A rapid synchronization scheme for DS-SS packet data transmission

Abstract

A new rapid acquisition scheme utilizing differentially coherent detection and PN matched filter is proposed. The system operates in burst mode transmission and the synchronization is achieved using a fixed preamble at the beginning of each data packet. The preamble is differentially modulated by a unique bit pattern, marker, which make it possible to perform code and frame synchronization simultaneously. Unlike other previous schemes, all preamble bits equally contribute to the acquisition process. The system performance measured in terms of packet loss probability for a given packet and preamble length. It is shown that this scheme greatly outperforms the conventional search-lock acquisition schemes which utilize non-coherent detection.