U.S. patent application number 10/901380 was filed with the patent office on 2005-01-06 for decoding apparatus and decoding method.
This patent application is currently assigned to MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Kajita, Kuniyuki, Takita, Maho.
Application Number | 20050002477 10/901380 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 18833707 |
Filed Date | 2005-01-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050002477 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kajita, Kuniyuki ; et
al. |
January 6, 2005 |
Decoding apparatus and decoding method
Abstract
Candidate limiting section 104 outputs to correlation value
calculating section 105 only the TFCI coding sequences
corresponding to TFCI numbers that are actually used based on TFCI
numbers that are included in the group of TFCI numbers notified
from a layer which is upper than the physical layer, correlation
value calculating section 105 calculates the correlation values
between the coding sequences outputted from candidate limiting
section 104 and the received TFCI and stores the results in
correlation value memory 106, maximum value detecting section 107
notifies error correction decoding section 108 of the TFCI number
corresponding to the maximum correlation value among the
correlation values stored in correlation value memory 106, and
error correction decoding section 108 performs an error correction
decoding on the data stored in data memory 103 according to the
transmission format specified based on the notified TFCI
number.
Inventors: |
Kajita, Kuniyuki;
(Yokohama-shi, JP) ; Takita, Maho; (Yokohama-shi,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STEVENS DAVIS MILLER & MOSHER, LLP
1615 L STREET, NW
SUITE 850
WASHINGTON
DC
20036
US
|
Assignee: |
MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO.,
LTD.
Osaka
JP
|
Family ID: |
18833707 |
Appl. No.: |
10/901380 |
Filed: |
July 29, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10901380 |
Jul 29, 2004 |
|
|
|
10182270 |
Jul 25, 2002 |
|
|
|
6813323 |
|
|
|
|
10182270 |
Jul 25, 2002 |
|
|
|
PCT/JP01/10207 |
Nov 22, 2001 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
375/341 ;
375/343 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 1/0025 20130101;
H04L 1/0039 20130101; H03M 13/00 20130101; H04L 1/0091 20130101;
H04L 1/0045 20130101; H04L 1/0072 20130101; H03M 13/09
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
375/341 ;
375/343 |
International
Class: |
H04L 027/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 29, 2000 |
JP |
2000-362431 |
Claims
1-9. (Canceled).
10. A decoding method for a communication terminal apparatus in a
mobile communication system, said method comprising: (a) receiving
notification of transport format combination indicators (TFCIs);
(b) limiting transport format combination indicator (TFCI)
candidates, for received data, to said TFCIs, identified in
accordance with said notification; (c) determining a TFCI, from
among the TFCI candidates limited in step (b), for said received
data; and (d) obtaining decoded data by decoding said received data
in accordance with the TFCI determined in step (c).
11. A communication terminal apparatus in a mobile communication
system, said apparatus comprising: a receiver that receives
notification of transport format combination indicators (TFCIs); a
limiter that limits transport format combination indicator (TFCI)
candidates, for received data, to said TFCIs identified in
accordance with said notification; a determiner that determines a
TFCI, from among the TFCI candidates limited by said limiter, for
said received data; and a decoder that obtains decoded data by
decoding said received data in accordance with the TFCI determined
by said determiner.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a decoding apparatus and
decoding method, specially relates to a decoding apparatus and
decoding method that perform decoding of data based on transmission
format information transmitted from a communication partner and on
a determination result of transmission format information.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] In third generation mobile communication system using a CDMA
technology, the execution of variable rate transmission by which
the data rate is changed for every TTI (Transmission Time Interval)
unit is proposed. The determination of data rate in the receiving
side by a TFCI (Transport Format Combination Indicator) which
includes the transmission format information is also proposed.
Moreover, TTI is a data transmission length specified for every
channel, and such a length is either 1, 2, 4 or 8 frame(s).
