Abstract: In accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, a communication device is provided, comprising: an ultra-wideband (UWB) communication unit configured to carry out UWB communication with an external communication device; a plurality of antennas operatively coupled to said UWB communication unit, at least one inertial sensor; an antenna selection unit configured to select, based on an output of the inertial sensor, a specific antenna of said plurality of antennas for carrying out the UWB communication. In accordance with a second aspect of the present disclosure, a corresponding method of operating a communication device is conceived. In accordance with a third aspect of the present disclosure, a computer program is provided for carrying out said method.

Abstract: An infrastructure-controller (206) for an infrastructure (202), wherein the infrastructure has a plurality of Bluetooth Low Energy, “BLE”, nodes (208, 210, 212) associated with it. The infrastructure-controller (206) is configured to: identify one of the plurality of BLE nodes as a current-BLE-node (212), and activate the current-BLE-node (212) for communication with a key (204) using BLE signals; determine a communication-quality-indicator for each of the plurality of BLE nodes (208, 210, 212), that represents the quality of communication with the key (204); based on the communication-quality-indicators, identify one of the plurality of BLE nodes as a next-BLE-node (210); and provide connection-information to the next-BLE-node (210) using out-of-band signalling (214). The infrastructure-controller (206) can then deactivate the current-BLE-node (212); and activate the next-BLE-node (212) for continued communication with the key (204) using BLE signals.

Abstract: There is described a method of operating an RF access system, the system comprising an anchor arranged at a predetermined location and configured to communicate with one or more key devices. The method comprises: operating the anchor in a first mode, the first mode comprising first RF ranging operations for determining a first ranging result for the anchor relative to a key device; determining whether the first ranging result fulfils a predetermined condition; if the first ranging result fulfils the predetermined condition, operating the anchor in a second mode, the second mode comprising second RF ranging operations for determining a second ranging result for the anchor relative to the key device, and RF radar operations for determining a radar result for the anchor relative to a holder of the key device; and determining position information associated with the key device based on the second ranging result and the radar result.

Abstract: In accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, a communication device is provided, comprising: a plurality of antennas; a communication unit configured to execute ranging sessions with an external communication counterpart through said antennas; an antenna selection unit configured to select a specific antenna from said plurality antennas for carrying out one or more of said ranging sessions, wherein the antenna selection unit is configured to select said specific antenna in dependence on one or more parameters indicative of a communication quality between the antennas and the external communication counterpart. In accordance with a second aspect of the present disclosure, a corresponding method of operating a communication device is conceived. In accordance with a third aspect of the present disclosure, a computer program is provided for carrying out said method.

Abstract: In accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, a system is provided for facilitating detecting an unauthorized access to an object, the system comprising: a plurality of ultra-wideband (UWB) communication nodes; a controller operatively coupled to said plurality of UWB communication nodes, wherein the controller is configured to: cause at least one of the UWB communication nodes to transmit one or more UWB messages to other UWB communication nodes of said plurality of UWB communication nodes; receive a channel impulse response (CIR) estimate and/or one or more parameters relating to said CIR output by the UWB communication nodes in response to receiving said UWB messages; analyze said CIR estimate and/or said parameters relating to the CIR to detect said unauthorized access to the object. In accordance with a second aspect of the present disclosure, a corresponding method is conceived for facilitating detecting an unauthorized access to an object.

Abstract: A controller for a communication and ranging apparatus wherein the apparatus is configured to transmit both a data signal and a ranging signal, wherein the controller is configured to: determine a scheduled transmission event of the data signal; determine a scheduled transmission event of the ranging signal; determine if the scheduled transmission events will occur within a predetermined time window of each other; if it is determined that the scheduled transmission events will occur within a predetermined time window of each other, then determine a priority signal and a secondary signal, wherein: the priority signal is one of the data signal and the ranging signal; and the secondary signal is the other of the data signal and the ranging signal; and provide signaling configured to prevent the scheduled transmission event of the secondary signal from being transmitted such that only the scheduled transmission event of the priority signal is transmitted.

