Techniques to acquire the frequency of a signal instance based on a window
of data samples covering a time period shorter than the time needed to achieve
frequency lock. The window of data samples is initially captured and stored to
a sample buffer. A segment of data samples is then retrieved from the sample buffer
for processing. The retrieved data samples are rotated by a current frequency error
estimate to provide frequency-translated data samples, which are further processed
to provide one or more pilot symbols. An updated frequency error estimate for the
frequency-translated data samples is then derived based on the pilot symbols using
a frequency control loop. The window of data samples is processed for a number
of iterations until frequency acquisition is achieved for the signal instance or
termination is reached. For each iteration, one segment is processed at a time
and typically in sequential order.
