Patent ID: 7170875

Claim:
A cell search method for a mobile station in a mobile communication system, the method being characterized said repeating by comprising steps of: despreading a received signal with a spreading code common to all slots and detecting first slot boundaries on the basis of a first average correlation value calculated at intervals of first averaging time; despreading said received signal with different spreading codes for said respective slots on the basis of the detected first slot boundaries and detecting frame boundaries and a scramble code group on the basis of a second average correlation value; descrambling a common pilot signal on the basis of said detected frame boundaries and scramble code group, and detecting a scramble code on the basis of a third average correlation value; detecting, concurrently with the step of detecting said frame boundaries and said scramble code group or the step of detecting said scramble code, second slot boundaries on the basis of a fourth average correlation value calculated through primary averaging executed at intervals of second averaging time; determining whether or not the detected frame boundaries and scramble code are correct; and repeating the process starting from the step of detecting said frame boundaries and said scramble code group on the basis of said detected second slot boundaries, if the incorrectness of said frame boundaries or said scramble code is determined, including: comparing the time elapsed since the start of the step of detecting said first slot boundaries with a predetermined upper limit value and ending the repetition if it is determined as a result of the comparison that said elapsed time exceeds said upper limit value.