mÉtodo e aparelho para determinar a intensidade do sinal em um sistema de comunicaÇço de espectro por propagaÇço tendo uma taxa de dados variÁvel; e aparelho que fornece uma estimativa da intensidade do sinal

A method and apparatus of determining signal strength, regardless of the signal data rate, in a receiver receiving signals from a variable rate transmitter. The incoming signal is comprised of a series of frames. Each frame is comprised of a number of power control groups containing data. The number of the power control groups containing data within each frame is dependent on the unknown data rate. The position of the power control groups within the frame is a pseudorandom. The signal strength of an incoming signal of unknown data rate is determined based upon an active set of power control groups within a frame. The active set of power control groups contain data independent of the unknown data rate. This signal strength information may be used to indicate that the signal strength is sufficient to perform further signal processing.