FR2853787A1 - Micro-computer and personal digital assistant communicating process for use in information transfer network, involves establishing specific connection between modem and network, independent of connection with micro-computer - Google Patents

Abstract

The process involves attributing a secondary communication identifier, for personal digital assistant (PDA), different from an identifier attributed to a micro-computer. A specific connection is established between a modem (4) and a network, independent of a connection with the micro-computer. Information is transmitted by the PDA towards the network, across the modem by using secondary communication identifier. An independent claim is also included for a device of communication on a multiplexed digital information transfer network.

Description

i

  The present invention relates to a method of communication on a multiplexed 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 multiplexed 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 "WiFi" 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, the parameters of which 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 multiplexed 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 carried 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 communication device on a multiplexed digital information transmission network which can be shared with any terminals without having to share resources of the main user.

  To this end, the subject of the present invention is a method of communication on a digital information transfer network multiplexed from a communication device on this network adapted to be connected with a main user terminal and at least a secondary user terminal, providing the main terminal with a main connection to the network by means of a primary 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 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 comprises the measurement and verification of the bandwidth of the physical connection between said communication device and said network; said measurement and verification step comprises the measurement and verification of the bandwidth of the physical connection between said communication device and said primary and / or secondary terminal (s); the completion of said connection step and / or of said transmission step is conditioned by a rate of use of said physical connection capacities less 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 communication device on a multiplexed digital information transfer network comprising means for connection with a main user terminal and at least one secondary user terminal and means for identifying the terminal. 10 of connected user, 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 to discriminate between the terminal of the main user and the secondary user terminal (s), and it further comprises: - means for allocating communication identifiers suitable for assigning 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 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 for identifying the connected user terminal include at least two independent input / output ports, one being accessible only by the main user terminal, the or the others being accessible by a plurality of secondary user terminals; 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 1 0 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 putting in implements 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 multiplexed digital information transfer network 25, 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 by means of a DSL access multiplexer 6 commonly called DSLAM (Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer), and by means of a broadband access 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 5 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 10 are determined by the subscription taken out.

  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 an address which is specific to it, denoted A, to enable 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 such wireless radio communication technology makes it possible to define a coverage area 16 of the broadband modem 4 which extends conventionally at a distance of the order of 30 to 50 m.

  Referring to Figures 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 waves 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 identification 10 of 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 has in memory the main communication identifier VPp and a secondary communication identifier VPs, these identifiers being used for separate virtual connections which are substantially independent of each other 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 in function 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 5, 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 modem 4 and the corresponding Internet access server 12, through network 2.

  Thus, the user of the secondary terminal 14 can access the network 2 by benefiting from the parameters associated with his identifier ID independently of the 15 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 access 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, before each step 20 of connection and / or 60 of transmission of information, the step comprises a step of measuring and verifying the physical connection capabilities of the modem 4. In particular this step makes it possible to verify the use of the band bandwidth of the physical connection 10 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 15 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, making it possible to manage different levels of transmission priority as a function of 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 multiplexed 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 multiplexed network thus forming user terminal profiles, such as, for example, cell phone, laptop, PDA, or other profiles.

  Furthermore, the functions implemented by the different elements 25 interposed between the communication device and the network can be distributed differently between the devices shown 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 link between the network and the communication device can be established on the initiative of 'A device of the information transfer network, the communication device then forming a last stage of broadcasting and allowing in particular the broadcasting to all the 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 includes means 100 for connecting the main terminal 10 and one or more 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 identification means comprise 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 terminals secondary users and operating according to the BLUETOOTH wireless radio wave transmission protocol.

  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 link establishment module 114 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 comprise a module 116 for measuring the physical connection capacities of 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 5 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 10 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 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 the terminal or to the 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.

  As a variant, the device comprises 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 used 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 of 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.

Claims (22)

  1. Method of communication on a multiplexed digital information transfer network (2) from a communication device (4) on this network (2) adapted to be connected with a main user terminal (10) 5 and at least one secondary user terminal (14), providing the main terminal (10) with a main connection to the network (2) by means of a main communication identifier (VPp), the method comprising at least: - a step ( 20) 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 link specific 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 link.   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 identification of or of a secondary terminal (14) comprises the determination of the input / output port of said device (4 ) of 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 5 comprises an interrogation by the device (4) of a remote device 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 connection comprises a sub-step (54) of parameterization of the link according to 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 verification of an identifier specific to the secondary terminal (14) and / or to its user, and in that said step (54) of setting takes into account parameters 15 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 includes a step of automatic recognition of the type of the secondary terminal (14) and in that said step (54) for connection configuration takes into account the 20 parameters associated with said type of secondary terminal (14).   10. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it, 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 capacities of said communication device (4).   11. 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 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 terminal (s) (10) and / or secondary (14).   13. Method according to any one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the carrying out of said step (20) of connection and / or of said step (70) of transmission is conditioned by a rate of use of said physical capacities. less than a predetermined value.   14. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that said step of measuring and verifying the physical connection capacities 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 information transmission is preceded by a step of analysis and prioritization of the information to be transmitted according to their nature .   16. Communication device on a multiplexed 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 20, said device (4) being adapted to provide the main terminal (10) with a main connection to the network (2) by means of 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 comprises in in addition: - means (112) for allocating communication identifiers suitable for allocating a communication identifier for the or each secondary terminal (14), known as the secondary identifier (VPs), different from the communication identifier n (VPp) allocated to said main terminal (10); - Means (114) for establishing links with said network (2) adapted to allow the establishment of 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, in order to allow the transmission of information by said secondary terminal (14) on said network (2) through said device (4) using said secondary communication identifier (VPs) on said specific link .   17. Device according to claim 16, characterized in that said 5 means (100) for identifying the connected user terminal comprise at least two independent input / output ports (102, 104), one or the other being accessible only by the main user terminal (10), the others being accessible by a plurality of secondary user terminals (14).   18. Device according to claim 16, characterized in that said 10 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 capacities of connection of the device (4) adapted to prevent the connection of a terminal of secondary user (14) and / or the transmission of information by a secondary user terminal (14) if the physical connection capacities of the device (4) are less than a predetermined value.   20. Device according to any one of claims 16 to 19, 20 characterized in that it further comprises a module (118) for prioritizing the information to be transmitted according to its nature.   21. Device according to any one of claims 16 to 20, characterized in that it is powered only 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.