EP2002585A1

EP2002585A1 - Confidential transmission of data by change of frequency in a telecommunications network

Info

Publication number: EP2002585A1
Application number: EP07731760A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Tahar Jarboui; Florence Germain; François Marx
Original assignee: France Telecom SA
Current assignee: Orange SA
Priority date: 2006-03-31
Filing date: 2007-03-19
Publication date: 2008-12-17
Also published as: WO2007113418A1; US8121141B2; US20100177782A1

Abstract

Data intended to be transmitted within a plurality of sets of data packets is transmitted by first terminal (11) to a second terminal (12) in a telecommunications network (10). At the level of the first and second terminals, as a function of a selection rule common to the first and second terminals, transmission frequencies are selected from among the transmission frequencies of a secret list of transmission frequencies which is common to the first and second terminals. Next, the sets of data packets are transmitted (15, 16) from the first terminal to the second terminal, respectively on the selected transmission frequencies. The common list of transmission frequencies is allocated on the basis of frequencies available in relation to the first and second terminals and collected from the telecommunications network.

Description

CONFIDENTIAL DATA TRANSMISSION BY FREQUENCY CHANGE IN A TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORK

The present invention relates to the field of telecommunications, and more particularly the confidentiality of data transmissions in telecommunications networks.

In general, when data, having a character

5 confidential, are transmitted in a telecommunications network, it is conventional to implement a method of encrypting this data according to a cryptographic algorithm. In this case, the transmitter and receiver terminals must be able to encrypt or decrypt the transmitted data respectively. Such cryptographic operations require high computational complexity, high data processing time, high processor utilization and memory resources, and power consumption which may prove to be unsuitable for certain sending and / or transmitting terminals. receiver, such as for example sensors with a radio interface, or any other small communication equipment which has in particular an energy autonomy and limited data processing capabilities.

Other methods aim at protecting the confidentiality of data transmitted between two terminals without resorting to an encryption method.

Thus, some of these methods use noise data transmission in transmission channels that are not covered by the receiving terminal. Assuming that a receiver of an attacking potential receives at least a portion of the transmission channels, not covered by the receiving terminal and carrying noise data, it follows that the data picked up by the attacker is noisy and do not allow to find the transmitted signal. The document "Secret Communication using Artificial" is thus known.

Noise "by R. Negi and S. Goel, 2005, which describes such a method of protecting data during a transmission.

However, in certain transmission contexts, such methods may be inappropriate since they create disturbances on channels transmission that can otherwise be used for the transmission of other data.

Document US 2,292,387 describes another method for protecting the confidentiality of a transmission by using a distribution of the data to be transmitted over a plurality of predetermined successive transmission frequencies. The moments when one has to go from one frequency to another are chosen before the beginning of the communication. The transmitter and the receiver are for example synchronized by means of two identical strips of perforated paper, one used by the transmitter and the other by the receiver. But such a method is only suitable if the transmission frequencies used are permanently available for this transmitter and receiver (we speak of "availability" of a transmission frequency to signify that there is no other signal of telecommunications carried on this frequency, at a given time and in a given geographical location). The present invention aims to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks.

It concerns all types of objects communicating by radio waves, for example mobile terminals in a suitable telecommunications network, or sensors provided with a radio interface, when the transmitted data are grouped in frames or packets (as it is usually the case). A first aspect of the present invention provides a method of transmitting data, from a first terminal to a second terminal, in a telecommunications network adapted to transmit packet data, wherein the data is to be transmitted within a network. a plurality of sets of data packets. The method comprises the following steps:

/ a / at the first and second terminals, according to a selection rule, selecting transmission frequencies among transmission frequencies of a secret transmission frequency list, said selection rules and transmission frequency list being common to the first and second terminals; and

/ b / transmitting the sets of data packets, from the first terminal to the second terminal, respectively the selected transmission frequencies; said transmission frequency list being generated according to a transmission frequency list allocation rule from a list of available frequencies relative to the first and second terminals and collected from said telecommunications network.

Such an allocation rule makes it possible to generate a list of transmission frequencies for two terminals by taking frequencies among those which are present in the list of available frequencies relative to these terminals. Thus, according to the invention, transmitting a first set of data packets on a first frequency, then a second set of data packets on a second frequency different from the first, and so on. This results in a protection of the confidentiality of the data thus transmitted without resorting to an encryption of the transmitted data and a decryption of the received data. In fact, in order to determine the transmitted data, on the reception side, it is required to capture the different data packets corresponding to the data transmitted over several different transmission frequencies.

