Method and apparatus for data transfer using a time division multiple frequency scheme with additional modulation

A method of data transmission, said method comprising:

• encoding an ordered set of m data values to produce a corresponding series of ordered n-tuples;
• and
• according to the series of ordered n-tuples, transmitting a plurality of bursts, each burst occupying at least one of a plurality n of frequency bands,
• wherein, for each of the plurality of bursts, a frequency band occupied by the burst is indicated by the order within its n-tuple of an element corresponding to the burst, and
• wherein a bandwidth of at least one of the plurality of bursts is at least two percent of the center frequency of the burst and
• wherein information is encoded into an additional modulation of at least one of the plurality of bursts,
• wherein each among the series of ordered n-tuples corresponds to one among a series of time periods, and
• wherein each of the series of time periods has a different start time, and
• wherein, for each of the plurality of bursts, the time period during which the burst is launched is indicated by the location within the series of n-tuples of an n-tuple that includes an element corresponding to the burst,
• wherein during each time period, no more than one of the plurality of bursts is launched.

A transmitter comprising:

• an encoder configured to receive an ordered set of m data values and to produce a corresponding series of ordered n-tuples;
• and
• a signal generator configured to transmit, according to the series of ordered n-tuples, a plurality of bursts, each burst occupying at least one of a plurality n of frequency bands,
• wherein, for each of the plurality of bursts, a frequency band occupied by the burst is indicated by the order within its n-tuple of an element corresponding to the burst, and
• wherein a bandwidth of at least one of the plurality of bursts is at least two percent of the center frequency of the burst and
• wherein said transmitter is configured to encode information into an additional modulation of at least one of the plurality of bursts;
• wherein, for each of the plurality of bursts, a time of transmission of the burst relative to the rest of the plurality of bursts is indicated by the order, within the series of ordered n-tuples, of an n-tuple that includes an element corresponding to the burst.

A method of data reception, said method comprising:

• receiving a plurality of bursts, each burst occupying at least one of a plurality n of frequency bands, wherein information is encoded into an additional modulation of at least one of the plurality of bursts,
• obtaining a series of ordered n-tuples based on the plurality of bursts;
• and
• decoding the series of ordered n-tuples to produce an ordered set of m data values,
• wherein, for each of the plurality of bursts, the order within its n-tuple of an element corresponding to the burst is indicated by a frequency band occupied by the burst, and
• wherein a bandwidth of at least one of the plurality of bursts is at least two percent of the center frequency of the burst and
• wherein information is decoded from the additional modulation encoded into at least one of the plurality of bursts;
• wherein, for each of the plurality of bursts, the order, within the series of ordered n-tuples, of an n-tuple that includes an element corresponding to the burst is indicated by a timing of the burst relative to the rest of the plurality of bursts.

A receiver comprising:

• a signal detector configured to receive a signal including a plurality of bursts, wherein information is encoded into an additional modulation of at least one of the plurality of bursts, each burst occupying at least one of a plurality n of frequency bands, and to output a series of ordered n-tuples based on the plurality of bursts;
• and
• a decoder configured to produce an ordered set of m data values from the series of ordered n-tuples,
• wherein the signal detector is configured to output, for each of the plurality of bursts, an element corresponding to the burst such that an order of the element within its n-tuple corresponds to a frequency band occupied by the burst, and
• wherein a bandwidth of at least one of the plurality of bursts is at least two percent of the center frequency of the burst and
• wherein the signal detector is configured to output the information based upon the additional modulation of at least one of the plurality of bursts;
• wherein, for each of the plurality of bursts, the order, within the series of ordered n-tuples, of an n-tuple that includes an element corresponding to the burst is indicated by a timing of the burst relative to the rest of the plurality of bursts.