WO2004093388A1

WO2004093388A1 - Communication method and device in a multiplex digital information transfer network

Info

Publication number: WO2004093388A1
Application number: PCT/FR2004/000880
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dean Mathoorasing; André Gautier
Original assignee: France Telecom
Priority date: 2003-04-11
Filing date: 2004-04-08
Publication date: 2004-10-28
Also published as: FR2853787A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a communication method in a multiplex digital information transfer network (2) with a high speed modem device (2), suitable for connection to a principal user terminal (10) and at least one secondary user terminal (14). Said method comprises the connection of a secondary terminal (14) to said device (4) with identification thereof and further comprises the allocation of a secondary communication identifier (VPs) for the secondary terminal (14), different from a communication identifier (VPp), allocated to said principal terminal (10), the establishment of a specific connection between said device (4) and said network (2), essentially independent of the connection to the principal terminal (10) and the transmission of information by said secondary terminal (14) to said network (2) by means of said device (4) using said identifier for secondary communication (VPs) in said specific connection. The above is particularly of application to the mutualisation of a communication device accessible by radio waves.

Description

Method and device for communication over a multiplex digital information transfer network.

The present invention relates to a method of communication on a multiplex digital information transfer network from a communication device on this network adapted to be connected with a main user terminal and at least one secondary user terminal, and such a communication device.

On information transfer networks suitable for multiplexing accesses and high-speed transmissions, so-called multiplex digital information transfer networks, such as xDSL networks, communication devices, such as broadband modems , are permanently connected to the network. However, the main user terminal exploits only a fraction of the resources of the connection, and this, intermittently.

There are so-called poolable communication devices to which several user terminals, called secondary terminals, can connect.

For example, these secondary terminals connect to the broadband modem via wireless radio waves by radio, for example according to the so-called "iFi" protocol.

When a secondary terminal connects to the communication device, it is identified by the latter which includes, for example, an exhaustive list of terminals authorized to connect. Once identified, the secondary terminal thus accesses the network for transferring information through the communication device.

However, during this access, the secondary terminal uses the communication resources of the main user terminal. In particular, the secondary terminal uses a link with the network whose parameters are linked to the main terminal and in particular, the speed and security parameters, the secondary terminal using the same communication identifier on the network as the main terminal.

In the context of a multiplex network, the communication identifier allows the establishment of a virtual link between a terminal and the network by serving as a label for the multiplexed information conveyed by the physical links between the devices forming this network. Thus, the existing mutualisation methods and devices are based on the sharing of resources of a main user.

In fact, the capacities of the communication devices are not exploited to their maximum and the sharing of resources poses usability and security problems.

The aim of the present invention is to solve these problems by defining a method and a device for communication on a multiplex digital information transmission network which can be shared with any terminals without having to share the resources of the main user.

To this end, the subject of the present invention is a method of communication over a network for transferring digital multiplex information from a high speed modem device for communication over this network adapted to be connected with a main user terminal. and at least one secondary user terminal, providing the main terminal with a main connection to the network by means of a main communication identifier, the method comprising at least:

a step of connecting the or a secondary terminal with said device for communication on said network; and - a step of identifying said secondary terminal by said device, characterized in that it further comprises:

a step of assigning a communication identifier for the or each secondary terminal, called the secondary identifier, different from the communication identifier of said main terminal; a step of establishing a link specific to said secondary identifier between said device and said network, said specific link being substantially independent of said main link; and

a step of transmitting information by said secondary terminal to said network through said device using said secondary communication identifier on said specific link. According to other characteristics:

- Said step of connecting the or a secondary terminal to the communication device is carried out by means of wireless radio waves; - Said step of identifying or a secondary terminal includes determining the input / output port of said communication device used;

- Said step of identifying the or a secondary terminal includes recognizing an identifier specific to the terminal and or to its user; - Said step of assigning a communication identifier comprises the selection by the communication device of a predetermined communication identifier;

- Said step of assigning a communication identifier comprises an interrogation by the device of a remote device in order to receive a communication identifier to be used;