The transmission frequencies on which the data can be sent, separately, are advantageously determined according to information collected with respect to the first and / or second terminal, this information being able to be collected at any time in the network. These transmission frequencies are determined so as to optimize the use of the frequencies of a given frequency band. Thus, such a list of frequencies can be updated dynamically during the transmission according to the modifications of the use of the band in question. The invention is therefore particularly advantageous in the case where the frequency band that can be used by the terminals according to the invention is also used, according to their needs, by third-party terminals which have priority over this band (for example, it can be act from a band reserved for television signals); indeed, the method according to the invention makes it possible to transmit data on a frequency of this "reserved" band at a time when no priority terminal is transmitting or receiving on this frequency.

In addition, such a method has the advantage of not inducing disturbances on the transmissions potentially carried out on transmission frequencies close to those used for the transmission considered between the first and second terminals, contrary to the methods intended to protect the transmission of transmission. data by introducing noise on neighboring transmission frequencies.

Thus, advantageously, the present invention allows a protection of the transmitted data while reducing the amount of resources used for the processing of these data, particularly with respect to cryptographic processing. Such a transmission method also reduces the processing time of the data.

It is therefore possible to reduce the energy consumption of the data transmitter and receiver terminals during a transmission in a telecommunications network between these terminals, while maintaining a good level of confidentiality of the transmitted data. Such a method can thus advantageously be implemented in terminals requiring a high energy autonomy, such as sensors.

In addition, these provisions make it possible to improve the performance of the terminal on the reception side. Indeed, no cryptographic processing is required in such a context on receipt of data thus transmitted.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the first and second terminals share the knowledge, synchronously, of the different transmission frequencies used during the given data transmission. The first and the second terminal thus know the transmission frequency on which each data packet is transmitted, therefore transmitted and received respectively.

This sharing of knowledge can be obtained by means of a list of transmission frequencies common to the two terminals that exchange data, as well as a rule for selecting a transmission frequency in this common list.

No limitation is attached to how the first and second terminals obtain this list of transmission frequencies and this rule of common transmission frequency selection.

The present invention finds an advantageous application in a network based on a network architecture in which the terminals communicate directly with each other without their communication being processed by a centralized network entity, as is the case in cell-type networks for example.

In the following sections, the present invention is described in its application to a centralized architecture in which a frequency determination function is able to determine and transmit the transmission frequency list and the transmission frequency selection rule to the first and second terminals to synchronize these two terminals.

It should be noted that the greater the number of transmission frequencies used, the higher the level of privacy protection of the data transmission. Indeed, the greater the number of sets of packets transmitted separately, that is to say on different transmission frequencies, the harder it is for an attacker to assemble the different sets of packets in order to reconstruct the initial data. Note that, preferably, these frequencies are sufficiently distant from each other to prevent an attacker can "listen" to a band covering a plurality of frequencies.

However, each change in transmission frequency requires processing at the transmitter and receiver terminals, which may in particular have an impact on the bit rate of the transmission considered. Thus, a compromise between the number of transmission frequencies during the transmission of data and the processing cost required for such frequency changes can be advantageously determined as a function, for example, of the capabilities of the terminals used and as a function of the level. to protect the confidentiality of the data sought. One can also take into account a desired transmission rate value to determine such a compromise.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the number of frequencies contained in the list of available frequencies relative to the first and second terminals is equal to the product of the number of frequencies contained in the list of transmission frequencies common to the first and second terminals generated according to the allocation rule by a number k determined according to a desired level of confidentiality for the transmission of the set of data packets. Thus, by varying this number k, one is able to adapt to a desired level of confidentiality in the transmission of the data to be performed. Indeed, the larger this number k, the more the data to be transmitted are distributed over a large number of distinct frequencies, and because of this, the more complex it is to violate the confidentiality of the transmission. In addition, since this list of transmission frequencies is secret, such data transmission according to one embodiment of the present invention has a high level of protection against potential attackers.

The number of sets of data packets can be determined according to a desired level of confidentiality for the data to be transmitted. Thus, preferably, in the case where the level of confidentiality sought is high, the number of packets of the plurality is greater than in the case where the level of confidentiality sought is lower.

For a given total number of packets to be transmitted, a high level of confidentiality may thus imply that, on average, each set of data packets contains fewer data packets than sets of data packets determined for a lower level of confidentiality. .

The present invention is described, by way of illustration but without any limitation, in its application to the spectrum of transmission frequencies dedicated to the transmission of television programs.

Thus, the first and second terminals are adapted to transmit, respectively receive, in the spectrum of frequencies dedicated to television. Moreover, at a given time and for a given geographical location, only part of the frequency spectrum considered is used for the transmission of television programs while the other party remains available. Thus, an embodiment of the present invention takes advantage of this observation.

In the following sections, for illustrative purposes also, the different sets of data packets are separately sent successively to the different selected transmission frequencies. In a variant, all or part of the sets of data packets can be sent simultaneously on the different transmission frequencies.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the determination function centralizes frequency availability information of the spectrum it receives from different points of the telecommunications network. From this availability information, the determination function is able to determine a list of frequencies adapted for transmission between a first and a second terminal. Then, it can then advantageously send this list of transmission frequencies to the first and second terminals so as to synchronize these terminals with each other.

