A reflective communication system allows information from wireless
communication devices, such as radio-frequency identification devices
(RFID), to be reflectively communicated to a receiver. A transmitter at a
known location transmits a communication signal to the wireless
communication device. The wireless communication device modulates a data
signal onto the communication signal to form a reflected data signal and
reflects the reflected data signal to the receiver. The receiver receives
the communication signal from the transmitter and can determine a
distance between the wireless communication device and the transmitter
based on data that includes a time delay between receipt of the
communication signal and receipt of the reflected data signal by the
receiver. The receiver can further determine the approximate location of
the wireless communication device based on data that includes the known
location of the transmitter and the determined distance between the
wireless communication device and the transmitter.