Patent ID: 7813726

Claim:
A wireless communication system comprising: a plurality of handheld devices, each handheld device including: a transmitter, an input selection control, and a processor configured to receive a user selection from the input selection control and, upon receipt of the user selection, instruct the transmitter to transmit an RF signal encoding an address and the user selection according to a defined RF profile, wherein the defined RF profile comprises a distinct period of no RF transmission and a first period of RF transmission corresponding to transmission of the RF signal, where the first period of RF transmission occurs after the distinct period of no RF transmission and is responsive to receipt of the user selection at the handheld device; and a receiver device including: a transceiver configured to receive the RF signal, and a processor configured to decode the RF signal into the address and the user selection after receipt by the transceiver, generate an acknowledgment including a representation of the address, and instructs the transceiver to transmit the acknowledgment according to the defined RF profile.