Thus, the method may further comprise the following steps: IM collecting from at least the first terminal, respectively from the second terminal, availability information of the transmission frequencies of a given transmission frequency spectrum, said availability information being relating to the first terminal, respectively to the second terminal;

/ 2 / determining, based on said collected availability information, a transmission frequency list which includes transmission frequencies available at both the first and second terminals; / 3 / informing said first and second terminals of said transmission frequency list thus determined.

Thus, by centralizing the availability information received from various devices of the network, and at least from the first and second terminals, a map of the available frequencies can be obtained and thus an allocation of a list of frequencies relevant and adapted to a transmission between these first and second terminals can advantageously be generated.

According to particular characteristics, the list of frequencies of transmission can be updated upon receipt of new availability information transmission frequencies received from at least the first or second terminal. Thus, the terminals communicate with each other on the basis of updated information, which makes it possible to avoid disturbing frequencies of the spectrum considered that are used at the time of updating. In general, the update according to the invention can be performed before and / or during and / or after the communication between the first and the second terminal.

This update can advantageously be performed dynamically: indeed, for a transmission that requires a long period of time, it is possible that the available frequency map evolves and that certain frequencies that were available at the beginning of the transmission, c. that is, when the frequency list has been generated, are no longer available while the transmission is in progress; thus, in this case, one is able to avoid any nuisance on other transmissions, effectively and easily.

The centralized function in the telecommunications network can send the transmission frequency list in encrypted form to the first and second terminals. In order to further increase the protection of the confidentiality of the communications between the first and second terminals, provision may furthermore be made for the centralized function in the telecommunications network to send the selection rule in encrypted form to the first and second terminals.

The transmission frequency selection rule may indicate, on the one hand, an order in which the transmission frequencies of the list are successively selected for the respective sets of packets and, on the other hand, a triggering condition of change of transmission frequency for different sets of packets.

Thus, with this selection rule, the terminals are able to decide when to change the transmission frequency for a given set of packets and which frequency to select.

The frequency change trigger condition may be a condition among the group comprising a number of packets transmitted on the same transmission frequency, a period of time and a reference. schedule.

Indeed, it can be expected that at most a set comprising a number N of packets is transmitted on the same transmission frequency, and thus the transmission frequency is changed every N packets. It can also be provided that, periodically or at precise time references, the transmission frequency is changed. These last cases can be applied in particular when the different sets of packets are transmitted successively.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the frequency list includes frequencies adapted both for transmitting data from the first terminal to the second terminal, and for transmitting data from the second terminal to the first terminal.

A second aspect of the present invention provides a terminal adapted to transmit packet data in a telecommunications network to another terminal, said data being intended to be transmitted within a plurality of sets of data packets. This terminal includes:

a storage unit adapted to store on the one hand a list of secret transmission frequencies and, on the other hand, a frequency selection rule in said list of frequencies;

a selection unit adapted to select transmission frequencies among the transmission frequencies of said frequency list according to said selection rule;

a first interface unit adapted to transmit and / or receive sets of data packets to said and / or from said other terminal, respectively on the selected transmission frequencies; said transmission frequency list being generated according to a transmission frequency list allocation rule from a list of available frequencies relative to said terminal and said other terminal and collected from said telecommunications network. When a centralized function in the telecommunications network is adapted to send the transmission frequency list and / or the selection rule, this terminal may further comprise a second interface unit adapted to receive said frequency list and / or said selection rule from said centralized function.

When the second interface unit receives a new list of frequencies, the transmission frequency or frequencies, selected respectively for said sets of packets to be transmitted, can be updated. A third aspect of the present invention provides a central entity in a telecommunications network adapted to transmit packet data from a first terminal to a second terminal, said data being intended to be transmitted within a plurality of sets of data packets. This central entity comprises: - a storage unit adapted to collect from the telecommunications network availability information transmission frequencies relating to the first terminal and the second terminal and maintain a list of available frequencies relative to the first and second terminals; an allocation unit adapted to determine, based on said collected availability information, a list of transmission frequencies which includes transmission frequencies available at both the first and second terminals; an interface unit adapted to transmit to said first and second terminals said list of transmission frequencies. The transmission frequency list may be updated upon receipt of new transmission rate availability information received from the first or second terminal, or other equipment in the network.

This entity may further comprise a cryptographic unit adapted to encrypt the list of transmission frequencies to be sent to the first and second terminals. A fourth aspect of the present invention provides a data transmission system, said transmission being performed between a first terminal and a second terminal according to the second aspect of the present invention. This system may further include a central entity according to the third aspect of the present invention.

A fifth aspect of the present invention provides a computer program for installation in a terminal of a telecommunications network, comprising instructions capable of implementing a method according to the first aspect of the present invention, in a executing the program by terminal processing means according to the second aspect of the present invention.

