Abstract: A receiver, system and method for providing symbol timing recovery that allows for inexpensive and low-complexity synchronization for communication systems. A receiver receives a signal including digital data in the form of packets that is transmitted from a transmitter. The receiver uses information contained in each of the packets to align a phase of the receiver clock with a phase of the transmitter clock. The receiver further controls a sampling device such that the in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) components are sampled at an optimum sample rate and at an optimum instance of time without requiring a numerically controlled oscillator or voltage controlled oscillator.

Abstract: An extensible short-range tracking system is disclosed. The tracking system disclosed is a multi-level tracking system. At the first level is an RF tag, which is a transmit-only unit that transmits information including minimally an identification number. The transmission from the RF tags are sporadic with timing depending upon the application at implementation. Generally, the transmission timing comprises a transmission, which is repeated periodically at random times. Transmissions from the RF tags are received in a series of relays. The relays may calculate the position of the tags by knowing the position of the relays and the time difference of arrival of the signals from the RF tags by several relays or may pass the information needed to calculate position to a base station. Alternately, the RF tags may generate position information and transmit that information along with the RF tag identifier to the relays.

Abstract: The invention monitors a communication channel and estimates its characteristics from time to time, thus providing a dynamic estimate of channel characteristics. Based on the channel characteristics, a control processor calculates a preferred configuration of digital (and optionally, analog) signal processing to best manage the available energy for the present channel characteristics. The selected configuration is then down-loaded into communication modules stored in extra memory during runtime.