Abstract: An infrastructure-controller for an infrastructure. The infrastructure-controller configured to: send a ranging-scheduling-signal to a key, wherein the ranging-scheduling-signal comprises timing-information for a subsequent ranging operation; and activate one or more ranging nodes associated with the infrastructure, for receiving a key-ranging-signal from the key, at an infrastructure-node-start-ranging-time based on the timing-information. The ranging-scheduling-signal has a frequency in a first RF frequency range. The key-ranging-signal has a frequency in a second RF frequency range.

Abstract: In accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, a communication device is provided, comprising: an ultra-wideband (UWB) communication unit configured to carry out UWB communication with an external communication device; a plurality of antennas operatively coupled to said UWB communication unit, at least one inertial sensor; an antenna selection unit configured to select, based on an output of the inertial sensor, a specific antenna of said plurality of antennas for carrying out the UWB communication. In accordance with a second aspect of the present disclosure, a corresponding method of operating a communication device is conceived. In accordance with a third aspect of the present disclosure, a computer program is provided for carrying out said method.

Abstract: A first anchor of a first type communicates with a mobile electronic device. A characteristic of the communications between the first anchor of the first type and the mobile electronic device is determined. One or more second anchors each of a second type is selected based on the characteristic of the communications. A respective distance to the mobile electronic is determined based on each of the selected one or more second anchors each of the second type.

Abstract: A system for localizing an ultra-wide band (UWB) apparatus comprises a UWB transceiver that identifies and extracts features of at least one channel impulse response (CIR); and a special-purpose processor that applies a machine learning classification process to the extracted CIR features to localize the UWB apparatus in a vehicle.

Abstract: In accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, a localization system is provided, comprising: a plurality of ultra-wideband (UWB) communication nodes; a plurality of antennas, each one of said antennas being included in one of said UWB communication nodes; an antenna selection unit configured to select a subset of said antennas for use in ranging operations that output a position estimate of an external device; wherein the antenna selection unit is configured to select said subset in dependence on at least one previous ranging operation. In accordance with a second aspect of the present disclosure, a corresponding method of operating a localization system is conceived. In accordance with a third aspect of the present disclosure, a computer program is provided, comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a localization system, cause said localization system to carry out a method of the kind set forth.

Abstract: In accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, a near field communication (NFC) device is provided, comprising: an antenna configured to enable wireless communication with an external device; a charging unit configured to charge the external device by transferring power to said external device through said antenna; a detection unit configured to detect whether the external device is a passive NFC device; a controller configured to control the charging unit in dependence on an output of the detection unit, wherein said output indicates whether the external device is a passive NFC device. In accordance with a second aspect of the present disclosure, a corresponding method of operating a near field communication (NFC) device is conceived.

Abstract: In accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, a system is provided for facilitating localizing an external object, the system comprising: a plurality of ultra-wideband (UWB) communication nodes; a controller operatively coupled to said plurality of UWB communication nodes, wherein the controller is configured to: cause at least one of the UWB communication nodes to transmit one or more UWB messages to other UWB communication nodes of said plurality of UWB communication nodes; receive a channel impulse response (CIR) estimate and/or one or more parameters relating to said CIR output by the UWB communication nodes in response to receiving said UWB messages; analyze said CIR estimate and/or said parameters relating to the CIR; select a localization process in dependence on a result of analyzing said CIR estimate and/or said parameters relating to the CIR.

Abstract: In accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, a system is provided for facilitating detecting an unauthorized access to an object, the system comprising: a plurality of ultra-wideband (UWB) communication nodes; a controller operatively coupled to said plurality of UWB communication nodes, wherein the controller is configured to: cause at least one of the UWB communication nodes to transmit one or more UWB messages to other UWB communication nodes of said plurality of UWB communication nodes; receive a channel impulse response (CIR) estimate and/or one or more parameters relating to said CIR output by the UWB communication nodes in response to receiving said UWB messages; analyze said CIR estimate and/or said parameters relating to the CIR to detect said unauthorized access to the object. In accordance with a second aspect of the present disclosure, a corresponding method is conceived for facilitating detecting an unauthorized access to an object.

