System and method for assigning combiner channels in spread spectrum communications

Abstract

A method for providing combiner channel assignments, with the soft symbols of corresponding demodulated information channels, is presented. The grouping of combiner channel assignments with the soft symbols permits any information channel to be associated with any finger channel without additional communications being required between a controller and the combiner. Once the demodulating finger is programmed with a combiner channel assignment for each finger channel, the assignment of finger channel outputs to combiner channels is regulated in the flow of communications between the combiner and the demodulating finger. A system for assigning combiner channels with the soft symbol outputs of a demodulating finger is also provided.

1 . In a spread spectrum communications integrated circuit receiver supplying combiner channel assignments for a plurality of demodulated information channels in a sample stream, a system comprising: 
 a plurality of demodulating fingers; and    wherein each demodulating finger has an input to accept a sample stream, an input to accept an uncovering code, an input to accept combiner channel assignments, an output to supply soft symbols associated with demodulated information channels, and an output to supply combiner channel assignments for associated soft symbols.    
   
   
       2 - 13 . (canceled)  
   
   
       14 . In a spread spectrum communications demodulating finger integrated circuit to supply combiner channel assignments for a plurality of demodulated information channels in a sample stream, the demodulating finger comprising: 
 an input to accept a sample stream;    an input to accept an uncovering code:    an output to supply soft symbols from demodulated information channels; and    an output to supply combiner channel assignments for the soft symbols.    
   
   
       15 - 21 . (canceled)  
   
   
       22 . In a spread spectrum communications integrated circuit receiver, a method for supplying combiner channel assignments for a plurality of demodulated information channels in a sample stream, the method comprising: 
 accepting a sample stream;    accepting an uncovering code;    accepting combiner channel assignments;    demodulating information channels in the sample stream; and    supplying combiner channel assignments with soft symbols of the demodulated information channels.    
   
   
       23 - 31 . (canceled)