Patent ID: 7218682
Filing Date: 2007-05-15
Classification: H04B

Abstract:
1. In a communication system comprising at least a plurality of transmitting communication devices and a receiving communication device, a method of combining signals respectively transmitted from the transmitting communication devices to enhance reception at the receiving communication device, comprising: (a) coordinating transmissions of the plurality of the transmitting communication devices by establishing a lead communication device among the transmitting communication devices, wherein the lead communication device communicates with the other transmitting communication devices to schedule a time at which the lead communication device and the other transmitting communication devices are to send a transmitted signal to the receiving communication device, thereby establishing a common time reference among the transmitting communication devices, such that a plurality of transmitted signals are respectively transmitted over the same communication channel by the plurality of transmitting communication devices substantially simultaneously using a carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) protocol, each of the transmitted signals including an information signal which is coherently combinable with corresponding information signals in others of the transmitted signals; (b) receiving the transmitted signals at the receiving communication device such that respective arrival times of the transmitted signals are offset from one another as a function of respective positions of the transmitting communication devices; (c) time aligning the transmitted signals to compensate for the respective arrival times of the transmitted signals; (d) combining the transmitted signals to form a combined signal including at least a combined information signal; and (e) detecting the combined signal to determine the presence of the transmitted signals.