- Said step of establishing a link includes a sub-step of configuring the link according to said secondary terminal;

said step of establishing a connection includes a sub-step of verifying an identifier specific to the secondary terminal and / or to its user, and said step of setting parameters takes into account parameters associated with this identity;

- Said step of establishing a link includes a step of automatic recognition of the type of the secondary terminal and said step of configuring the link takes into account parameters associated with said type of the secondary terminal;

- It includes, prior to one or each step of connection of the secondary terminal and / or of transmission of information by a secondary terminal, a step of measuring and verifying the physical connection capacities of said communication device; - Said measurement and verification step includes the measurement and verification of the bandwidth of the physical connection between said communication device and said network;

- Said measurement and verification step includes the measurement and verification of the bandwidth of the physical connection between said communication device and said main and or secondary terminals;

- Carrying out of said connection step and / or of said transmission step is conditioned by a utilization rate of said physical connection capacities lower than a predetermined value; said step of measuring and verifying the physical connection capacities of said device is followed by a step of modifying parameters of at least one link other than said main link in order to ensure the availability of a predetermined fraction of said physical capacities connection for said main terminal;

- Said step of transmitting information is preceded by a step of analyzing and prioritizing the information to be transmitted according to its nature.

The invention also relates to a broadband modem device for communication over a multiplex digital information transfer network comprising means of connection with a main user terminal and at least one secondary user terminal and means of identification of the connected user terminal, said device being adapted to provide the main terminal with a main connection to the network by means of a main communication identifier, characterized in that said means for identifying the connected user terminal are adapted for discriminate between the primary user terminal and the secondary user terminal (s), and it further comprises:

means for allocating communication identifiers adapted to allocate a communication identifier for the or each secondary terminal, known as the secondary identifier, different from the communication identifier assigned to said main terminal;

means for establishing links with said network adapted to allow the establishment of a link specific to said secondary identifier between said device and said network, said specific link being substantially independent of said main link, in order to allow the transmission of information by said secondary terminal on said network through said device using said secondary communication identifier on said specific link. According to other characteristics of this device:

- Said means of identifying the connected user terminal include at least two independent input / output ports, one being accessible only by the main user terminal, the others being accessible by a plurality of terminals d secondary users; said means for identifying the connected user terminal include means for recognizing an identifier associated with said terminal and / or said user;

- It includes a module for measuring the physical connection capacities of the device adapted to prevent the connection of a secondary user terminal and / or the transmission of information by a secondary user terminal if the available physical connection capacities of the device are less than a predetermined value;

- it also includes a module for prioritizing the information to be transmitted according to its nature;

- it is powered only by the difference in electrical potential existing on the line supporting the information transfer network to which it is connected;

- It is suitable for implementing the communication method as described above.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of nonlimiting example with reference to the drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 shows a block diagram of a communication system implementing the method and the device of the invention.

- Figure 2 shows a general flowchart of the method of the invention; and

- Figure 3 is a block block diagram of a device according to the invention. In Figure 1, there is shown a system implementing the method and the device of the invention.

This system comprises a multiplex digital information transfer network 2, such as for example an ADSL or xDSL network using the switched telephone network as support. Such a network is accessible from a suitable communication device such as a broadband modem 4.

Conventionally, the broadband modem 4 is connected to the network 2 via a DSL access multiplexer 6 commonly known as DSLAM (Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer), and via a broadband access server 8 commonly known as BAS (Broadband Access Server).

The broadband modem 4 is adapted to be connected to a main user terminal 10 such as for example a microcomputer. Thus, the terminal 10 accesses through the DSLAM 6 and the BAS 8, to the network 2 and to an Internet access server, such as one of the servers designated by the general numerical reference 12, which allows access to the network Internet 13.

For example, a main user can subscribe to an access subscription to an Internet access provider 12 specifying connection parameters and in particular a speed allocated to this user. When the user connects from his main terminal 10, a specific communication identifier noted VPp, is used to establish a link between the broadband modem 4 and the Internet access server 12 on the network 2. The parameters of this link are determined by the subscription. Any information transmitted from the main terminal 10 by the device 4 to the network 2 is integrated into a frame comprising the communication identifier VPp such as the frame denoted Tp.