A sixth aspect of the present invention provides a computer program for installation in a central entity of a telecommunication network, comprising instructions capable of implementing a method according to the first aspect of the present invention, when program execution by central entity processing means according to the third aspect of the present invention.

A seventh aspect of the present invention provides a computer readable recording medium on which the computer program according to the fifth or sixth aspect of the present invention is recorded.

Other aspects, objects and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the description of one of its embodiments. The invention will also be better understood with the aid of the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates the main steps of a transmission method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a telecommunications radio network according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3 illustrates data packet formats according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 illustrates a step of managing and sending a list of frequencies according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 illustrates the main steps of a data transmission method according to an embodiment of the present invention. A first terminal 11 and a second terminal 12 belong to a telecommunications radio network 10. Firstly, the terminals 11 and 12 obtain synchronization information, respectively in steps 17 and 18. In one embodiment of the present In the invention, this synchronization information corresponds to a secret list of transmission frequencies on which the terminals 1 1 and 12 can communicate, and a rule for selecting one or more transmission frequencies in the list. For example, the list of transmission frequencies can be sent to both terminals, or sent by a terminal to the other terminal, in encrypted form. Thus, by having the same list of transmission frequencies and by applying the same selection rule, the terminals 1 1 and 12 can thus be synchronized to the same transmission frequency or frequencies; the data packets to be transmitted between the terminals 1 1 and 12 can then be transmitted in the clear without using cryptographic methods.

For example, it can be provided that the selection rule indicates, on the one hand, to select a transmission frequency in the order in which the transmission frequencies are listed in the list and, on the other hand, to change the frequency transmission after sending, respectively receiving, a fixed number of packets. In the latter case, it can be provided that the order of the transmission frequencies in the transmission frequency list is determined by the allocation rule of the transmission frequency list.

However, the present invention can easily be applied when the selection rule is different. It can in fact be provided in particular that a new transmission frequency is selected periodically after a determined period of time, or that a new transmission frequency is selected at time references determined by the selection rule shared by the two terminals. Certain types of transmission frequency synchronization according to the selection rule may therefore require a time synchronization of the terminals 1 1 and 12. In one embodiment of the present invention, the list of transmission frequencies is not ordered and the frequency selection rule is to use each of the transmission frequencies of the rule in ascending order of transmission frequency values. . Alternatively, it can be provided that the frequency selection rule indicates to select the transmission frequencies of the list of transmission frequencies in their decreasing order of values.

No limitation is attached to the selection rule and the transmission frequency list according to an embodiment of the present invention, a feature of this selection rule and transmission list being that they jointly enable synchronization. both terminals for data transmission and reception.

The data to be transmitted is divided into at least two sets of data packets to be transmitted according to an embodiment of the invention separately. Thus, a first set of data packets is transmitted on a first transmission frequency U, selected from the list according to the selection rule, in a transmission 15, and a second set of data packets is transmitted on a second frequency transmission f ₂ , selected in the list according to the selection rule, in a transmission 16, the transmission frequency f ₂ being different from the transmission frequency U-

It may be possible to transmit the data in a larger number of separate transmissions in order to raise the level of protection of data confidentiality. Figure 2 illustrates a telecommunications network 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Such a network comprises the first 11 and second 12 terminals and a central entity or base station 13.

Such a network may include a larger number of terminals. The terminals of this network analyze the state of the TV frequency spectrum and inform the base station by sending it frequency availability information. The latter stores all this information and from these selects a list of available communication frequencies and adapted for the first and second terminals. It may be advantageous that only terminals that are not in communication analyze the TV frequency spectrum.

In one embodiment of the present invention, when the terminal 11 wishes to transmit data to the terminal 12, it sends the base station 13 a transmission request 21. This request can advantageously indicate that a transmission is required between the terminal 1 and the terminal 12. It can also indicate the amount of data to be transmitted. In the latter case, the base station can rely on this indication to determine the number of frequencies to be inserted in the list of frequencies to be sent to the terminals 11 and 12. For example, when a level of protection of confidentiality sought requires a frequency change every N transmitted data packets, the base station can easily determine the number of frequencies to be inserted in the list of frequencies. In a variant, the terminal 11 can directly indicate the number of frequencies desired for transmitting the data to the terminal 12 in a secure manner, for example in the transmission request 21.

When the data to be transmitted from the terminal 11 to the terminal 12 is a data stream whose quantity is not known in advance, it can be decided the number of frequencies of the list only according to the level of confidentiality sought.

Whether this number of frequencies in the list is determined at the level of the terminal 11 or at the level of the central entity 13, it can advantageously be determined from a parameter which indicates a number of packets per frequency. By means of such a parameter, it is possible to obtain an optimal compromise between, on the one hand, the level of confidentiality or security of the transmission, and, on the other hand, the bit rate of the transmission.

