Data collision detection device and method

1. A data collision detection device for decoding received signals from data transmitters, comprising:

a means for de-modulating at least one modulated carrier signal corresponding to a received signal from at least one data transmitter; and

a module operatively coupled with the means for de-modulating, the module including a means for decoding a recovered subcarrier signal recovered from the means for de-modulating, the means for decoding the recovered subcarrier signal being capable of interpreting signal transitions in the recovered subcarrier signal and being capable of detecting a data collision within the recovered subcarrier signal in the presence of a plurality of modulated carrier signals detected in the recovered subcarrier signal;

wherein the means for decoding a recovered subcarrier signal includes a means for counting a number of transitions before and after a bit-center of the recovered subcarrier signal; and

wherein the means for decoding a recovered subcarrier signal is configured to detect a data collision when the number of transitions before the bit-center and the number of transitions after the bit-center are substantially equal.

2. A data collision detection device for decoding received signals from data transmitters, comprising:

a module configured to de-modulate at least one modulated carrier signal conesponding to a received signal from at least one data transmitter to recover a subcarrier signal from the carrier signal; and

a microcontroller operatively coupled to the module, the microcontroller being configured to count a number of transitions before and after a bit-center of the subcarrier signal and thereby detect a data collision;

wherein the microcontroller is configured to detect a data collision when the number of transitions before the bit-center and the number of transitions after the bit-center are substantially equal.

3. A method for detecting data collisions using a data collision detection device, comprising:

de-modulating a received signal to recover a subcarrier signal;

decoding the recovered subcarrier signal to interpret signal transitions in the recovered subcarrier signal; and

detecting a presence of data collisions in the recovered subcarrier signal, including:

determining a bit-center;

counting a number of transitions before and after the bit-center; and

determining the presence of data collisions when the number of transitions before the bit-center and the number of transitions after the bit-center are substantially equal.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the step of decoding the recovered subcarrier signal further comprises:

determining a bit-center;

measuring a number of transitions before and after the bit-center;

detecting a logic 1 when the number of transitions before the bit-center is substantially greater than the number of transitions after the bit-center; and

detecting a logic 0 when the number of transitions after the bit-center is substantially greater than the number of transitions before the bit-center.

5. The method of claim 3 , further comprising sorting signals transmitted from a plurality of data transmitters that are detected in the recovered subcarrier signal.

6. A method for detecting data collisions, comprising:

providing a data collision detection device including a means for de-modulating a received signal corresponding to at least one carrier signal from at least one data transmitter to recover a subcarrier signal from the received signal, and a microcontroller operatively connected with the means for de-modulating and including a means for decoding the subcarrier signal;

de-modulating the received signal to the subcarrier signal using the means for de-modulating the received signal to recover the subcarrier signal;

transferring the recovered subcarrier signal to the microcontroller;

decoding the recovered subcarrier signal using the means for decoding the recovered subcarrier signal to interpret signal transitions in the recovered subcarrier signal; and

detecting the presence of data collisions resulting from the decoding and interpretation of the recovered subcarrier signal, including:

determining a bit-center;

measuring a number of transitions before and after the bit-center; and

determining the presence of data collisions when the number of transitions before the bit-center and the number of transitions after the bit-center are substantially equal.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the step of decoding the recovered subcarrier signal further comprises:

determining a bit-center;

measuring a number of transitions before and after the bit-center;

detecting a logic 1 when the number of transitions before the bit-center is substantially greater than the number of transitions after befere the bit-center; and

detecting a logic 0 when the number of transitions after the bit-center is substantially greater than the number of transitions before the bit-center.

8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising sorting signals transmitted from a plurality of data transmitters that are detected in the recovered subcarrier signal.