A technique for efficient implementation of pilot signals on a reverse link in
a wireless communication system. An access channel is defined for the reverse link
such that within each frame, or epoch, a portion is dedicated to sending only pilot
symbols. Another portion of the frame is reserved for sending mostly data symbols;
however, within this second portion of the frame, additional pilot symbols are
interleaved among the data symbols. The pilot symbol or preamble portion of the
access channel frame allows for efficient acquisition of the access signal at the
base station, while providing a timing reference for determining the effects of
multipath fading. In particular, a pilot correlation filter provides a phase estimate
from the pilot symbols in the preamble portion, which is then used to decode the
data symbols in the payload portion. An access acquisition portion of the receiver
uses the phase estimates provided by the pilot correlation filter to process the
output of a data symbol correlation filter. The additional pilot symbols embedded
in the payload portion are used in a cross product operation to further resolve
the effects of multipath fading.