In one variant, the base station can recover a desired level of confidentiality from the terminal 11, and in this case for example this level can be indicated in the request 21, or the base station can also obtain this level of confidentiality. by any other means. Then, from this level of confidentiality, it can determine the number of frequencies to be inserted in the list of frequencies to be sent. The base station can also obtain, either from the terminal 1 1, or by any other means, a desired transmission rate value. It can then advantageously also determine the number of frequencies of the list of frequencies as a function, on the one hand, of the level of confidentiality and, on the other hand, of the desired bit rate value, so as to obtain the best possible compromise between security and transmission rate.

Thus, upon receiving this request 21, and according to the indications contained in this request, the base station determines the list of frequencies to be sent to the terminals 1 1 and 12, that is to say a list of frequencies among those which are detected as being available relative to the terminals 11 and 12. Then, it sends this list of transmission frequencies to the terminal 11 via an allocation message 22 and to the terminal 12 via an allocation message 23.

In order to determine the frequencies which, at a given moment, are available both at the geographical location of the first terminal and at the geographical location of the second terminal, any method may be implemented in the context of the present invention.

It is also possible to construct the transmission frequency list in an architecture that is not centralized, for example by providing that the first and second terminals exchange directly with each other the availability information available to them. Thus, one of the two terminals can maintain the list of frequencies and transmit it to the other terminal so as to agree on the transmission frequencies.

One embodiment of the present invention implements a cognitive radio method that aims at determining transmission frequencies available in a given transmission frequency spectrum within a radio communications network. Such methods are known to those skilled in the art.

Thus, when the terminals or the base station are not in communication, they scan a determined spectrum of frequencies. When a terminal or the base station detects a change, it informs the base station by sending it availability information. This availability information varies over time and geographically, so it is appropriate to schedule a regular update.

Thus, the base station collects information from the different terminals of the network. On the basis of this collected availability information, the station builds a frequency availability map which can advantageously be estimated in real time.

This card makes it possible to determine a plurality of transmission frequencies common to at least two terminals wishing to exchange data, at a given instant. This card changes over time and is therefore preferably advantageously regularly updated on the basis of the availability information of the different frequencies that are used by the different terminals of the network. The list of transmission frequencies adapted for communication between two terminals is likely to change as well.

It can also be expected that the considered telecommunications network includes other equipment than the terminals which are adapted to go back to the central entity 13 of the frequency availability information.

These allocation messages 22 and 23 may also indicate a frequency selection rule common to the terminals 1 1 and 12. However, this frequency selection rule can be obtained at the terminals 11 and 12 by any other means. . Thus, in one variant, the selection rule can be known and previously shared by the two terminals 1 1 and 12.

In one embodiment of the present invention, only the list of frequencies sent in the allocation messages 22 and 23 is encrypted using an encryption key so as to limit the knowledge of this list to the terminals 1 and 12.

For an even higher security, it can be expected that the messages

22 and 23 contain the selection rule in encrypted form. In a variant, the frequency selection rule is inserted in each of the terminals 1 1 and 12 secretly, at the factory during their manufacture, for example.

Then, once the terminals 1 1 and 12 have a secret list of transmission frequencies and a rule, possibly secret, selection of frequency, a secure transmission 24 can then be performed from the terminal 11 to the terminal 12. The terminal 11 is then able to transmit a set of data packets on a frequency selected in the list according to the selection rule and the terminal 12 is able to receive this set of data packets on said frequency which it has selected for its part by applying the same selection rule on the same list of frequencies, the sets of packets composing the data to be transmitted being transmitted on different frequencies selected in the list according to the selection rule.

In the event that new availability information causes the base station to deduce that at least some of the frequencies in the frequency list have become busy, or unavailable, or scrambled, the base station may generate a frequency list set to day and send it to the terminals 1 1 and 12. This update can be accompanied by a change of frequency selection rule or not. It is also possible that such an update is performed by sending only the frequency or frequencies to be modified, so as to avoid sending a complete list that includes frequencies already sent. Thus, advantageously, a method according to an embodiment of the present invention allows a protection of the confidentiality of the transmissions while avoiding disturbing neighboring frequencies used. In its application to the spectrum of TV frequencies, the present invention makes it possible to use the entire spectrum in question, but limiting itself to the available frequencies of the spectrum temporarily, so as not to disturb neighboring transmissions.

In one embodiment of the present invention, in order to guarantee a certain level of transmission security, the number of available frequencies is greater than the product of the number of frequencies to be inserted in the list, as defined above, and of a specific parameter k of the system. This specific parameter advantageously makes it possible to regulate the desired level of confidentiality: one will choose a value of k high when one demands a high level of confidentiality (and one will prohibit them eventually communications when the number of available frequencies is too low to satisfy this value of k). Thus, it is possible to guard against a context in which one or more "hacker" equipment would jam a multitude of frequencies leaving only a few frequencies available, and thus reducing the number of available frequencies, potential attackers could intercept all data packets and reconstruct the transmitted data.