[0003] Moreover, the transmission format of data (namely, block
size of data and the number of blocks of data) are specified by a
TFCI number. In other words, the data rate is specified by the TFCI
number. According to the specification of the third generation
mobile communication system specified by 3GPP, the TFCI is shown by
one number from among 1024 numbers from the 0 through 1023,
converted into a codeword corresponding to each number
(hereinafter, a codeword corresponding to each number is referred
to as "TFCI coding sequence") and then transmitted.
[0004] In the receiving side which receives the TFCI, the
correlation values between each of the 1024 TFCI coding sequences
which are specified beforehand and the actually received TFCI are
calculated by the decoding apparatus, and the number corresponding
to the correlation value which is maximum among the 1024 calculated
correlation values is determined as the received TFCI number. Then,
decoding apparatus performs decoding of data based on transmission
format specified by the determined TFCI number.
[0005] Among the 1024 TFCI numbers, normally about 10 numbers or at
most 100 numbers are actually used in mobile communication system.
Consequently, because the correlation values corresponding to all
1024 TFCI coding sequences are calculated in the aforementioned
conventional decoding apparatus even though it is not important to
calculate the correlation values corresponding to all 1024 TFCI
coding sequences, there is a problem that the processing amount and
power consumption which are required to determine the TFCI number
become large. Thus, when the aforementioned conventional decoding
apparatus is built in a communication terminal which is driven by a
battery, there is a problem that the using time of a communication
terminal becomes short.
[0006] Moreover, when an error occurs with TFCI due to the
influence of noise and such in the propagation path, a case might
result in the decoding apparatus where the correlation value
calculated using a TFCI coding sequence having a close inter-code
distance to a transmitted TFCI coding sequence becomes maximum. In
the case when the TFCI number corresponding to TFCI coding sequence
with a near inter-code distance is the TFCI number which is not
actually used, there is a problem that this TFCI number which is
not actually used is erroneously determined as the received TFCI
number.
[0007] Because the data will be decoded by an erroneous
transmission format when the TFCI number is erroneously determined,
all the data of TTI in respect to which the transmission format is
erroneously determined might be erroneously decoded, and hence, the
error rate characteristics of the received data will be remarkably
deteriorated.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
decoding apparatus and a decoding method that are capable to
improve the TFCI determining precision while reducing the amount of
processing and power consumption which are required to determine
the TFCI.
[0009] In order to achieve such an object, in the present
invention, the TFCI is determined using only those actually used
TFCI numbers as candidates from among a plurality of TFCI numbers.
Therefore, it is possible to improve the TFCI determining precision
while reducing the processing amount and power consumption that are
required to determine the TFCI.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a
decoding apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present
invention.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a
decoding apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present
invention.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of a decoding
apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a
decoding apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present
invention.
[0014] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation of a decoding
apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0015] Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically
described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0016] (Embodiment 1)
[0017] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a
decoding apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present
invention. The decoding apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is built in, for
instance, a communication terminal apparatus such as, a cellular
phone and such used in a mobile communication system. For example,
such a communication terminal apparatus carries out radio
communication based on CDMA technology. Moreover, in the following
description it is assumed that the TFCI transmitted from a
communication partner is shown by one TFCI number from among the
1024 TFCI numbers from the 0 through 1023 using 10 bits and
transmitted after being converted into TFCI coding sequence of 32
bits.
[0018] In the decoding apparatus shown in FIG. 1, demodulation
section 101 demodulates the received signal including TFCIs, and
outputs the TFCI portion in the demodulated received signal to TFCI
memory 102 while outputting the data portion to data memory 103. In
addition, each bit of TFCIs is distributed into a predetermined
position of each slot of the received signal and it is difficult to
carry out TFCI determination until TFCIs of one frame are received
in the decoding apparatus. Accordingly, TFCI memory 102 accumulates
TFCIs of one frame. Moreover, data memory 103 accumulates data of
one frame.
[0019] Since the group of TFCI numbers that may actually be used
(hereinafter, the group of TFCI numbers that may actually be used
is referred to as "the group of TFCI numbers in use") for every
communication channel is specified by a layer which is upper than
the physical layer (hereinafter, simply it is referred to as "upper
layer") in the mobile communication system, candidate limiting
section 104 is notified from upper layer with the group of TFCI
numbers in use.
