to the timing signal, to produce a plurality of message signals; and

the spread-spectrum method with several information signals of the plurality of information signals having several different channel rates, and each of the plurality of message-code signals supporting a pre-determined information-channel rate, the method further comprising the steps of;

providing a call-type signal corresponding to the information signal rate for the several information signals having several different channel rates; and

changing in response to the call-type signal, a combination of the plurality of information signals and the plurality of message-code signals to support the several different channel rates for the several information signals having several different channel rates.

45. The spread-spectrum method as set forth in claim 44, with the step of spread-spectrum processing including the steps of:

generating the pilot-code signal and the plurality of message-code signals; and

spreading the plurality of information signals with the plurality of message-code signals to generate the plurality of spread-spectrum processed-message signals, respectively.

46. The spread-spectrum method as set forth in claim 44, further including the step of generating a timing signal, with the pilot-code signal and the plurality of message-code signals synchronized to the timing signal.

47. The spread-spectrum method as set forth in claim 44, further including the step of generating the pilot-code signal and the plurality of message-code signals from a family of code-generation seeds.

48. The spread-spectrum method as set forth in claim 45, further including the step of generating the pilot-code signal and the plurality of message-code signals from a family of code-generation seeds.

49. The spread-spectrum method as set forth in claim 46, further including the step of generating the pilot-code signal and the plurality of message-code signals from a family of code-generation seeds.

50. The spread-spectrum method as set forth in claim 44, further including the step of detecting from the modulated-carrier signal, a plurality of user identification signals and call-type signals, associated with the plurality of message signals, respectively.

51. The spread-spectrum method as set forth in claim 44, with the plurality of message signals including the plurality of user-identification signals and call-type signals, the spread-spectrum method further including the step of providing, to the user-identification signals, call-type signals for a plurality of received-information signals to a plurality of local subscribers.