Shared memory device applied to functional stages configured in a receiver system for processing signals from different transmitter systems and method thereof

• US 7,990,315 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2007
• Issued: 08/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MediaTek, Inc.
• Original Assignee: MediaTek, Inc.
• Inventors: Chen, Chun-Nan, Wei, Jui-Ming
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza; Thomas H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mull; Fred H
• Application Number:
  US11/768,205
• Publication Number:
  US 20080071995A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,498 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.72, 342/357.73, 342/357.77
• US Class Current: 342/357.73
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/33 Multimode operation in different systems which transmit time stamped messages, e.g. GPS/GLONASS
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/37 Hardware or software details of the signal processing chain

Abstract

A shared memory device for a receiver system is disclosed. The receiver system is configured to have a first functional stage and a second functional stage for processing information carried by signals from a first transmitter system and a second transmitter system respectively. The shared memory device has a memory space, allocated to be commonly shared by the first functional stage and the second functional stage, for buffering processing data generated from the first functional stage or the second functional stage.

Claims

1. A shared memory device for a receiver system, the receiver system configured to have a first functional stage and a second functional stage for processing information carried by signals from a first transmitter system and a second transmitter system respectively, the shared memory device comprising:

a memory space, allocated to be commonly shared by the first functional stage and the second functional stage, for buffering processing data generated from the first functional stage or the second functional stage,

wherein the first transmitter system is a first global navigation satellite system, and the second transmitter system is a second global navigation satellite system.

2. The shared memory device of claim 1, wherein the first functional stage and the second functional stage correspond to an identical signal processing function.

3. The shared memory device of claim 2, wherein the identical signal processing function is selected from a group consisting of a correlation processing, an acquisition/tracking processing, and a positioning/navigation processing.

4. The shared memory device of claim 2, further comprising:

a memory controller, coupled to the memory space, for dynamically allowing the first functional stage to access the memory space before all possible satellite(s) of the first global navigation satellite system visible to the receiver system are tried, and allowing the second functional stage to access the memory space when all possible satellite(s) of the first global navigation satellite system visible to the receiver system are tried and the memory space is not fully occupied.

5. The shared memory device of claim 1, wherein the first functional stage and the second functional stage correspond to different signal processing functions.

6. The shared memory device of claim 5, wherein the different signal processing functions are selected from a group consisting of a correlation processing, an acquisition/tracking processing, and a positioning/navigation processing.

7. The shared memory device of claim 5, further comprising:

a memory controller, coupled to the memory space, for dynamically allowing the first functional stage to access the memory space before all possible satellite(s) of the first global navigation satellite system for the receiver system are tried, and allowing the second functional stage to access the memory space when all possible satellite(s) of the first global navigation satellite system for the receiver system are tried and the memory space is not fully occupied.

8. The shared memory device of claim 1, further comprising:

a memory controller, coupled to the memory space, for dynamically allowing the first functional stage to access the memory space before all possible satellite(s) of the first global navigation satellite system for the receiver system are tried, and allowing the second functional stage to access the memory space when all possible satellite(s) of the first global navigation satellite system for the receiver system are tried and the memory space is not fully occupied.

9. A memory allocation method applied to a receiver system, comprising:

(a) configuring the receiver system to have a first functional stage and a second functional stage for processing information carried by signals from a first transmitter system and a second transmitter system respectively;

(b) allocating a memory space to be commonly shared by the first functional stage and the second functional stage; and

(c) buffering processing data generated from the first functional stage or the second functional stage into the memory space,

wherein step (a) comprises;

configuring the receiver system to utilize the first functional stage to process information carried by signals from a first global navigation satellite system; and

configuring the receiver system to utilize the second functional stage to process information carried by signals from a second global navigation satellite system.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein step (a) further comprises:

configuring the first functional stage and the second functional stage to have an identical signal processing function.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the identical signal processing function is selected from a group consisting of a correlation processing, an acquisition/tracking processing, and a positioning/navigation processing.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

dynamically allowing the first functional stage to access the memory space before all possible satellite(s) of the first global navigation satellite system visible to the receiver system are tried, and allowing the second functional stage to access the memory space when all possible satellite(s) of the first global navigation satellite system visible to the receiver system are tried and the memory space is not fully occupied.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein step (a) further comprises:

configuring the first functional stage and the second functional stage to have different signal processing functions.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the different signal processing functions are selected from a group consisting of a correlation processing, an acquisition/tracking processing, and a positioning/navigation processing.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

dynamically allowing the first functional stage to access the memory space before all possible satellite(s) of the first global navigation satellite system for the receiver system are tried, and allowing the second functional stage to access the memory space when all possible satellite(s) of the first global navigation satellite system for the receiver system are tried and the memory space is not fully occupied.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

dynamically allowing the first functional stage to access the memory space before all possible satellite(s) of the first global navigation satellite system for the receiver system are tried, and allowing the second functional stage to access the memory space when all possible satellite(s) of the first global navigation satellite system for the receiver system are tried and the memory space is not fully occupied.