[0020] Candidate limiting section 104 has a table that shows the
correspondence relation between the TFCI number and TFCI coding
sequence. Further, candidate limiting section 104 outputs to
correlation value calculating section 105 only the TFCI coding
sequences corresponding to TFCI numbers that are actually used
among the 1024 TFCI numbers from the 0 through 1023 referring to
the table based on each TFCI number that is included in the group
of TFCI numbers notified from upper layer. That is to say,
candidate limiting section 104 limits the candidates for TFCI to an
actually used N TFCIs among the 1024 TFCIs.
[0021] Correlation value calculating section 105, by way of
calculating the correlation values between the coding sequences
outputted from candidate limiting section 104 and the received
TFCI, calculates correlation values using only those actually used
TFCI numbers as candidates from among the 1024 TFCI numbers from
the 0 through 1023. That is, correlation value calculating section
105 calculates correlation values between each of TFCI coding
sequences corresponding to the actually used TFCI numbers and the
received TFCI. Correlation value calculating section 105 outputs
each of the calculated correlation values along with the TFCI
number to correlation value memory 106. Moreover, it is possible to
perform a high speed calculation of the correlation value by using,
for instance, a high speed Hadamard transform for correlation value
calculation.
[0022] Correlation value memory 106 stores correlation values
outputted from correlation value calculating section 105 in
correspondence with the TFCI numbers.
[0023] Maximum value detecting section 107 detects the maximum
correlation value among correlation values stored in correlation
value memory 106. Then, maximum value detecting section 107
notifies error correction decoding section 108 of the TFCI number
corresponding to the maximum correlation value.
[0024] Error correction decoding section 108 specifies the
transmission format of the data accumulated in data memory 103
based on TFCI number notified from maximum value detecting section
107, and performs error correction decoding on the data accumulated
in data memory 103 based on the specified transmission format. In
addition, the error correction decoding is performed based on, for
instance, Viterbi algorithm.
[0025] Operation of the decoding apparatus which has the
aforementioned configuration will be explained below.
[0026] Only the TFCI coding sequences corresponding to TFCI numbers
included in the group of TFCI numbers in use notified by the upper
layer is outputted to correlation value calculating section 105
from candidate limiting section 104.
[0027] Correlation values between the TFCI coding sequences
outputted from candidate limiting section 104 and TFCI of one frame
accumulated in TFCI memory 102 are calculated in correlation value
calculating section 105. In other words, only the correlation
values corresponding to the actually used N TFCI numbers among the
1024 TFCI numbers are calculated in correlation value calculating
section 105.
[0028] For example, when the actually used TFCI numbers is limited
to 30, each correlation value between the TFCI coding sequence
corresponding to each number of those 30 and the TFCI of one frame
accumulated in TFCI memory 102 is calculated. According to this
example, since 30 correlation values are calculated in comparison
with the 1024 correlation values having been conventionally
calculated, it is possible to reduce remarkably the processing
amount and power consumption required for the correlation value
calculation processing which is one process of determining
processes of TFCIs.
[0029] The calculated N correlation values along with the
corresponding TFCI numbers are outputted to correlation value
memory 106. N correlation values and the corresponding TFCI numbers
are stored in correlation value memory 106.
[0030] The maximum correlation value among the correlation values
stored in correlation value memory 106 is detected in maximum value
detecting section 107. Then, the TFCI number corresponding to the
maximum correlation value is determined as a number of TFCI that is
accumulated in TFCI memory 102 (i.e., the received TFCI). The
determined TFCI number is notified to error correction decoding
section 108.
[0031] As described above, when an error is occurred in the TFCI
due to the influence of noise and such in the propagation path,
there is a case in the aforementioned conventional decoding
apparatus that the correlation value corresponding to the TFCI
number which is not actually used becomes the maximum, and the
number of the received TFCI is erroneously determined.
