Systems and methods for operating a communication device. The methods comprise: receiving a carrier signal modulated with a modulation signal comprising a symbol conveyed in a symbol timing window; determining an energy value for each timeslot in the symbol timing window; combining the energy values to determine a combined energy value for each bit of the symbol in a manner in which the combined energy value is penalized if more than one timeslot of the symbol timing window comprises energy contained in the carrier signal; and generating a soft value for each bit of the sequence of bits by combining the combined energy value with a weight value, where the weight value is selected from a plurality of weight values based on a number of timeslots in the symbol timing window which comprises energy contained in the carrier signal.

A method for transmitting covertly employs three features in a novel combination to create a transmission waveform that has no detectable artifacts. First, the method employs spread spectrum, such as a direct sequence spread spectrum signal, to transmit the power level below the noise floor. Second, the method modulates the phase of each chip in the spread spectrum signal using a chaotic sequence. Third, the method filters the transmission signal using a pulse shaped filter to depress blind detection features in the amplitude modulation and higher order power spectral densities. The novel combination of these features results in a practically invisible and undetectable transmission waveform. Many other features are disclosed herein to optimize this combination.

Disclosed are devices and methods for displaying optimal locations for telecommunications equipment. In one embodiment, a method comprises simultaneously recording video footage and wireless signal strengths of a respective room in a plurality of rooms; storing the video footage and wireless signal strengths in a database; accessing the database and analyzing whether the video footage and wireless signal strengths include useful information; displaying one or more locations for telecommunications equipment on a floor plan of the respective room if the video footage and wireless signal strengths include useful information; and transmitting the video footage and wireless signal strengths to a technician if the video footage and wireless signal strengths do not include useful information.

Disclosed are devices and methods for displaying optimal locations for telecommunications equipment. In one embodiment, a method comprises simultaneously recording video footage and wireless signal strengths of a respective room in a plurality of rooms; storing the video footage and wireless signal strengths in a database; accessing the database and analyzing whether the video footage and wireless signal strengths include useful information; displaying one or more locations for telecommunications equipment on a floor plan of the respective room if the video footage and wireless signal strengths include useful information; and transmitting the video footage and wireless signal strengths to a technician if the video footage and wireless signal strengths do not include useful information.

In an ultra-wideband (“UWB”) communication system, methods are disclosed for transmitting packets in multiple portions, each having a different pulse repetition frequency (“PRF”). Methods are also disclosed for transmitting packets dis-continuously.

In an ultra-wideband (“UWB”) communication system, methods are disclosed for transmitting packets in multiple portions, each having a different pulse repetition frequency (“PRF”). Methods are also disclosed for transmitting packets dis-continuously.

A method for providing digital communication over an acoustic channel is disclosed. The method includes dividing an operating frequency band of the acoustic channel into multiple adjacent non-overlapping subbands of an equal bandwidth, selecting subbands based on a symbol to be transmitted, generating a signal with linear frequency modulation in each of the selected subbands, combining the signals with linear frequency modulation, and transmitting the combined signals to the acoustic channel through an acoustic system, wherein slopes of linear frequency modulation for the signals with linear frequency modulation are equal.

A method for providing digital communication over an acoustic channel is disclosed. The method includes dividing an operating frequency band of the acoustic channel into multiple adjacent non-overlapping subbands of an equal bandwidth, selecting subbands based on a symbol to be transmitted, generating a signal with linear frequency modulation in each of the selected subbands, combining the signals with linear frequency modulation, and transmitting the combined signals to the acoustic channel through an acoustic system, wherein slopes of linear frequency modulation for the signals with linear frequency modulation are equal.

A communication method includes generating at a first node, a message of a predetermined message temporal length that indicates an input value to be encoded and transmitting, at the first node, a signal including a pulse train corresponding to the generated message. The signal including the pulse train includes two pulses that define start and end of the message, respectively, and further two pulses that define within the message, a first time interval calculated from the input value in accordance with a first function and a second time interval calculated from the input value in accordance with a second function, respectively.

A communication method includes generating at a first node, a message of a predetermined message temporal length that indicates an input value to be encoded and transmitting, at the first node, a signal including a pulse train corresponding to the generated message. The signal including the pulse train includes two pulses that define start and end of the message, respectively, and further two pulses that define within the message, a first time interval calculated from the input value in accordance with a first function and a second time interval calculated from the input value in accordance with a second function, respectively.