WO2010047628A1

WO2010047628A1 - A method for enabling a wireless home network to be accessed remotely

Info

Publication number: WO2010047628A1
Application number: PCT/SE2008/051180
Authority: WO
Inventors: Justus Petersson; Robert Skog
Original assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (Publ)
Priority date: 2008-10-21
Filing date: 2008-10-21
Publication date: 2010-04-29

Abstract

A mobile terminal (11) comprises a first communication unit (21) for communication through a wireless communications network, and a second communication unit (22) for communication in a local local wireless network, and further comprises: A memory unit (29) for storing an IP address of a residential gateway (1) connecting the local wireless network to the wireless communications network (3), said residential gateway having a public IP address, the terminal further comprising an IP address retrieving unit (25) arranged to request, when the mobile terminal is connected in the local wireless network, the public IP address from the residential gateway (1) and to receive the public IP address from the residential gateway and to store the public IP address in the memory unit (29). This enables external access to a local wireless network in a fast and simple way.

Description

A method for enabling a wireless home network to be accessed remotely.

Technical Field The invention relates to a mobile terminal having functions for communicating with at least two different networks, and for a method and a computer program product for use with such a mobile terminal.

Background and Related Art In the future, local networks connecting different types of devices will become more common, typically but not exclusively for connecting devices within a home. This will require different technologies to interwork in such networks, including personal computers, television sets, game consoles, different types of telephones, other home appliances, etc.

The Digital Living Network Alliance, DLNA, aims at achieving interoperability between electronic equipment from different vendors. DLNA members seek to provide products that are compatible and DLNA certifies products that meet the requirements and therefore can interact in the same local wireless network.

One set of computer network protocols enabling such interoperability is the Universal Plug and Play (UPnP). The goals of UPnP are to allow seamless connections between devices and to simplify the implementation of networks in the home (data sharing, communications, and entertainment) and corporate environments. UPnP achieves this by defining and publishing UPnP device control protocols built upon open, Internet-based communication standards. The UPnP protocol is utilised by DLNA as an underlying protocol for communication between devices within local networks. Today there is no standardized mechanism for providing remote access to such a local network, or local wireless network. International patent application WO 2008/054270 proposes a solution involving IMS and UpnP interworking to avoid the need for IP address resolution functionality. Connection is set up by means of a session protocol such as Session Initiation Protocol (SIP). This solution involves a number of signalling steps between the gateway and the mobile device to establish a SIP session.

Summary of the Invention It is an object of the invention to enable remote access to a local wireless network by use of a mobile terminal in a simpler way than what is possible according to the prior art.

The invention relates to a mobile terminal comprising a first communication unit for communication through a public wireless communications network, and a second communication unit for communication directly in a local wireless network, that is, not through another network.

The public wireless communications network could be any common public wireless communications network, for example, 3G₅ 3GPP, Long Term Evolution (LTE) or Wimax. The local wireless network could be any limited local wireless network or private network such as residential, office or vehicle network, also referred to, for example, as Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN) or Wireless Personal Area Networks (WPAN).

The terminal further comprises: a memory unit for storing an IP address of a residential gateway connecting the local wireless network to the public wireless communications network, said residential gateway having a public IP address, and an IP address retrieving unit arranged to request, when the mobile terminal is connected in the local wireless network, the public IP address from the residential gateway and to receive the public IP address from the residential gateway and to store the public IP address in the memory unit a connection function arranged to connect to the local wireless network through the residential gateway using the IP address stored in the memory unit to identify the residential gateway.

A public IP address of an RGW is here intended to be the IP address of the RGW used by network nodes outside the home network to get in touch, identify and/or communicate with the RGW through another network than the local wireless network, typically through a public network, which may be an IP based network.

The invention also relates to a method of providing access to a local wireless net- work by means of a mobile terminal that is capable of connecting both to the local wireless network and to a wireless network to which the local wireless network is connected through a residential gateway having a public IP address. The method comprises the steps of when the mobile terminal is connected directly to the local wireless network, requesting from the mobile terminal the public IP address of the residential gateway, receiving the public IP address from the residential gateway in the mobile terminal through the local wireless network, storing the public IP address in a memory unit (29) in the mobile terminal

The invention also relates to a computer program product for use in a mobile terminal comprising a first communication unit for communication through a public wireless communications network, and a second communication unit for direct communication in a local wireless network, said computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having thereon computer readable code means, which, when run in said mobile terminal will cause the mobile terminal to perform the following steps: requesting, when the mobile terminal is connected in the local wireless network, the public IP address from the residential gateway receiving the public IP address from the residential gateway and storing the public IP address in a memory unit in the mobile terminal.