[0032] On the other hand, in the decoding apparatus according to
the present embodiment, the correlation values subject to
determination in maximum value detecting section 107 are limited to
the N correlation values corresponding to the actually used TFCI
numbers. That is to say, it is possible to prevent the correlation
value corresponding to the TFCI number which is not actually used
to be detected as the maximum in maximum value detecting section
107.
[0033] Thus, in the decoding apparatus according to the present
embodiment, the probability that TFCI is erroneously determined is
minimized and the determination accuracy of TFCI is improved
compared to the aforementioned conventional decoding apparatus.
Hence, it is possible to prevent the deterioration of error rate
characteristics of the received data.
[0034] In error correction decoding section 108, the transmission
format of the data accumulated in data memory 103 is specified
based on TFCI number notified from maximum value detecting section
107. Then, the data accumulated in data memory 103 is subjected to
error correction decoding based on the specified transmission
format. Accordingly, a data of one frame subjected to error
correction decoding processing is obtained.
[0035] Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is
possible to improve the TFCI determination precision while reducing
the amount of processing and power consumption required to
determine the TFCI by performing. TFCI determination by using only
those actually used TFCI numbers as candidates from among a
plurality of TFCI numbers.
[0036] (Embodiment 2)
[0037] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a
decoding apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present
invention. As shown in this figure, in addition to the decoding
apparatus shown in FIG. 1, the decoding apparatus according to the
present embodiment is further provided with threshold value
deciding section 201, controlling section 202, memory updating
section 203 and CRC section 204. In FIG. 2, however, the
corresponding similar sections shown in FIG. 1 are assigned the
same reference numerals and explanations thereof are omitted.
[0038] In the decoding apparatus shown in FIG. 2, threshold value
deciding section 201 decides whether the maximum correlation value
detected by maximum value detecting section 107 is above a
predetermined threshold. Threshold value deciding section 201
notifies error correction decoding section 108 of TFCI number
corresponding to the correlation value when such a correlation
value is above a predetermined threshold, and when the correlation
value is below the predetermined threshold, it notifies controlling
section 202 of such a result along with TFCI number. Controlling
section 202 controls the operation of maximum value detecting
section 107 and memory updating section 203 based on an instruction
from threshold value deciding section 201 and CRC section 204.
[0039] Memory updating section 203 updates a correlation value that
is determined to be below the predetermined threshold value in
threshold value determining section 201 and a correlation value
that corresponds to a TFCI number that is used upon error
correction decoding of the data with which an error is detected in
CRC section 204 into a value that cannot be detected as a maximum
value (for instance, 0 value) from the correlation values stored in
correlation value memory 106 based on a instruction from
controlling section 202. In addition, the explanation of how the
correlation value is updated as "0" by memory updating section 203
will be given below.
[0040] CRC section 204 uses an error detecting code such as CRC
which is included in the data subjected to error correction
decoding (hereinafter, simply referred to as "decoded data") to
perform an error detection processing on the decoded data. Then,
CRC section 204 outputs only the decoded data of which an error is
not detected along with CRC result. Further, when an error is
detected in the decoded data, CRC section 204 notifies controlling
section 202 of an error-detected command along with the TFCI number
while discarding the decoded data.
[0041] Operation of the decoding apparatus which has the
aforementioned configuration will be explained below. FIG. 3 is a
flowchart showing an operation of a decoding apparatus according to
Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
[0042] First, in step (hereinafter, it is referred to as "ST") 301,
similar to the aforementioned Embodiment 1, a correlation value is
calculated from the candidates of actually used TFCI numbers in
correlation value calculating section 105, and the calculated
correlation value along with the TFCI number is outputted to
correlation value memory 106.
[0043] Next, in ST302, the maximum correlation value among
correlation values stored in correlation value memory 106 is
detected by maximum value detecting section 107. Then, maximum
value detecting section 107 outputs the maximum correlation value
along with its corresponding TFCI number to threshold value
deciding section 201.