Abstract: In accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, a communication device is provided, comprising: a plurality of antennas; a communication unit configured to execute ranging sessions with an external communication counterpart through said antennas; an antenna selection unit configured to select a specific antenna from said plurality antennas for carrying out one or more of said ranging sessions, wherein the antenna selection unit is configured to select said specific antenna in dependence on one or more parameters indicative of a communication quality between the antennas and the external communication counterpart. In accordance with a second aspect of the present disclosure, a corresponding method of operating a communication device is conceived. In accordance with a third aspect of the present disclosure, a computer program is provided for carrying out said method.

Abstract: An ultra-wideband (UWB) wireless communication system comprises a first wireless transceiver that outputs a unit of data having a first preamble that includes data for performing a time-of-flight distance measurement; a second wireless transceiver that replaces the first preamble of the unit of data with a second preamble for providing a performance level required for the time-of-flight distance measurement between the first and second wireless transceivers commensurate with an environment in which the second wireless transceiver is used; and a communication link between the first and second wireless transceivers that transmits the unit of data having the first preamble from the first wireless transceiver to the second wireless transceiver, transmits the second preamble from the second wireless transceiver to the first wireless transceiver, and exchanges subsequent electronic communications between the first and second wireless transceivers using the second preamble.

Abstract: An infrastructure-controller (206) for an infrastructure (202), wherein the infrastructure has a plurality of Bluetooth Low Energy, “BLE”, nodes (208, 210, 212) associated with it. The infrastructure-controller (206) is configured to: identify one of the plurality of BLE nodes as a current-BLE-node (212), and activate the current-BLE-node (212) for communication with a key (204) using BLE signals; determine a communication-quality-indicator for each of the plurality of BLE nodes (208, 210, 212), that represents the quality of communication with the key (204); based on the communication-quality-indicators, identify one of the plurality of BLE nodes as a next-BLE-node (210); and provide connection-information to the next-BLE-node (210) using out-of-band signalling (214). The infrastructure-controller (206) can then deactivate the current-BLE-node (212); and activate the next-BLE-node (212) for continued communication with the key (204) using BLE signals.

Abstract: An infrastructure-controller for an infrastructure. The infrastructure-controller configured to: send a ranging-scheduling-signal to a key, wherein the ranging-scheduling-signal comprises timing-information for a subsequent ranging operation; and activate one or more ranging nodes associated with the infrastructure, for receiving a key-ranging-signal from the key, at an infrastructure-node-start-ranging-time based on the timing-information. The ranging-scheduling-signal has a frequency in a first RF frequency range. The key-ranging-signal has a frequency in a second RF frequency range.

Abstract: An ultra-wideband (UWB) wireless communication system, comprises a first wireless apparatus; a second wireless apparatus that participates in a first ranging sequence with the first wireless apparatus; and a transmission channel between the first and second wireless apparatuses that transmits data of the first ranging sequence. At least one of the first wireless apparatus or second wireless apparatus generating at least one channel impulse response (CIR) and determining from the at least one CIR whether the transmission channel includes a line-of-sight channel. A special purpose processor reduces a current performance level of at least one of the first and second wireless apparatuses during a second ranging sequence in response to a determination that the transmission channel includes the line-of-sight channel.

Abstract: A controller for a communication and ranging apparatus wherein the apparatus is configured to transmit both a data signal and a ranging signal, wherein the controller is configured to: determine a scheduled transmission event of the data signal; determine a scheduled transmission event of the ranging signal; determine if the scheduled transmission events will occur within a predetermined time window of each other; if it is determined that the scheduled transmission events will occur within a predetermined time window of each other, then determine a priority signal and a secondary signal, wherein: the priority signal is one of the data signal and the ranging signal; and the secondary signal is the other of the data signal and the ranging signal; and provide signaling configured to prevent the scheduled transmission event of the secondary signal from being transmitted such that only the scheduled transmission event of the priority signal is transmitted.