It is thus considered that a single virtual link, using this communication identifier VPp, is established between the main terminal 10 and the network 2. Conversely, the broadband modem 4 is accessible from the information transfer network 2 thanks to a specific address, marked A, to allow the transmission of information to the modem 4.

Furthermore, in the embodiment described, the broadband modem of the invention is suitable for communication by wireless radio waves according to the so-called "WiFi" communication protocol.

Thus, a secondary user terminal such as a portable electronic agenda 14, equipped with WiFi communication means and commonly called "PDA" or any other suitable electronic equipment can connect to the broadband modem 4. The use of a such wireless radio communication technology makes it possible to define a coverage area 16 of the broadband modem 4 which conventionally extends at a distance of the order of 30 to 50 m.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, we will now describe the communication method of the invention. The broadband modem 4 is considered to be in operation. Thus, when a secondary user terminal such as the PDA 14 enters the coverage area 16 of the broadband modem 4, it can connect to this modem, 4 during a step 20. In the embodiment described, this connection step 20 is implemented using the WiFi wireless radio communication protocol.

For example, the PDA 14 is located in a street next to a house in which the broadband modem 4 is placed.

During this connection step 20, the PDA 14 transmits to the broadband modem 4 a request for access to the network 2 and for this purpose provides an identifier noted ID formed, for example, of a subscriber name to a telecommunications network associated with a password.

The method of the invention then includes a step 30 of identifying the secondary terminal 14 by the modem 4 which in particular makes it possible to discriminate the secondary terminal 14 from the main terminal 10.

In the embodiment described, the identification step 30 comprises determining which of two input / output ports of the modem 4, different for the main terminal 10 and the secondary terminal 14, is used.

Step 30 is followed by a step 40 of assigning a communication identifier for the secondary terminal 14, which communication identifier, known as the secondary identifier, is different from the communication identifier of the main terminal 10.

For example, the modem 4 includes in memory the main communication identifier VPp and a secondary communication identifier VPs, these identifiers being used for separate virtual links which are substantially independent of one another between the broadband modem 4 and network 2 on the multiplexed link.

Alternatively, the broadband modem 4 is adapted to interrogate the access multiplexer 6, the access server 8 or any other member of the system, in order to receive a communication identifier to be used for the secondary terminal 14, and selected according to of the identifier ID.

The method then comprises a step 50 of establishing a link between the modem 4 and the network 2, this link being specific to the secondary communication identifier VPs. For this, the step 50 of establishing a connection includes a sub-step 52 of verifying the identity of the secondary terminal 14.

In the embodiment described, this verification sub-step 52 is carried out using the user name and password pair, denoted ID, of the user of the PDA 14.

Thus, the modem 4 transmits to the access server 8 the identifier ID of the PDA 14, via an information frame denoted Ti and using the secondary communication identifier VPs.

Upon reception, the access server 8 verifies the identifier ID by interrogating an access server 12 in order to know the connection parameters associated with it.

The parameters thus obtained during sub-step 54 are then used during sub-step 56 to establish the link between the modem 4 and the corresponding Internet access server 12, through the network 2. Thus, the user of the secondary terminal 14 can access the network 2 by benefiting from the parameters associated with its identifier ID independently of the parameters of the link used by the main terminal 10.

In order to allow the establishment of this link between the modem 4 and the network 2, it is necessary that the various intermediate communication elements, such as the access multiplexer 6 and the access server 8, each include a table d addressing making it possible to associate the main communication identifier VPp and the secondary communication identifier VPs with the same address A of the modem 4.

Depending on the embodiments, this association can be made statically in a memory or even be managed dynamically using appropriate software means.

Of course, several secondary terminals can simultaneously connect to the modem 4.

In the embodiment described, all the secondary terminals use the same secondary communication identifier VPs and therefore share the same virtual link with the network 2. However, the right of access to the network 2 of each secondary terminal is verified individually by the server. 8 using the specific identifier of each terminal 14 for example, by interrogating the corresponding access providers. Once the link has been established, the method comprises a step 60 of transmitting information by the secondary terminal 14 on the network 2 through the device 4 and using the secondary communication identifier VPs on the specific link established during the step 50. Thus, this information is transferred in frames using the identifier VPs such as the frame marked Ts.

