Patent ID: 7630684

Claim:
A reflective communication system, comprising: a transmitter configured to transmit a communication signal, wherein the transmitter includes a cable having an outer covering and an antenna contained inside the outer covering and extending along a longitudinal length of the cable, wherein the outer covering of the cable is configured to attenuate a signal radiating from the antenna, wherein the cable further includes a plurality of openings in different sections of the outer covering that enable a communication signal transmitted by the antenna to radiate out of the cable from a plurality of points along the longitudinal length of the cable, and wherein the plurality of openings each have a conductive sleeve configured to open and close the openings to control whether the communication signal radiates out of the openings; a wireless communication device configured to receive the communication signal from the transmitter and reflectively modulate the communication signal with a data signal having a modulation to form a reflected data signal; and a receiver configured to receive the reflected data signal.