Hence, the mobile terminal retrieves the IP address of the RGW when the mobile terminal is connected directly to the local wireless network. This IP address may be used by the mobile terminal when the mobile terminal is not connected to the local wireless network, to connect remotely to the local wireless network through the RGW. Hence, the invention offers a simple way of providing remote access to a local wireless network.

The IP address of the RGW may change from time to time, for example when the RGW is restarted. Therefore, the IP address stored in the mobile terminal must be updated. This may be done at regular time intervals, or as a consequence of certain events. For example, the mobile terminal may request an update of the IP address from the RGW each time the mobile terminal connects to the local wireless network, and/or at regular time intervals while it is connected. Alternatively, or in addition to this, the user may initiate an update of the public IP address when it is likely that the public IP address has changed, for example, after a restart of the RGW, or prior to removing the terminal from the local wireless network.

Hence, the public IP address retrieving unit may be arranged to request the public IP address from the residential gateway at regular time intervals. Alternatively, or in addition to this, the public IP address retrieving unit may be arranged to request the public IP address from the residential gateway each time the mobile terminal connects to the local wireless network.

It may also be possible to initiate request from the mobile terminal to the residential gateway for the IP address by means of user input.

Acronyms and Abbreviations

3 G Third Generation wireless networks

3GPP Third Generation Partnership Project DLNA Digital Living Network Alliance

IMS IP Multimedia Subsystem

IP Internet Protocol

LTE Long Term Evolution

PSTN Public Switched Telephone Network RGW Residential Gateway

SIP Session Initiation Protocol

UPnP Universal Plug and Play

VPN Virtual Private Network

WLAN Wireless Local Area Network WPAN Wireless Personal Area Network

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will be discussed in more detail in the following, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a network in which the inventive methods may be used. Figure 2 illustrates a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the invention. Figure 3 is a flow chart of a procedure according to a first aspect of the invention. Figure 4 is a flow chart of a procedure according to a second aspect of the invention. Detailed Description of Embodiments

Figure 1 illustrates a network in which the inventive methods may be used. A residential gateway (RGW) 1 is used in a local wireless network to connect it to an external network such as the Internet 3. The external network could be any type of network enabling wireless access, but will typically be a wide-area network and is preferably IP based. The local wireless network may connect a number of different apparatuses. Figure 1 shows, as examples only, a PSTN telephone 5, a personal computer 7, a game console 9, and a mobile terminal 11. Apparatuses that can be connected to such a local wireless network include various types of media players and media servers as well as connecting units and interoperability units. A wireless connection network 13 provides wireless connection to the external network 3. As shown in Figure 1, the mobile terminal 11 can also connect to the Internet through the wireless connection network 13. Other types of devices that may be connected to the local wireless network for monitoring and/or controlling their function through the network, include lamps, fridges, freezers and other apparatuses that may be controlled through a local wireless network, such as medical devices carried by a person in the coverage area of the local wireless network. Such a medical device may be, for example, a heart rate measuring device.

To enable communication between the residential gateway 1 and the mobile terminal 11, each of these units preferably comprises a Virtual Private Network (VPN) client. The VPN client in the residential gateway 1 is indicated by a unit denoted 15. The VPN client in the mobile terminal is shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2 illustrates an embodiment of a mobile terminal 11 according to the invention. A telephone has been chosen as an example, but of course any type of terminal adapted for communication both through a wireless network and through the local wireless network can be used. The terminal comprises a first communication unit 21 for communicating with the external network 3 through the wireless connection network 13 , The terminal also comprises a second communication unit 22 for connecting to the local wireless network. Each of the first and second communication units 21 , 22 includes transmitter/receiver functionality and is connected to an antenna 23. Such communications units are known in the art, and differ in dependence of the communications standards used. The mobile terminal 11 typically also comprises other functions, such as a calendar, word processing functions, games, etc. These are not relevant for the invention and will not be discussed here.

