Meta-carrier embedding technique with improved performance for BPSK, MSK, and O-QPSK modulation

A method of receiving and extracting embedded information from within a burst carrier signal comprising:

• receiving a composite carrier signal using a receiving device, the composite carrier signal comprising a burst carrier signal having one or more modulated symbols of a meta-carrier signal embedded within an unused portion of one or more quadrants of a modulation constellation of the burst carrier signal, wherein a Power Spectral Density (PSD) of the meta-carrier signal has been previously lowered by Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) chipping of the meta-carrier signal using a linear or non-linear Pseudo-Random Number (PRN) sequence;
• estimating which one or more modulation constellation portions of the burst carrier signal was unused based on a predetermined modulation format of the burst carrier signal;
• and
• synchronously extracting the one or more embedded symbols of the meta-carrier signal from the one or more modulation constellation portions that are unused in the burst carrier signal based on the estimation of which of the one or more modulation constellation portions is unused for transmitting information in the burst carrier signal.

A system for embedding information within a burst carrier signal, the system comprising:

• a modulator configured to modulate meta-data such that a meta-carrier signal results;
• a spreading device configured to lower a Power Spectral Density (PSD) of the meta-carrier signal by Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) chipping the meta-carrier signal using a linear or non-linear Pseudo-Random Number (PRN) sequence;
• an embedding device configured to embed one or more modulated symbols of the meta-carrier signal within one or more unused portions of one or more quadrants of a modulation constellation of the burst carrier signal such that a composite carrier signal results;
• and
• a transmitter configured to synchronously transmit the composite carrier signal such that symbols of the meta-carrier signal are synchronized with symbols of the burst carrier signal.

A system for receiving and extracting embedded information from within a burst carrier signal comprising:

• a receiving device configured to receive a composite carrier signal, the composite carrier signal comprising a burst carrier signal having one or more modulated symbols of a meta-carrier signal embedded within an unused portion of one or more quadrants of a modulation constellation of the burst carrier signal, wherein a Power Spectral Density (PSD) of the meta-carrier signal has been previously lowered by Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) chipping of the meta-carrier signal using a linear or non-linear Pseudo-Random Number (PRN) sequence;
• a decoder configured to locate one or more modulation constellation portions of the burst carrier signal that are unused based on a predetermined modulation format of the burst carrier signal;
• and
• a processing device configured to reassemble the one or more embedded symbols of the meta-carrier signal synchronously extracted by the decoder from the burst carrier signal such that meta-data results.