FR2851830A1 - Peer-to-peer connection between mobile stations uses ad-hoc system with computer control providing decentralised infrastructure - Google Patents

Abstract

The program system for management of peer-to-peer connections between telecommunication mobiles uses a computer system which controls the access to an ad-hoc wireless network. A system of authentication, authorisation and multi-network invoicing exists, with encryption and security. The program system for management of a pass band allows optimisation and management in real time, in both ad-hoc and peer-to-peer modes, of the connections between networks of telecommunication mobiles and transfer of data. The procedure provides creation of a network card guide for wireless networks, allowing the optimisation of data transfer, with respect to ad-hoc network management protocols. The computer system which controls the access to the peer-to-peer community existing at a given instant at the centre of an ad-hoc wireless network. A system of authentication, authorisation and multi-network invoicing rests on the EAP protocol, whilst centralised management via a radius server and encryption and security relies upon the WEP and 802.1x standards.

Description

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DESCRIPTION

  The invention relates to a bandwidth management device making it possible to optimize and manage in real time the connections to mobile telecommunication and data transfer networks. This process makes it possible to set up a decentralized mobile telecommunications infrastructure.

  The development of wireless communication and data transfer standards, as well as the reduction of their costs, have made it possible to increase the possibilities of mobile connection to data networks, such as the Internet. Among these numerous standards, there are for example the standards IETF 802.11, Bluetooth, UMTS, GPRS, etc. Most of these networks are managed in an Infrastructure mode, according to a client-server mode. But it is also possible to manage them according to a so-called "ad-hoc" mode, which makes each node of the network both a transmitter and a receiver and allows, under certain conditions, a better reallocation of the overall available bandwidth.

  The deployment of these new local mobile networks has recently revealed the need to optimize their operation, their interconnection and their management.

  This type of need appears in several cases: - in industrial and tertiary companies, when it comes to extending or deploying local networks at a lower cost. In this context, the efficient and less expensive mobile network solution 20 is increasingly used. It is therefore useful to optimize operation and manage access to these new networks, which complement or replace wired networks, in order to distribute the available bandwidth, allocate access authorizations and monitor this. access according to user profile; - in public places (airports, congress centers, hotels, ...), o local, 25 regional, national or international operators offer via local wireless access points to the Internet. The connection and billing methods vary depending on the operators, which complicates their management and the conditions of access to these local networks for newcomers who do not subscribe to these operators; - in private accommodation places, where individuals with Internet access via a wired network wish to share this access via a local wireless network. It would be useful for them - and their access providers - to have simple tools for sharing, allocating and managing their shared bandwidth.

  At present, the satisfaction of these various types of need is only partial, for

example: - 2

  - with roaming solutions associating a limited number of wireless Internet access providers; - or using relatively rudimentary software tools offered by manufacturers of mobile connection equipment (cards, access points); - or even through proprietary systems adapted to a single type of network.

  There is currently no open software solution easily adaptable to all existing networks.

  The object of the present invention is to propose a response which is both global and easy to use to the needs in this field of various categories of users, with a view to providing an ad hoc infrastructure for interconnection and allocation of bandwidth. , access management and billing when connecting to a wireless local area network.

  In fact, the object of the present invention is the implementation of a global service for managing access to wireless networks. Figure 1 specifies the hardware architecture of this service.

  Another object of the present invention is in particular the creation of a method for creating a network card driver for wireless networks which makes it possible to optimize data transfer.

  This driver is designed using ad-hoc network management protocols such as LUNAR (Lightweight Underlay Network Ad hoc Routing - AODV-UU, Madhoc AODV, IMEP / TORA, OLSR, DSR, or APE. FIG. 2 represents the overall logical architecture, while FIG. 3 specifies the low-level architecture. Another object of the present invention is also the implementation of a computer process which: - controls access to the peer-to-peer community existing at any given time within an ad-hoc wireless network; - manages the directory of users of the service at all times, as well as their billing and monitoring of their personal accounts according to their use of the service and their profile; - sets up statistical monitoring of users and makes it available to partners and distributors of the service (local suppliers of access to the mobile Internet, equipment manufacturers, telecommunications operators, etc.).

  Another object of the present invention is also the establishment of a multi-network authentication, authorization and billing system based on both: - the EAP protocol (Extensible Authentication Protocol: extended authentication protocol ) suitable for Ethernet networks and in particular 802.11 standards; - centralized management via a RADIUS server (Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service: remote connection authentication service); - using encryption and security modes based on WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) and 802.1 x standards.

  Figure 4 describes this authentication architecture. - 4

Claims (4)

  1) Software device for bandwidth management allowing to optimize and manage in real time in an a-hoc and peer-to-peer manner the connections to mobile telecommunication and data transfer networks.   2) Method for creating a network card driver for wireless networks which allows data transfer to be optimized, using adhoc network management protocols.   3) IT process which controls access to the peer-to-peer community existing at a given time within an ad-hoc wireless network; manages the directory of users of the service at all times, as well as their invoicing and the monitoring of their personal accounts according to their use of the service and their profile and allows statistical monitoring of users and its availability to partners and distributors of the service.   4) Multi-network authentication, authorization and billing system based on both the EAP protocol, centralized management via a RADIUS server and encryption and security modes based on WEP standards and 802.lx.