The embodiment of the mobile terminal 11 comprises a local connection unit 25 arranged to cooperate with the second communication unit 22 for connecting to the local wireless network when it is within reach. This function includes a WLAN circuit for providing IP connectivity to the local wireless network. This function also includes software for interacting with other devices connected to the local wireless network, such as an RGW or a media server. This may be for example a UPnP software package or another type software providing similar functionality, such as Bonjour. The local connection unit 25 also comprises a function 25a for retrieving the IP address from the RGW in any or all of the manners discussed below. Preferably, the terminal comprises a VPN client 26 arranged to cooperate with the first communication unit 21 for enabling the establishment of a VPN tunnel between the mobile terminal 11 and the residential gateway through the external network 3, although such a connection may also be achieved by other means. The mobile terminal 1 1 also comprises application software 27 for handling the remote connection to the local wireless network and a memory unit 29 in which the IP address of the RGW may be stored. The memory unit 29 may be a memory unit already present in the terminal for other purposes, or a separate memory unit. The mobile terminal 11 may also comprise a user input device 31 enabling the user to initiate the retrieval of the RGWs IP address. This may be done by a user input device already present on the mobile terminal, such as the keypad or keyboard, or a menu selection, or a separate user input device may be provided. The user input device preferably initiates retrieval of the IP address by the function present in the local connection unit 25, although a separate function may also be provided (not shown).

Figure 3 illustrates an example of a procedure according to the invention for obtaining the IP address of the residential gateway:

At the start of the procedure, the terminal is in a waiting loop. Preferably, the waiting loop can be set manually but it may also be set to a fixed duration. At regular time intervals, in step S31 the mobile terminal checks if it is connected to its local wireless network. If it is not, the terminal returns to the waiting loop and tries again at a later time. The mobile terminal can check if it is connected in any suitable way. For example, the second communication unit 22 for connecting to the local wireless network may check at regular time intervals if there is a local network available. The second communication unit is arranged to verify identity of the local network to determine if it is the local wireless network of the mobile terminal. For example, the local wireless network may be a WLAN. All WLANs are arranged to provide their identities in the network. Hence, the mobile terminal is preferably configured to know the identity of its local wireless network, in order to verify it. Alternatively, the user may activate the second communication unit when he knows that the local wireless network is within reach. In this case, too, it is preferable that the mobile terminal is arranged to verify the identity of the network.

If the answer in step S31 is yes, the mobile terminal, in step S32, asks the RGW to inform the mobile terminal about the RGW's IP address. To do this, the mobile terminal sends a message, typically an HTTP message to the RGW using a suitable protocol based on, for example, UPnP or Bonjour. The formal of the message could be approximately "HTTP POST (UPnP WanIPC GetExternallP Address)" or another suitable format depending on the protocol.

In step S33, the RGW responds by informing the mobile terminal about its IP address. The information may be sent through a suitable protocol supported by the local wireless network. A suitable protocol is UPnP. In this protocol an action GetExternal IP Address is defined. This action retrieves the value of the external IP address of a device connected to the local wireless network.

In step S34, the RGWs IP address is stored in a memory unit in the mobile terminal.

This process may be performed at regular or irregular time intervals to make sure that the mobile terminal has the correct IP address at any given time. It may also be performed, starting at step 32, each time the mobile terminal logs on to or becomes directly connected to the local wireless network. In one embodiment, the mobile terminal also comprises a function for enabling a user of the mobile terminal to initiate the procedure. In this case, the user can initiate the procedure when desired, but in particular if he knows that the IP address of the residential gateway may have changed, for example after a restart of the RGW.

Figure 4 illustrates an example of a procedure according to the invention for a remote access by the mobile terminal to the local wireless network. In step S41 the user initiates a connection to the local wireless network. This is typi- cally done by any known form of user input to the mobile terminal.

In step S42 the mobile terminal checks whether or not it is connected to the local wireless network already. This may be done by the application 27 arranged to handle the remote connection asking the local connection unit 25 for connecting to the local wireless network if there is already a connection Io the local wireless network. If the answer is yes, the procedure ends. If the answer is no, go to step S43. In step S43 the mobile terminal initiates a connection to the RGW of the local wireless network using the public IP address of the RGW₅ which is stored in the mobile terminal's memory in step S34. This may be done in two steps: one internally in the mobile terminal, in which the functions 21 arranged to handle the remote connection to the local wireless network set up a remote connection. This may be done by ordering the UPnP application to establish the connection and one in which the UPnP application establishes the connection using the IP address, for example, by setting up a VPN connection. A VPN connection may be seen as a "tunnel" through the external network 3 between the mobile terminal and the residential gateway. VPN protocols that may be used to achieve this are well known in the art, for example, L2TP (RFC2661). Once the tunnel has been established, any type of message, for example an UPnP message, may be sent through the tunnel. The message to set up a VPN tunnel is sent from the mobile terminal to the residential gateway, using the public IP address of the residential gateway, which is stored in the memory unit 29 of the mobile terminal Once the VPN tunnel has been set up, any type of message according to any type of protocol may be communicated through it, since it will be packed in a VPN protocol message. Therefore, the mobile terminal can send, for example, UPnP messages through the VPN tunnel. The UPnP messages will be unpacked in the residential gateway and handled in the local wireless network as ordinary UPnP messages. The connection of the mobile terminal to the residential gateway may also be achieved by means of IMS.

