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.