Method and apparatus for operating a diversity antenna system for communicating with implantable medical device

A system for communicating with an implantable medical device, the system comprising:

• a plurality of antennas configured to transmit an outgoing signal to the implantable medical device and receive an incoming signal from the implantable medical device;
• a transceiver configured to transmit outgoing data frames by modulating the outgoing signal and receive incoming data frames by demodulating the incoming signal;
• an antenna interface circuit configured to connect an antenna of the plurality of antennas to the transceiver according to an antenna selection signal;
• and
• an antenna control circuit configured to assess quality of the incoming signal, time the assessment of the quality of the incoming signal using a predetermined communication protocol specifying timing for receiving the incoming data frames, and adjust the antenna selection signal using the assessed quality of the incoming signal.