Patent ID: 7184426

Claim:
An infrastructure element, comprising: a modulator configured to time-division-multiplex a plurality of orthogonally covered digital data sequences and a sequence of pilot symbols to generate a sequence of digital values for transmission on a communications channel, wherein the modulator further comprises a multiplexer configured to time-division-multiplex the plurality of orthogonally covered digital data sequences and the sequence of pilot symbols by puncturing the sequence of pilot symbols into the plurality of orthogonally covered digital data sequences such that a first subset of the plurality of orthogonally covered digital data sequences precedes in time the sequence of pilot symbols and the sequence of pilot symbols precedes in time a second subset of the plurality of orthogonally covered digital data sequences; and a transmitter coupled to the modulator and configured to receive the sequence of digital values from the modulator, convert the sequence of digital values to an analog waveform, and transmit the analog waveform on the communications channel.