System and method of communication using at least two modulation methods

Abstract

A device may be capable of communicating using at least two type types of modulation methods. Methods and systems are provided for communication of data according to a communications method in which a master transceiver communicates with one or more slave transceivers according to a master/slave relationship. A first data message may include first information and second information that are modulated according to a first modulation method. The second information may include lower data rate data. A second data message may include third information that may be modulated according to the first modulation method and that may indicate an impending change to a second modulation method. The second modulation method may be used for transmitting fourth information, and the fourth information may be included in the second message. The fourth information may include higher data rate data, for example Internet access data.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A communication system, comprising:
 a transmitter capable of transmitting at least two modulation methods, wherein the at least two modulation methods comprise a first modulation method and a second modulation, wherein the second method is different than the first modulation method, and wherein the first transceiver is configured to transmit
 a first sequence, in the first modulation method, that indicates an impending change from the first modulation method to the second modulation method, and 
 a second sequence, in the second modulation method, wherein the second sequence is transmitted after the first data sequence. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit a third sequence after the second sequence, wherein the third sequence is transmitted in the first modulation method and indicates that communication has reverted to the first modulation method. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein first modulation method is a frequency shift keying modulation. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the second modulation method is a shift keying modulation. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second modulation method is different than the first modulation method in performance. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the first modulation method has a lower performance than the second modulation method. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second modulation method is different than the first modulation method in data rate. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the first modulation method has a lower data rate than the second modulation method. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first transceiver is configured to transmit the second sequence according to a specific time interval. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first transceiver is configured to transmit the second sequence according to a particular quantity of data. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the memory has stored therein instructions that when executed by the processor cause the transmitter to transmit the first sequence and the second sequence. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the memory has stored therein program code for the first modulation method and the second modulation method. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the memory comprises random access memory. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the memory comprises read-only memory. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the memory has stored therein program code for a multipoint communications protocol. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first sequence comprises an address. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first sequence and the second sequence are contained in a burst transmission. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the burst transmission is a poll in accordance with a multipoint communications protocol. 
     
     
         19 . A communications device, comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory having stored therein executable instructions for execution by the processor, wherein the executable instructions direct transmission of first data with a first modulation method followed by second data with a second modulation method, wherein the first modulation method is different than the second modulation method, and wherein the first data comprises an indication of an impending change from the first modulation method to the second modulation method.   
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the executable instructions direct transmission of third data with the first modulation method after the second data, wherein the third data indicates that communication has reverted to the first modulation method.