System and method for correlating received signal over time and frequency

Abstract

A system is provided for use with a frequency band including a transmission frequency and a received frequency. The transmission frequency includes a transmission signal having a transmitted unique word therein. The received frequency includes a received signal having a received unique word therein, wherein the received unique word had been received at a received time and at a received phase. The system includes a first sub-correlator, a second sub-correlator and a discrete Fourier transform device. The first sub-correlator can perform a first correlation of only a first portion of the received unique word with a corresponding first portion of the transmitted unique word over a plurality of instances of time and can output a first plurality of sub-correlation values. The second sub-correlator can perform a second correlation of only a second portion of the received unique word with a corresponding second portion of the transmitted unique word over the plurality of instances of time and can output a second plurality of sub-correlation values. The discrete Fourier transform device can perform a discrete Fourier transform over a plurality of frequencies within the frequency band on the first plurality of sub-correlation values and can perform a discrete Fourier transform over the plurality of frequencies within the frequency band on the second plurality of sub-correlation values. The first portion of the received unique word is different from the second portion of the received unique word.

1 . A system for use with a frequency band including a transmission frequency and a received frequency, the transmission frequency including a transmission signal having a transmitted unique word therein, the received frequency including a received signal having a received unique word therein, the received unique word having been received at a received time and at a received phase, said system comprising:
 a first sub-correlator operable to perform a first correlation of only a first portion of the received unique word with a corresponding first portion of the transmitted unique word over a plurality of instances of time and to output a first plurality of sub-correlation values;   a second sub-correlator operable to perform a second correlation of only a second portion of the received unique word with a corresponding second portion of the transmitted unique word over the plurality of instances of time and to output a second plurality of sub-correlation values; and   a discrete Fourier transform device operable to perform a discrete Fourier transform over a plurality of frequencies within the frequency band on the first plurality of sub-correlation values and to perform a discrete Fourier transform over the plurality of frequencies within the frequency band on the second plurality of sub-correlation values,   wherein the first portion of the received unique word is different from the second portion of the received unique word.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said discrete Fourier transform device is operable to output a matrix of values. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said discrete Fourier transform device is operable to output the matrix of values as a matrix of complex values. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , further comprising a processing portion operable to calculate a matrix of magnitude values based on the matrix of complex values. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein said processing portion is further operable to interpolate about the greatest magnitude value within the matrix of magnitude values to obtain a maximum magnitude value. 
     
     
         6 . A method of using a frequency band including a transmission frequency and a received frequency, the transmission frequency including a transmission signal having a transmitted unique word therein, the received frequency including a received signal having a received unique word therein, the received unique word having been received at a received time and at a received phase, said method comprising:
 performing, via a first sub-correlator, a first correlation of only a first portion of the received unique word with a corresponding first portion of the transmitted unique word over a plurality of instances of time and to output a first plurality of sub-correlation values;   performing, via a second sub-correlator, a second correlation of only a second portion of the received unique word with a corresponding second portion of the transmitted unique word over the plurality of instances of time and to output a second plurality of sub-correlation values; and   performing, via a discrete Fourier transform device, a discrete Fourier transform over a plurality of frequencies within the frequency band on the first plurality of sub-correlation values and to perform a discrete Fourier transform over the plurality of frequencies within the frequency band on the second plurality of sub-correlation values,   wherein the first portion of the received unique word is different from the second portion of the received unique word.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said performing, via a discrete Fourier transform device, a discrete Fourier transform comprises outputting a matrix of values. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said outputting a matrix of values comprises outputting the matrix of values as a matrix of complex values. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising calculating, via a processing portion, a matrix of magnitude values based on the matrix of complex values. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising interpolating, via the processing portion, about the greatest magnitude value within the matrix of magnitude values to obtain a maximum magnitude value. 
     
     
         11 . A computer-readable media having computer-readable instructions stored thereon, the computer-readable instructions being capable of being read by a computer to be used with a frequency band including a transmission frequency and a received frequency, the transmission frequency including a transmission signal having a transmitted unique word therein, the received frequency including a received signal having a received unique word therein, the received unique word having been received at a received time and at a received phase, the computer-readable instructions being capable of instructing the computer to perform the method comprising:
 performing, via a first sub-correlator, a first correlation of only a first portion of the received unique word with a corresponding first portion of the transmitted unique word over a plurality of instances of time and to output a first plurality of sub-correlation values;   performing, via a second sub-correlator, a second correlation of only a second portion of the received unique word with a corresponding second portion of the transmitted unique word over the plurality of instances of time and to output a second plurality of sub-correlation values; and   performing, via a discrete Fourier transform device, a discrete Fourier transform over a plurality of frequencies within the frequency band on the first plurality of sub-correlation values and to perform a discrete Fourier transform over the plurality of frequencies within the frequency band on the second plurality of sub-correlation values,   wherein the first portion of the received unique word is different from the second portion of the received unique word.   
     
     
         12 . The computer-readable media of  claim 11 , wherein the computer-readable instructions being capable of instructing the computer to perform a discrete Fourier transform comprises computer-readable instructions being capable of instructing the computer to output a matrix of values. 
     
     
         13 . The computer-readable media of  claim 12 , wherein the computer-readable instructions being capable of instructing the computer to output a matrix of values comprises computer-readable instructions being capable of instructing the computer to output the matrix of values as a matrix of complex values. 
     
     
         14 . The computer-readable media of  claim 13 , wherein the computer-readable instructions being further capable of instructing the computer to perform calculating, via a processing portion, a matrix of magnitude values based on the matrix of complex values. 
     
     
         15 . The computer-readable media of  claim 14 , wherein the computer-readable instructions being further capable of instructing the computer to perform interpolating, via the processing portion, about the greatest magnitude value within the matrix of magnitude values to obtain a maximum magnitude value.