Importance

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Abstract

A method and apparatus identify (822) respondents to a poll transmitted (806) in a radio communication system (100) comprising a transmitter (104) and a plurality of receivers (103, 105). A subset of a plurality of portable communication units (PCUs) (108) are each programmed (804, 806) with a bit pattern (510, 512, 514) corresponding uniquely to each PCU (108) and chosen such that when a group of at least two PCUs (108) are received simultaneously, the resultant received interference bit pattern provides a non-zero probability of correctly identifying at least a portion of the group, and a substantially zero probability of erroneously identifying a PCU (108) not in the group. The method further comprises the steps of transmitting (808) thereafter from the subset of PCUs (108) simultaneous, co-channel responses to the poll, each response comprising one of the programmed bit patterns (510, 512, 514), and determining (822) therefrom identities of received PCUs (108) by the interference bit patterns received at the plurality of receivers (103, 105).

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First Claim