HYPOTHESIS-BASED FRAME SYNCHRONIZATION IN A DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM

摘要

A hypothesis-based frame synchronization mechanism for use in a digital communications system, such as a powerline based communications network. The receiver detects the start of a preamble and achieves symbol synchronization. To achieve frame synchronization, the receiver generates a plurality of candidate hypotheses, each hypothesis corresponding to a potential starting point for the header section of the packet. The receiver evaluates each candidate hypothesis and selects the hypothesis having the highest likelihood of being valid. Frame synchronization is based on the selected hypothesis and detection and decoding of the data portion of the packet proceeds in accordance with the selected hypothesis.