METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COMBINED FINGER MANAGEMENT AND FINGER LOCK FOR MULTIPATH SIGNALS IN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM.

摘要

A method of managing fingers for multipath signals in a wireless communication device. In one embodiment, the present invention recites receiving multipath signals (5002) at a wireless communication device. The present embodiment then acquires one of the multipath signal (5004) in a searcher portion of the wireless communication device and determines a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) level of the one multipath signal (5006). Next, the present embodiment evaluates the multipath signal for categorization (5008) into one of a plurality of states (5009a-5009c) and then generates a finger assignment by selectively providing the multipath signal for a demodulation operation based upon its state (5010). The present embodiment then receives the finger assignment from the searcher portion of the communication device and determines a signal-strength for the finger assignment. The present embodiment then enables the finger assignment for a combine operation (5012) if the signal-strength for the finger assignment satiates a first signal-strength threshold. The present embodiment also prevents the finger assignment from being deassigned if the signal-strength of the finger assignment satiates a second threshold, wherein the second signal-strength threshold is less than the first signal-strength threshold.