To transmit the list of frequencies or the selection rule in encrypted form to the terminals 1 1 and 12, two different session keys can be calculated, respectively for the terminal 1 1 and the terminal 12.

In one embodiment of the present invention, during the transmission of the terminal 11 to the terminal 12, when the data to be transmitted comprise a determined number of packets and when the selection rule indicates to take the frequencies in the order of the frequency list and change frequency for each set of N data packets, the terminal 1 1 sends the data to the terminal 12, in the form of N packets by frequency and in the order of frequencies of the list.

The terminal 12 knows the information that allows it to correctly receive these sets of N packets. The terminal 12 therefore switches from one frequency to the next in the list of common frequencies, all N packets per frequency.

When the quantity of data to be transmitted is not known in advance, for example in the case of a walkie-talkie communication, the terminal 1 1 transmits to the terminal 12, transmitting a set of N packets by frequency and in the order of the frequencies of the list, cyclically if necessary if the quantity of the data to be transmitted and the number of frequencies in the list requires it. But in such a case, a lower level of confidentiality can then be achieved. It can be provided that the terminal 11 informs the end of the transmission the terminal 12. Thus, after receiving an end of transmission signal, the terminal 12 which wishes to respond to the terminal 1 1 requests the base station to receive a new list of frequencies. All the steps described above in Referring to FIG. 2 for the terminal 1 1, respectively for the terminal 12, then apply to the terminal 12, respectively to the terminal 11.

When the terminal 12, as receiver, receives nothing during a given time interval T, the terminal 12 can send the terminal 1 1 a signaling message on a determined signaling frequency available between the two terminals 1 1 and 12. On transmission of this signaling message, respectively on reception of this message, the terminal 1 1, respectively the terminal 12 is re-synchronized, and they can thus restart the process for example by starting at the first frequency selected in the list following the selection rule, to send the remaining sets of packets.

In the case of scrambling detection during transmission on a selected frequency, the terminal 11 may issue a new message 21 requesting a new frequency list from the central entity. The current transmission can then continue on the basis of a new list of frequencies received in response to this last request.

In order to increase the security level of the data transmission, it may be advantageous to plan to allocate a new list of frequencies via the messages 22 and 23 after a determined period of time. In some cases, especially when the size of the data to be sent is known by the terminal 1 1 before transmission, the terminal 1 1 may be able to detect in advance that the number of frequencies in the received frequency list is insufficient to ensure a certain level of security of the transmission. It may then be advantageous to anticipate this frequency deficiency by transmitting again to the base station a request for frequency allocation, while continuing to manage the transmission of data according to an embodiment of the present invention. .

This period of time may be determined according to an estimated period of time to violate the confidentiality of the encryption key or keys used to encrypt the list of frequencies, in the case where this list is sent in encrypted form by the radio station. based. In this context, the base station can itself handle the triggering of the regular sending of a new list of frequencies. In a variant, it is also possible to to provide that it is the transmitting terminal 11 which triggers these new regular sendings of new frequency lists by regularly sending a request message 21.

For example, in the case where the frequency list is encrypted according to a DES encryption algorithm (initials of the English words "Data Encryption Standard" meaning "Data Encryption Standard"), a period of time of the order of 2 hours is required to "break" a secret key DES having a size of 56 bits.In the meantime, the terminals 1 1 and 12 can safely communicate on the frequencies of the list received from the base station. Frequency list sending is performed after a certain period of time, the new list sent is then encrypted, preferably, using a secret key different from the previous key that could have been determined during this period of time.

In one embodiment of the present invention, several types of packets may be transmitted from the terminal 11 to the terminal 12.

Figure 3 illustrates a clear data packet format 31, i.e. unencrypted, and an encrypted data packet format 32, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The size of the packets is preferably identical for the transmitted packets. Each packet comprises a header field 33-34, corresponding to a synchronization field, having a size of 8 bytes. This field makes it possible to synchronize the transmitting terminal 11 and the receiving terminal 12. Then, such a packet comprises a field 35-36, indicating an identifier of the receiving terminal, or 'dest' for destination and an identifier of the transmitting terminal, or 'src for source. This field 35-36, can have a size of 2 bytes. This packet further includes a field indicating a type of packet 37-38. Then, a field indicating the end of the packet, 39-39 'is positioned at the end of the packet. The size of this last packet can be 1 byte. The transmitted data may be partially positioned between the field indicating the type 37-38 and the end-of-packet field 39-39 ', in a data field 301 in the data packet 31 or else 302 in the encrypted data packet 32 This last field 302 comprises a random data portion 303 and a ciphered data portion 304.