[0044] Moreover, maximum value detecting section 107 outputs a
signal that indicates the execution of maximum value detection to
controlling section 202. Controlling section 202 is provided with a
counter for counting the number of times of maximum value
detection, and controlling section 202 increments the counter by 1
whenever the signal which indicates the execution of maximum value
detection is outputted from maximum value detecting section 107.
Further, it is assumed that the initial value of the counter is
Then, in ST303, threshold value deciding section 201 decides
whether the maximum value detected by maximum value detecting
section 107 is above the predetermined threshold. When that maximum
value is below the predetermined threshold, threshold deciding
section 201 notifies controlling section 202 of such a result along
with the TFCI number. Further, when the maximum value is below the
predetermined threshold in ST303 then proceed to ST304.
[0045] Next, in ST304, the controlling section 202 decides whether
the number of times of the maximum value detection has reached the
number N of the actually used TFCI numbers (hereinafter, it is
referred to as "number of TFCI numbers in use") with reference to
the counter value. In the mobile communication system as described
above, because the group of TFCI numbers in use is specified for
every communication channel by an upper layer, controlling section
202 is notified of the number N of TFCI numbers in use, from the
upper layer.
[0046] When the number of times of the maximum value detection does
not reach the number N of TFCI numbers in use, in ST305,
controlling section 202 notifies memory updating section 203 of the
TFCI number notified from threshold value deciding section 201 and,
furthermore, instructs memory updating section 203 to update the
correlation value corresponding to the TFCI number notified from
threshold value deciding section 201 to "0".
[0047] Following the instruction, the correlation value that has
been decided to be below the predetermined threshold in threshold
value deciding section 201 among correlation values stored in
correlation value memory 106 is updated as "0" by memory updating
section 203. After updating processing, memory updating section 203
outputs a signal that indicates the completion of updating
processing to controlling section 202. Based on such a signal,
controlling section 202 instructs maximum value detecting section
107 to re-execute maximum value detection processing in ST302.
Since the maximum value last detected in ST302 is already updated
as "0", with the processing of ST 302 of this time, a correlation
value that is next large to the maximum value last detected in ST
302 is detected as the maximum value. Moreover, when the number of
times of maximum value detection reaches the number N of TFCI
numbers in use in ST304, controlling section 202 stops the maximum
value detection operation until next decoding timing while
resetting the counter to "1".
[0048] On the other hand, when the maximum value of the correlation
value detected by maximum value detecting section 107 is above the
predetermined threshold in ST303, the TFCI number corresponding to
such a correlation value is notified to error correction decoding
section 108 by threshold value deciding section 201.
[0049] Then, error correction decoding section 108 specifies the
transmission format of the data accumulated in data memory 103
based on TFCI number notified from threshold value deciding section
201 in ST306. After this, the data accumulated in data memory 103
is subjected to error correction decoding based on the specified
transmission format. The decoded data is outputted to CRC section
204.
[0050] Next, CRC section 204 performs error detection on the
decoded data in ST307. When an error was not detected, CRC section
204 outputs the decoded data along with the CRC result, thereby,
the decoding processing is finished. In this case, CRC section 204,
further, notifies the controlling section 202 of an
error-undetected command. According to such a notification command,
controlling section 202 stops the maximum value detection operation
until the next decoding timing while resetting the counter to
"1".
[0051] On the other hand, when an error was detected, CRC section
204 notifies controlling section 202 of an error-detected command
along with TFCI number while discarding the decoded data. In this
case, progressing to ST304.
[0052] In ST305 after the processing of ST304, controlling section
202 notifies memory updating section 203 of the TFCI number
notified from CRC section 204 and, furthermore, instructs memory
updating section 203 to update the correlation value corresponding
to the TFCI number notified from CRC section 204 to "0". Following
the instruction, memory updating section 203 updates the
correlation value corresponding to the TFCI number used at the time
of error correction decoding of the data with an error detected in
CRC section 204 among correlation values stored in correlation
value memory 106 to "0". After updating processing, memory updating
section 203 outputs a signal that indicates the completion of
updating processing to controlling section 202. Based on such a
signal, controlling section 202 instructs maximum value detecting
section 107 to re-execute maximum value detection processing in
ST302.
