Communication device and method of operating the same

A communication device, comprising:

• an ultra-wideband, UWB, communication device configured to set up a UWB communication channel with a first external communication device;
• a further communication device configured to set up a further communication channel with a second external communication device;
• a first antenna configured to be used by the UWB communication device and a second antenna configured to be used by the further communication device, wherein the first antenna and the second antenna have a shared frequency spectrum;
• wherein the UWB communication device is operatively coupled to the further communication device, and wherein the further communication device is configured to grant the UWB communication device access to the shared frequency spectrum in response to receiving a critical grant request from the UWB communication device,
• wherein the UWB communication device is configured to transmit the critical grant request to the further communication device after a predetermined number of consecutive failed normal priority communication attempts, wherein the critical grant request is not denied after the failed normal priority communication attempts, and
• wherein the critical grant request is made using a critical grant request message transmitted from the UWB communication unit to the further communication unit requests access to the shared frequency spectrum by the UWB communication device has an advance grant duration parameter bit field that specifies a time that will elapse between a time of the request and a time at which the UWB communication device receives access to the shared frequency spectrum, and an active grant duration parameter bit field that specifies an amount of time that the UWB communication device needs for completing a ranging round including a plurality of ranging operations with a plurality of external responder nodes.

A method of operating a communication device, comprising:

• selectively using an antenna by an ultra-wideband, UWB, communication device of the communication device and by a further communication device of the communication device;
• setting up, by the UWB communication device, a UWB communication channel with a first external communication device if the antenna is used by the UWB communication device;
• and
• setting up, by the further communication device, a further communication channel with a second external communication device if the antenna is used by the further communication device;
• wherein the further communication device grants the UWB communication device access to said antenna in response to receiving a critical grant request from the UWB communication device,
• wherein the UWB communication device is configured to transmit the request to the further communication device after a predetermined number of consecutive failed communication attempts, wherein the critical grant request is not denied after the failed normal priority communication attempts, and
• wherein the critical grant request is made using a critical grant request message transmitted from the UWB communication unit to the further communication unit requests access to the antenna by the UWB communication device has an advance grant duration parameter bit field that specifies a time that will elapse between a time of the request and a time at which the UWB communication device receives access to the antenna, and an active grant duration parameter bit field that specifies an amount of time that the UWB communication device needs for completing a ranging round including a plurality of ranging operations with a plurality of external responder nodes.

A method of operating a communication device, comprising:

• sharing a frequency spectrum by a first antenna of an ultra-wideband, UWB, communication device of the communication device and by a second antenna of a further communication device of the communication device;
• setting up, by the UWB communication device, a UWB communication channel with a first external communication device if the first antenna is used by the UWB communication device;
• setting up, by the further communication device, a further communication channel with a second external communication device if the second antenna is used by the further communication device;
• wherein the further communication device grants the UWB communication device access to said frequency spectrum in response to receiving a critical grant request from the UWB communication device,
• wherein the UWB communication device is configured to transmit the critical grant request to the further communication device after a predetermined number of consecutive failed communication attempts, wherein the critical grant request is not denied after the failed normal priority communication attempts, and
• wherein the critical grant request is made using a critical grant request message transmitted from the UWB communication unit to the further communication unit requests access to the frequency spectrum by the UWB communication device has an advance grant duration that specifies a time that will elapse between a time of the request and a time at which the UWB communication device receives access to the frequency spectrum, and an active grant duration parameter bit field that specifies an amount of time that the UWB communication device needs for completing a ranging round including a plurality of ranging operations with a plurality of external responder nodes.