A COMMUNICATION DEVICE AND NETWORK, AND METHOD OF COMMUNICATION

摘要

A communication device includes a primary communication unit and an auxiliary communication unit. The primary communication unit is operable between an operational state in which a primary communication channel is able to be established for communication with a remote control station and a non-operational state in which the primary communication unit is unable to communicate with the remote control station and the auxiliary communication unit is configurable in an operational state for establishing an auxiliary communication channel for communicating with the remote control station. The primary and auxiliary communication channels include primary and auxiliary radio links respectively. The communication device further includes a controller for switching the primary communication unit between the non-operational state and the operational state in dependence on a triggering signal, wherein the auxiliary communication unit in the operational state requires lower operating power than the primary communication unit in the operational state.