Patent ID: 6917644

Claim:
A method for processing a spread spectrum signal, comprising: receiving a code modulated spread spectrum signal; generating a code modulated signal replica of the received signal; correlating the received signal with a code phase delayed replica to generate an early correlation product; correlating the received signal with a second code phase delayed replica to generate a prompt correlation product; correlating the received signal with a third code phase delayed replica to generate a late correlation product; detecting a relative magnitude of and a sign of a multipath error in the received signal based on at least one relationship between an amplitude of the early correlation product, an amplitude of the prompt correlation product and an amplitude of the late correlation product; wherein determining the sign of the multipath error comprises comparing a ratio of the amplitude of the prompt correlation product to an equal amplitude of the early and late correlation products, wherein the early and late correlation products are offset symmetrically from the prompt correlation product; determining that a lag error exists when the amplitude of the prompt correlation product is less than twice the equal amplitude; determining that a lead error exists when the amplitude of the prompt correlation product is more than twice the equal amplitude; and determining that no multipath error exists if the amplitude of the prompt correlation product is equal to twice the equal amplitude.