In particular, this transmission benefits from a transfer rate different from the transfer rate associated with the main communication identifier VPp. ,

Advantageously, the method comprises, before each step 20 of connection and / or 60 of transmission of information, a step of measuring and verifying the physical connection capacities of the modem 4. In particular this step makes it possible to verify the use of the band bandwidth of the physical connection of the modem 4 with the access multiplexer 6 as well as the bandwidth of the physical connection with the terminals.

This step makes it possible to prevent the connection of a secondary terminal in the case where the physical link between the modem 4 and the access multiplexer 6 or even the physical link between the modem 4 and the main terminal or terminals 10 and or secondary 14 is already saturated, the secondary terminal then having to connect to another communication device similar to the modem 4.

Thus, the realization of the connection and / or the transmission of information by a secondary terminal is conditioned by a rate of use of the physical connection capacities of the modem 4, less than a predetermined value.

In addition, this measurement and verification step makes it possible to manage priorities so as to guarantee the main terminal 10 minimum connection parameters independently of the secondary terminal or terminals connected to the modem 4. For this, it is followed by a step of modification of the parameters of the specific link used for the transmission of information by a secondary terminal, so that a minimum fraction of the physical bandwidth, corresponding to the speed parameters guaranteed by the subscription of the user of the main terminal 10 remains available.

However, if the fraction reserved for the main terminal 10 is not used, it can be allocated to other terminals.

Likewise, before each step 60 of transmitting information, the method may include a step of analyzing and prioritizing the information to be transmitted to manage different levels of transmission priority depending on the nature of the information.

Such an additional step makes it possible to ensure transmission priority to information of the real time type, such as voice information over information of the deferred time type, such as data information.

It therefore appears that the method and the device of the invention allow the use of the information transmission capacities of a communication device by a secondary terminal independently of the use of this communication device by a main terminal.

This allows in particular the connection to the same modem, of any secondary terminals and also allows any modem to serve as an access point to the information transfer network independently of the access characteristics of the main terminal. In particular, a secondary terminal can thus access the Internet network via the multiplex network and a service provider different from that used by the main terminal.

Of course, other embodiments can be envisaged. In particular, the communication device may have several different secondary communication identifiers used for different secondary terminals.

In such an embodiment, several virtual links can be established and the secondary communication identifiers are used, for example, for a default configuration of the links between the modem and the multiplex network thus forming profiles of user terminals, such as as for example cell phone, laptop, personal assistant, or other profiles.

Furthermore, the functions implemented by the various elements interposed between the communication device and the network can be distributed in a different manner between the devices represented and still other devices.

Furthermore, in the case where the information transfer network allows multicasting from a computer or server to a plurality of recipients, the connection between the network and the communication device can be established on the initiative of a device of the information transfer network, the communication device forming. then a last stage of diffusion and allowing in particular broadcasting to all terminals present in its radio coverage area. ,

With reference to FIG. 3, we will now describe a block diagram of the broadband modem 4, as described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 8. This modem 4 comprises means 100 for connecting the main terminal 10 and one or several secondary terminals 14.

According to the invention, the connection means ^ 100 comprise means for identifying the connected terminals adapted to discriminate between the main user terminal 10 and the secondary user terminal (s) 14. In the embodiment described, these means identification have two independent input / output ports 102 and 104, one accessible only by the main user terminal 10, the other being accessible by a plurality of secondary user terminals and operating according to the communication protocol. BLUETOOTH wireless radio wave transmission. The device 4 then comprises means 110 for controlling its operation formed for example by a microprocessor associated with one or more memories.

According to the invention, these control means 110 comprise a module 112 for allocating communication identifiers adapted to allow the allocation of a different communication identifier to the main terminal and to the secondary terminals.

Depending on the embodiments, this allocation module 112 can use predetermined and stored communication identifiers or can be adapted to interrogate a remote server in order to receive communication identifiers to be used.

