High resolution symbol timing tracking

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure prove an apparatus and method for symbol timing tracking. Such embodiments are configured to obtain a sampling time for sampling a signal pulse; generate a symbol value for the sampling time from actual sample values of the signal pulse corresponding to predetermined sampling times by interpolating the symbol value utilizing the predetermined sampling times and the actual sample values, wherein the sampling time is not included as one of the predetermined sampling times; and utilize the symbol value to determine an optimal sampling time for sampling the signal pulse.

At least the following is claimed: 
     
         1 . A symbol timing tracking method, comprising:
 obtaining a sampling time for sampling a signal pulse;   generating a symbol value for the sampling time from actual sample values of the signal pulse corresponding to predetermined sampling times by interpolating the symbol value utilizing the predetermined sampling times and the actual sample values, wherein the sampling time is not included as one of the predetermined sampling times; and   utilizing the symbol value to determine an optimal sampling time for sampling the signal pulse,   wherein the predetermined sampling times, the sampling time, and the optimal sampling time fall within a defined interval period of the signal pulse.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a cubic polynomial interpolation is used in interpolating the symbol value. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a polynomial interpolation having a degree higher than  3  is used in interpolating the symbol value. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a number of the predetermined sampling times is finite and a number of possible sample values to be generated in determining the optimal sampling time by interpolation is infinite. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein a subset of the predetermined sampling times is used in the interpolation of the symbol value. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sampling time for sampling a signal pulse is obtained from acquisition circuitry comprising a mismatch filter. 
     
     
         7 . A system comprising:
 timing estimator circuitry that receives a sampling time signal for sampling a signal pulse and generates a symbol value for a sampling time from actual sample values of the signal pulse corresponding to predetermined sampling times by interpolating the symbol value utilizing the predetermined sampling times and the actual sample values, wherein the sampling time is not included as one of the predetermined sampling times;   a buffer that stores the actual sample values for the predetermined sampling times; and   a loopback input that that feeds the symbol value back to the timing estimator circuitry to determine an optimal sampling time for sampling the signal pulse.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the timing estimator circuitry comprises a delay-locked loop. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the timing estimator circuitry comprises interpolator circuitry having Farrow structures. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7 , further comprising acquisition circuitry having a mismatch filter that generates the sampling time signal that is provided to the timing estimator. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein a polynomial interpolation having a degree higher than 2 is used in interpolating the symbol value. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein a number of the predetermined sampling times is finite and a number of possible sample values to be generated in determining the optimal sampling time by interpolation is infinite. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein a subset of the predetermined sampling times is used in the interpolation of the symbol value. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the predetermined sampling times, the sampling time, and the optimal sampling time fall within a defined interval period of the signal pulse. 
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory computer readable medium having a program, when executed by a hardware processor, causes the processor to:
 obtain a sampling time for sampling a signal pulse;   generate a symbol value for the sampling time from actual sample values of the signal pulse corresponding to predetermined sampling times by interpolating the symbol value utilizing the predetermined sampling times and the actual sample values, wherein the sampling time is not included as one of the predetermined sampling times; and   utilize the symbol value to determine an optimal sampling time for sampling the signal pulse.   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory medium of  claim 15 , wherein a cubic polynomial interpolation is used in interpolating the symbol value. 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory medium of  claim 15 , wherein a polynomial interpolation having a degree higher than 3 is used in interpolating the symbol value. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory medium of  claim 15 , wherein a number of the predetermined sampling times is finite and a number of possible sample values to be generated in determining the optimal sampling time by interpolation is infinite. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory medium of  claim 18 , wherein a subset of the predetermined sampling times is used in the interpolation of the symbol value. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory medium of  claim 15 , wherein the predetermined sampling times, the sampling time, and the optimal sampling time fall within a defined interval period of the signal pulse.