The present invention relates to a reflective communication system that
allows information from wireless communication devices, such as
radio-frequency identification devices (RFID), to be reflectively
communicated to a receiver in lieu of using a separate communication
system. A transmitter transmits a communication signal, having a carrier
frequency, to the wireless communication device to provide power. The
wireless communication device modulates a data signal onto the
communication signal to form a reflected data signal. The wireless
communication device reflects the reflected data signal directly to the
receiver. In this manner, the process of communicating information from a
wireless communication device is accomplished in one communication system
rather than two. If the receiver also directly receives the communication
signal from the transmitter, the receiver can determine the location of
the wireless communication device relative to the transmitters.