The means 110 also include a link establishment module 114, adapted to allow the establishment of a physical link between the modem 4 and the network 2 and allowing the establishment of one or more virtual links between the modem 4 and network 2, each virtual link being associated with a different communication identifier.

Advantageously, the module 114 for establishing links makes it possible to configure each virtual link differently according to the nature of the connected terminal and / or configuration information associated with the identity of the terminal. Advantageously, the means 110 also include a module 116 for measuring the physical connection capacities, the modem 4 and a module 118 for prioritizing the data to be transmitted.

The module 116 makes it possible to prevent the connection of a secondary user terminal and / or the transmission of information by a secondary user terminal, if the physical bandwidth of the link between the modem and the network 2 or the terminals is saturated.

Likewise, this module 116 makes it possible to control the modification of parameters of the virtual links other than the main link in order to reserve a predetermined fraction of the physical connection capacities of the device 4 to the main terminal 10.

The module 118 makes it possible to carry out the priority transmission of information of the real time type such as voice information over information of the deferred time type, such as file transfers. Finally, to allow the transmission to the network 2 of information coming from each of the different virtual links established by the module 114, the device 4 comprises a multiplexer 120.

Of course, other embodiments of the invention can be envisaged. In particular, various solutions can be implemented for the production of means for identifying user terminals.

For example, the main terminal and the secondary terminal (s) all connect to the communication device by a single input / output port by means of wireless radio waves and are discriminated by means of a specific addressing identifier such as an address called "MAC", "IP" or even by means of a subscriber number. Thus, the identifier used locally for the identification of the terminal by the communication device can be specific to. terminal or user.

Other hardware and / or software solutions can also be envisaged.

Furthermore, to allow optimal use of the described communication device, it should be permanently in working order. In a preferred embodiment, the device is supplied with electrical energy only by the difference in electrical potential existing on the support line of the information transfer network to which it is connected.

Alternatively, the device includes a rechargeable battery providing additional power during its operation and connected to the network to be recharged by the potential difference of the network.

Finally, the device 4 can also include its own power supply or be connected to an energy supply network.

All the means implemented by the device 4 can be wholly or partly formed by software or hardware means or a combination of the two and can also be in the form of a component programmed specifically for the implementation implementing the method of the invention.

Advantageously, the device 4 can be equipped with a man / machine interface, such as a liquid crystal screen, a diode display or even a loudspeaker.

In other variants, the connection between the device 4 and the main user terminal 10 is carried out by means of a wired or radio link.

Furthermore, it is possible to have a wide area network, such as a so-called "WAN" network, between the access multiplexer 6 and the broadband access server 8.

In yet another variant, the main and / or secondary terminals can each manage one or more information flows, each using a communication identifier. Consequently, the same terminal can act both as the main and secondary terminal by virtually comprising several terminals in a conventional form known as "terminal emulation".

Finally, it should be noted that the configuration of the link made during step 50 corresponds to taking into account the services to which the user has subscribed. In particular, the authorized speed is limited according to the identifier of the user and therefore of the associated services.

Claims

1. Method of communication on a multiplex digital information transfer network (2) from a high-speed modem device (4) for communication on this network (2) adapted to be connected with a main user terminal (10) and at least one secondary user terminal (14), providing the main terminal (10) _, a main link with the network (2) thanks to a main communication identifier (VPp), the method comprising at least:

- a step (20) of connecting the or a secondary terminal (14) with said device (4) for communication on said network (2); And

- a step (30) of identifying said secondary terminal (14) by said device (4), characterized in that it further comprises:

- a step (40) of assigning a communication identifier for the or each secondary terminal (14), called secondary identifier (VPs), different from the communication identifier (VPp) of said main terminal (10);

- a step (50) of establishing a specific link to said secondary identifier (VPs) between said device (4) and said network (2), said specific link being substantially independent of said main link; and - a step (60) of transmitting information by said secondary terminal (14) to said network (2) through said device (4) using said secondary communication identifier (VPs). on said specific connection.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that said step (20) of connecting the or a secondary terminal (14) to the communication device (4) is carried out by means of wireless radio waves.

3. Method according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that said step (30) of identifying the or a secondary terminal (14) comprises determining the input/output port of said device (4 ) communication used.

4. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said step (20) of identifying the or a secondary terminal comprises the recognition of an identifier specific to the terminal (14) and/or to its user.

5. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said step (40) of assigning a communication identifier comprises the selection by the communication device (4) of a predetermined communication identifier (VPs).

6. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said step (40) of assigning a communication identifier comprises an interrogation by the device (4) of remote equipment in order to receive a communication identifier to use.

7. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said step (50) of establishing a link comprises a sub-step (54) of parameterizing the link as a function of said secondary terminal (14). ).

8. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that said step (50) of establishing a connection comprises a sub-step (52) of verifying an identifier specific to the secondary terminal (14) and/or to its user, and in that said parameterization sub-step (54) takes into account parameters associated with this identifier.

9. Method according to any one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that said step (50) of establishing a connection comprises a step of automatic recognition of the type of the secondary terminal (14) and in that said sub -step (54) of parameterizing the link takes into account parameters associated with said type of secondary terminal (14).

10. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises, prior to one or each step (20) of connection of the secondary terminal (14) and/or (70) of transmission of information by a secondary terminal (14), a step of measuring and verifying the physical connection capabilities of said communication device (4).

1.1. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that said measuring and verification step comprises measuring and verifying the bandwidth of the physical connection between said communication device (4) and said network (2).

12. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that said measurement and verification step comprises the measurement and verification of the bandwidth of the physical connection between said communication device (4) and said main (10) and/or secondary (14) terminal(s).

13. Method according to any one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the completion of said connection step (20) and/or said transmission step (70) is conditioned by a rate of use of said physical capacities connection lower than a predetermined value.

14. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that said step of measuring and verifying the physical connection capabilities of said device (4) is followed by a step of modifying parameters of at least one link other than said main link in order to ensure the availability of a predetermined fraction of said physical connection capacities for said main terminal (10).

15. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that said step (60) of transmitting information is preceded by a step of analysis and prioritization of the information to be transmitted according to their nature.

16. High-speed modem device (4) for ^{communication} on a multiplex digital information transfer network comprising means (100) for connection with a main user terminal (10) and at least one secondary user terminal (14) and means (102, 104) for identifying the

, connected user terminal, said device (4) being adapted to provide the main terminal (10) with a main link with the network (2) thanks to a main communication identifier (VPp), characterized in that said means (102 , 104) for identifying the connected user terminal are adapted to discriminate between the main user terminal (10) and the secondary user terminal(s) (14), and it further comprises:

- means (112) for assigning communication identifiers adapted to assign a communication identifier for the or each secondary terminal (14), called secondary identifier (VPs), different from the communication identifier (VPp) assigned to said main terminal (10);

- means (114) for establishing connections with said network (2) adapted to allow the establishment of a specific connection to said identifier secondary (VPs) between said device (4) and said network (2), said specific link being substantially independent of said main link, in order to allow the transmission of information by said secondary terminal (14) on said network (2) to through said device (4) by using said secondary communication identifier (VPs) on said specific link.

17. Device according to claim 16, characterized in that said means (100) for identifying the connected user terminal comprise at least two independent input/output ports (102, 104), one or the others being accessible only by the primary user terminal (10), the other(s) being accessible by a plurality of secondary user terminals (14).

18. Device according to claim 16, characterized in that said means (100) for identifying the connected user terminal (10, 14) comprise means for recognizing an identifier associated with said terminal (10, 14) and/ or user audit.

19. Device according to any one of claims 16 to 18, characterized in that it comprises a module (116) for measuring the physical connection capabilities of the device (4) adapted to prevent the connection of a user terminal secondary (14) and/or the transmission of information by a secondary user terminal (14) if the physical connection capabilities of the device (4) are less than a predetermined value.

20. Device according to any one of claims 16 to 19, characterized in that it further comprises a module (118) for prioritizing the information to be transmitted according to their nature.

21. Device according to any one of claims 16 to 20, characterized in that it is powered solely by the difference in electrical potential existing on the line supporting the information transfer network (2) to which it is connected.

22. Device according to any one of claims 16 to 21, characterized in that it is suitable for implementing the communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 15.