Combined preamble detection and information transmission method for burst-type digital communication systems

In a burst-type communication system comprising a transmitter and a receiver, a method of communicating information in a preamble synchronization sequence of a burst transmission, comprising:

• selecting, at the transmitter, a selected one of a plurality of initial detection sequences, representing one or more first preamble information bits;
• selecting, at the transmitter, a selected one of a plurality of unique words, representing one or more second preamble information bits;
• transmitting, at the transmitter, said preamble synchronization sequence comprising said selected one initial detection sequence and said selected one unique word;
• receiving, at the receiver, said preamble synchronization sequence;
• detecting, at the receiver, said one initial detection sequence to produce first time synchronization information and to receive said one or more first preamble information bits;
• and
• detecting, at the receiver, said one unique word to produce second time synchronization information and to receive said one or more second preamble information bits.