So the encrypted data packet format can be used for the transmitting, from the central entity to the terminals, the list of frequencies to be used for secure transmission according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this case, the encryption is performed by means of a session key calculated according to a secret key that can be specific to each terminal. The secret keys of the terminals may for example be symmetric keys of fixed size of 16 bytes. The encryption and decryption algorithm may be an AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) algorithm, so that, advantageously, encryption and decryption can be implemented Moreover, it has a high level of security against possible attacks.The base station having a computing capacity and memory greater than the terminals, it is capable in particular of storing the secret keys of all the terminals of the network. telecommunications 10. Figure 4 details the sending of the list of frequencies from the base station 13 to the terminals 11 and 12. In this example, the list is coded on 16 bytes, a frequency is coded on 2 bytes, and a Encrypted data packet may include a list of 8 frequencies After determining the list of available frequencies from a current state of the spectrum obtained in one of the availability information received from the different terminals of the network, the base station 13 selects a desired number of frequencies and orders them randomly to obtain the list of frequencies to be sent.

The base station 13 comprises a storage unit 43 adapted to collect from the telecommunications network information of availability of the transmission frequencies relating to terminals and maintain a list of available frequencies relative to these terminals. This storage unit 13 comprises a database in which a list of available frequencies is maintained relative to the considered terminals obtained on the basis of the availability information of the frequencies collected. Furthermore, this database stores the secret keys of the terminals of the network 10. The base station 13 also comprises an allocation unit 41 adapted to generate, as detailed above, a list of frequencies adapted for a transmission made by the terminal 1 1 to the terminal 12. It also comprises a cryptographic unit 42 adapted to encrypt data, a random value generation unit 46 and an interface unit 47 adapted to communicate with the different terminals of the network 10. When the base wishes to allocate frequencies to the terminal 1 1 for example, on the one hand the secret key of the terminal 1 1 is recovered 44 in the database and supplied to the cryptographic unit 42, and secondly, a list of frequencies is provided 45 from the allocation unit to the cryptographic unit. In addition, the generation unit 46 provides a random value on the one hand to the cryptographic unit 42 and on the other hand to the interface unit 47.

Then, the cryptographic unit 42 encrypts the frequency list using a session key that is generated from the random value and the secret key of the terminal 11, and provides the list of frequencies allocated to the terminal. 11, in encrypted form. The interface unit 47 is then able to transmit to the terminal 1 1, the random value and this list of encrypted frequencies, respectively in the fields 303 and 304 according to the format of the encrypted data packet 302.

Then, upon receiving this information, the terminal 11 determines the value of the session key from the random value and its own secret key, and decrypts the list of frequencies by means of this session key.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the terminal 11 thus comprises a storage unit 402 adapted to store on the one hand a list of transmission frequencies and on the other hand a frequency selection rule in the frequency list. It further comprises a selection unit 401 adapted to select transmission frequencies respectively for sets of data packets, among the frequencies of the frequency list according to the selection rule. It also includes a first interface unit 403 adapted to transmit the sets of data packets respectively on the selected transmission frequencies. The terminal 12 includes a similar interface for receiving the sets of data packets respectively on the selected transmission frequencies.

It further comprises a second interface unit 404 adapted to receiving said frequency list and, if applicable, said selection rule from the base station 13.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the network 10 corresponds to a network of home terminals in a home that are connected to a home gateway that is in charge of operations similar to those described above for the base station. .

Each terminal of the network 10 comprises a sensor provided with a radio interface. The terminals exchange information from which actuators can be remotely controlled. Some communications between the terminals may require a high level of security, when it is critical information such as an access code to enter the house or a code to activate or deactivate a home alarm. In this case, the size of the critical information to be transmitted is relatively small, and the level of security required is relatively high. It may then be advantageous to change the frequency of each packet of data transmitted. Moreover, the specific parameter k as defined above is preferably chosen with a relatively high value so as to increase the level of security of the transmission. The period of time after which a new frequency list is generated and sent to the terminals as defined above, is chosen with a relatively small value in order to avoid at best any interception of the transmitted data possible on the basis of the violation of the secret of the encryption key used.

In a similar context, ie within a home network, but when less critical data is exchanged, such as for example in the context of a voice conversation between two terminals in the same house, the confidentiality the transmission may then be of less importance than the character relative to the value of the transmission rate. In this case, it is then possible to predict that the number of packets per frequency is increased up to a relatively large value so as to optimize the compromise between the communication rate and the security level with regard to such a transmission.

Claims

A method of transmitting data from a first terminal (11) to a second terminal (12) in a telecommunications network (10) adapted to transmit packet data; wherein the data is to be transmitted within a plurality of sets of data packets; said method being characterized in that it comprises the following steps:

/ b / transmitting (15, 16) sets of data packets, from the first terminal to the second terminal, respectively on the selected transmission frequencies; said transmission frequency list being generated according to a transmission frequency list allocation rule, from a list of available frequencies relative to the first and second terminals and collected from said telecommunications network.