[0053] Hereafter, the correlation values stored in correlation
value memory 106 are detected by maximum value detecting section in
order from larger ones, and until such detected correlation value
becomes above a predetermined threshold and until no error is
detected with the decoded data decoded based on the TFCI number
that corresponds to the detected correlation value, above the
aforementioned processing are repeated maximum of N times.
[0054] Therefore, according to the present embodiment, because only
the TFCI number corresponding to the correlation value that becomes
above a predetermined threshold value is determined as the received
TFCI number, it is possible to improve the determination
reliability of the TFCI.
[0055] Moreover, because the TFCI determination and data decoding
are carried out repeatedly until an error is no longer detected in
the decoded data that is decoded based on the TFCI number
corresponding to the correlation value which becomes above the
predetermined threshold, it is also possible to improve the
decoding reliability of data.
[0056] (Embodiment 3)
[0057] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a
decoding apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present
invention. As shown in this figure, the decoding apparatus
according to the present embodiment is provided with transmission
power control information generating section 401 in addition to the
decoding apparatus shown in FIG. 2. Further, the corresponding
similar sections shown in FIG. 2 are assigned the same reference
numerals in FIG. 4 and explanations thereof are omitted.
[0058] In the decoding apparatus shown in FIG. 4, transmission
power control information generating section 401 generates
transmission power control information to instruct the
communication partner to increase the signal transmission power
based on a instruction from controlling section 202.
[0059] Operation of the decoding apparatus which has the
aforementioned configuration will be explained below. FIG. 5 is a
flowchart showing an operation of a decoding apparatus according to
Embodiment 3 of the present invention. Moreover, the corresponding
similar operational steps shown in FIG. 3 are assigned the same
reference numerals in FIG. 5 and explanations thereof are
omitted.
[0060] When in ST304 the counter provided in controlling section
202 reaches the number N of TFCI numbers in use, in ST501,
controlling section 202 instructs transmission power control
information generating section 401 to generate transmission power
control information to instruct the communication partner to
increase signal transmission power. Transmission power control
information generating section 401 generates transmission power
control information such as TPC (Transmission Power Control) bit to
instruct the communication partner to increase signal transmission
power based on a instruction from controlling section 202, and
outputs this transmission power control information to the
transmission part inside a communication terminal apparatus. In
this transmission part, the transmission power control information
is mapped into a transmission signal and transmitted to the
communication partner (base station). The communication partner
increases the transmission power of the signal including the TFCI
based on the received transmission power control information.
[0061] That is, when the total of both, the number of correlation
values which are below the predetermined threshold value and the
number of the decoded data in which the error is detected, reaches
the number N of TFCI numbers in use, the decoding apparatus
according to the present embodiment decides that the channel
environments are inferior, and instructs the communication partner
to increase the transmission power of the signal including
TFCI.
[0062] According to the present embodiment, because the
transmission power of the signal including the TFCI is increased in
the communication partner side when the channel environments are
inferior, it is possible to improve the receiving quality of TFCI.
Thus, since it is possible to receive the TFCI with good receiving
quality regardless to the channel environment, even when the
channel environments are inferior, the TFCI can be determined
correctly and it is possible also to prevent deterioration of the
decoding characteristics of data.
[0063] In addition, the decoding apparatus according to the
aforementioned Embodiments 1-3 can be built in a communication
terminal apparatus or base station apparatus that carries out
communication with this communication terminal apparatus employed
in a radio communication system. In such a case, because the error
rate characteristics are improved by improving the TFCI
determination accuracy in both communication terminal apparatus and
base station apparatus, it is possible to enhance and improve the
data communication quality, speech quality, etc.
[0064] As described above and according to the present invention,
while being able to improve the determination accuracy of TFCI, the
processing amount and power consumption required for TFCI
determination can be reduced.
[0065] The present application is based on the Japanese Patent
Application No. 2000-362431 filed on Nov. 29, 2000, entire content
of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
* * * * *