Typically, as shown in step S44, the RGW performs authentication and, if the authentication was successful, performs the necessary steps to establish the connection, such as opening the firewall and performing port mapping. In steps S45, the RGW signals to the terminal that a VPN connection has been established between the mobile terminal and the local wireless network through the RGW. This may be done in two steps: First the RGW signals to the UPnP application and then the UPnP application signals to the application arranged to handle the remote connection.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal comprising a first communication unit configured to enable communication through a wireless communications network, and a second commu- nication unit configured to enable communication in a local wireless network, said terminal being characterized in that it further comprises:

- a memory unit for storing an IP address of a residential gateway connecting the local wireless network to the wireless communications network, said residential gateway having a public IP address, the terminal further compris- ing an IP address retrieving unit arranged to request, when the mobile terminal is connected in the local wireless network, the public IP address from the residential gateway and to receive the public IP address from the residential gateway and to store the public IP address in the memory unit.

2. A mobile terminal according to claim I₅ wherein the IP address retrieving unit is arranged to request the IP address from the residential gateway at regular lime intervals.

3. A mobile terminal according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the IP address retrieving unit is arranged to request the IP address from the residential gateway when the mobile terminal connects to the local wireless network.

4. A mobile terminal according to any one of the preceding claims, further a user input device for initiating the request from the mobile terminal to the residential gateway.

5. A mobile terminal according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a connection function arranged to connect to the local wireless network through the residential gateway via the wireless communications network using the IP address stored in the memory unit to identify the residential gateway.

6. A method of providing access to a local wireless network by means of a mobile terminal that is capable of connecting both to the local wireless network and directly to a wireless network to which the local wireless network is connected through a residential gateway having a public IP address, said method comprising the steps of

- when the mobile terminal is connected directly to the local wireless network, requesting from the mobile terminal the public IP address of the residential gateway,

- receiving the public IP address from the residential gateway in the mobile terminal through the local wireless network,

- storing the public IP address in a memory unit in the mobile terminal

7. A method according to claim 6 comprising the step of providing the IP address to the mobile terminal at regular time intervals.

8. A method according to claim 6 or 7, comprising the step of requesting from the mobile terminal, the IP address when the mobile terminal connects to the local wire- less network.

9. A method according to any one of the claims 6-8, wherein the step of requesting the IP address is initiated by the user of the mobile terminal.

10. A method according to any one of the claims 5-7, comprising the step, when the mobile terminal is connected to the wireless communications network, but not connected to the local wireless network, of connecting the terminal to the local wireless network through the residential gateway using the IP address stored in the memory unit to identify the residential gateway.

11. A computer program product for use in a mobile terminal comprising a first communication unit for communication through a wireless communications network, and a second communication unit for communication in a local wireless net- work, said computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having thereon computer readable code means which, when run in said mobile terminal will cause the mobile terminal to perform the following steps:

- requesting, when the mobile terminal is connected in the local wireless network, the public IP address from the residential gateway, - receiving the public IP address from the residential gateway, and

- storing the public IP address in a memory unit in the mobile terminal.

12. A computer program product for use in a mobile terminal comprising a first communication unit for communication through a wireless communications net- work, and a second communication unit for communication in a local wireless network, said computer program product comprising computer readable code means, which, when run in said mobile terminal will cause the mobile terminal to perform the following steps:

- requesting, when the mobile terminal is connected in the local wireless net- work, the public IP address from the residential gateway,

- receiving the public IP address from the residential gateway, and

- storing the public IP address in a memory unit in the mobile terminal.

13. A computer program product according to claim 11 or 12, further comprising computer readable code means which, when run in said mobile terminal, will cause the mobile terminal to connect to the residential gateway through the wireless communications network using the public IP address stored in the memory unit.