The data transmission method according to claim 1, wherein the number of frequencies contained in said list of available frequencies relative to the first and second terminals is equal to the product of the number of frequencies contained in said transmission frequency list common to the first and second terminals. and second terminals generated according to the allocation rule by a number k determined according to a desired level of confidentiality for the transmission of the set of data packets.

Data transmission method according to claim 1 or 2, in which wherein the number of sets of data packets in the plurality of packets is determined based on a desired level of confidentiality for the data to be transmitted.

The data transmission method according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising the steps of:

IM collect from at least the first terminal (1 1), respectively from the second terminal (12), availability information of the transmission frequencies of a given transmission frequency spectrum, said availability information being relative to the first terminal, respectively to the second terminal;

/ 2 / determining, based on said collected availability information, a transmission frequency list which includes transmission frequencies available at both the first and second terminals; / 3 / inform (22, 23) said first and second terminals of said transmission frequency list thus determined.

A data transmission method according to claim 4, wherein the transmission frequency list is updated upon receipt of new transmission rate availability information received from at least the first or second terminal.

The data transmission method according to claim 4 or 5, wherein a centralized function (13) in the telecommunications network (10) sends the transmission frequency list in encrypted form to the first (1 1) and second (12) ) terminals.

A data transmission method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transmission frequency selection rule indicates, on the one hand, an order in which the transmission frequencies of the list are successively selected for the sets. respective packets and, on the other hand, a transmission frequency change trigger condition.

The data transmission method according to claim 7, wherein the frequency change trigger condition is a condition among the group comprising a number of packets transmitted on the same transmission frequency, a time period and a time reference.

A terminal (1 1) adapted to transmit packet data in a telecommunications network (10) to another terminal (12), said data being intended to be transmitted within a plurality of sets of data packets ; said terminal (11) being characterized in that it comprises: - a storage unit (402) adapted to store on one hand a secret transmission frequency list and on the other hand a frequency selection rule in said list frequencies;

- a selection unit (401) adapted to select transmission frequencies among the transmission frequencies of said frequency list according to said selection rule;

a first interface unit (403) adapted to transmit and / or receive (15, 16) the sets of data packets to said and / or from said other terminal, respectively on the selected transmission frequencies; said transmission frequency list being generated according to a transmission frequency list allocation rule from a list of available frequencies relative to said terminal (1 1) and said other terminal (12) and collected from said telecommunications network .

The terminal (11) of claim 9, further comprising when a centralized function (13) in the telecommunications network (10) is adapted to send the transmission frequency list and / or the selection rule, a second interface unit (404) adapted to receive said frequency list and / or said selection rule from said centralized function (13).

The terminal (1 1) according to claim 9 or 10, wherein, when the second interface unit (404) receives a new frequency list, the transmission frequency or frequencies, respectively selected for said sets of packets to be transmitted. , are updated.

12. Central entity (13) in a telecommunications network (10) adapted to transmit packet data from a first terminal (1 1) to a second terminal (12), said data being intended to be transmitted within a plurality of sets of data packets; said central entity being characterized in that it comprises:

- a storage unit (43) adapted to collect from the telecommunications network availability information transmission frequencies relating to the first terminal and the second terminal and maintain a list of available frequencies relative to the first and second terminals;

an allocation unit (41) adapted to determine, based on said collected availability information, a list of transmission frequencies which includes transmission frequencies available at both the first and second terminals;

an interface unit (47) adapted to transmit (22, 23) to said first and second terminals said list of transmission frequencies.

13. Central entity (13) according to claim 12, wherein the transmission frequency list is updated on receipt of new information of availability of the transmission frequencies received since at minus the first or the second terminal.

14. Central entity (13) according to claim 12 or 13, further comprising a cryptographic unit (42) adapted to encrypt the list of transmission frequencies to be sent to the first (1 1) and second (12) terminals.

A data transmission system in a telecommunications network (10) adapted to transmit data in packets, said data being intended to be transmitted within a plurality of sets of data packets; characterized in that said transmission is performed between a first terminal (11) and a second terminal (12) according to any one of claims 9 to 11.

The data transmission system of claim 15, further comprising a central entity (13) according to any one of claims 12 to 14.

17. Computer program intended to be installed in a terminal (11, 12) of a telecommunications network (10), comprising instructions able to implement a method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, when a program execution by means of processing the terminal according to any one of claims 9 to 1 1.

18. Computer program intended to be installed in a central entity (13) of a telecommunications network (10), comprising instructions able to implement a method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, when an execution of the program by central entity processing means according to any one of claims 12 to 14.

19. Computer-readable recording medium on which the computer program according to claim 17 or 18 is recorded.