System/method for receiving ASK and FSK signals using a single RF receiver

1. A method for utilizing a single receiver to simultaneously receive and demodulate both amplitude shift keying (ASK) messages and frequency shift keying (FSK) messages, comprising the steps of:

receiving a first message, wherein the first message is a frequency shift keying (FSK) modulated message;

receiving a second message, wherein the second message is an amplitude shift keying (ASK) modulated message, and wherein the second message is received during at least a portion of the first message;

using a single receiver to selectively demodulate the FSK and ASK modulated messages, wherein the single receiver provides a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) signal that provides an indication of a combined strength of the first and second messages;

filtering the RSSI signal; and

data slicing the filtered RSSI signal to provide a digital message, wherein the digital message corresponds to a demodulated version of the ASK modulated message.

2. The method of claim 1 , further including the step of:

removing any direct current (DC) component from the RSSI signal.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of filtering the RSSI signal includes the step of:

low-pass filtering the RSSI signal.

4. A communication system, comprising:

a first transmitter, wherein the first transmitter transmits a first message that is a frequency shift keying (FSK) modulated message;

a second transmitter, wherein the second transmitter transmits a second message that is an amplitude shift keying (ASK) modulated message, and wherein the second message is transmitted during at least a portion of the first message; and

a radio frequency (RF) receiver in communication with the first and second transmitters, wherein the receiver is configured to receive and selectively demodulate both of the first and second messages simultaneously, and the receiver provides a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) signal that provides an indication of a combined strength of the first and second messages and the receiver further comprises:

a first filter for filtering the RSSI signal; and

data slicer for data slicing the filtered RSSI signal to provide the digital message, wherein the digital message corresponds to demodulated version of the ASK modulated message.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the receiver further includes:

a second filter for removing any direct current (DC) component from the RSSI signal.

6. The system of claim 4 , wherein the first filter is a low-pass filter.

7. A communication system, comprising:

a first transmitter, wherein the first transmitter transmits a first message that is a frequency shift keying (FSK) modulated message;

a second transmitter, wherein the second transmitter transmits a second message that is an amplitude shift keying (ASK) modulated message, and wherein the second message is transmitted during at least a portion of the first message; and

a radio frequency (RF) receiver in communication with the first and second transmitters, wherein the receiver is configured to receive and selectively demodulate both of the first and second messages simultaneously, and wherein the receiver provides a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) signal that provides an indication of a combined strength of the first and second messages, wherein the receiver further comprises:

a first filter for filtering the RSSI signal; and

data slicer for data slicing the filtered RSSI signal to provide a digital message, wherein the digital message corresponds to a demodulated version of the ASK modulated message.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the receiver further includes:

a second filter for removing any direct current (DC) component from the RSSI signal.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the first filter is a low-pass filter.

10. A receiver system, comprising:

a radio frequency (RF) receiver in communication with first and second transmitters, wherein the first transmitter transmits a first message in a frequency shift keying (FSK) modulated format and the second transmitter transmits a second message in an amplitude shift keying (ASK) modulated format, and wherein the receiver is configured to receive and selectively demodulate the first and second messages and provide a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) signal that provides an indication of a combined strength of the first and second messages;

a first filter coupled to the receiver, the first filter filtering the RSSI signal; and

data slicer coupled to the first filter, the data slicer data slicing the filtered RSSI signal to provide a digital message, wherein the digital message corresponds to a demodulated version of the ASK modulated message.

11. The system of claim 10 , further including:

a second filter for removing any direct current (DC) component from the RSSI signal.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the first filter is a low-pass filter.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of providing an enable signal to the receiver in order for the receiver to be operational.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of communicating the demodulated ASK signal from the receiver to an operational amplifier, wherein the operational amplifier low-pass filters the demodulated ASK signal.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of communicating the filtered ASK signal to a second operational amplifier that is in communication with a first processor and a second processor, such that the filtered ASK signal is communicated to the second processor based upon a signal received by the second operational amplifier from the first processor.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of providing a signal from a first processor, wherein the demodulated ASK signal is communicated to a second processor based upon the signal provided by the first processor.