FR2858511A1 - Mobile terminal roaming management method for IP network, involves detecting new transmission resource for terminal communicating with one access network during roaming, and connecting terminal to other access network - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves receiving a permanent address at a mobile terminal, in a space managed by a master agent of a mobility service provider (9). A new transmission resource is detected for the terminal communicating with one of multiple access networks (5, 6, 7, 8) during roaming. The terminal is then connected to the other access network, and a new address of the terminal is sent to the master agent. Independent claims are also included for the following: (a) a telecommunication system communicating with a mobile terminal (b) a mobile terminal communicating with a telecommunication system.

Description

METHOD, SYSTEM AND SERVICE CONTINUITY TERMINAL

TELECOMMUNICATIONS.

GENERAL TECHNICAL FIELD.

  The present invention relates to a method, system and telecommunications terminal.

  More specifically, it relates to a method, system and telecommunications terminal for the continuity of services provided on the terminal, the terminal being mobile between different access networks to these services.

STATE OF THE ART.

  Today's mobile devices provide access to more and more telecommunications services provided by service providers over a network using Internet Protocol (IP). The 15 IP services are for example IP telephony, messaging, instant or not, the Web, network games, business applications, etc. The terminals have access to the IP network by connecting to network access networks. The different types of access networks are, for example, a PSTN network, an asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL), a local area network or LAN (Local Area Network). Network), a wireless local area network (WLAN), a general packet radio or General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), or a universal telecommunications system with mobile or UMTS (Universal Mobile). Telecommunication System). These access networks can be public or private.

  Access networks are divided into subnets. Achieving terminal mobility in access subnets poses a number of technical problems, which can be grouped into two main categories.

  The first category concerns the identification, the location of the mobile and the routing of information with respect to the mobile terminal. The second category concerns the resources made available to the mobile terminal, such as the speed, the delay and the means of data transmission.

  These technical problems are currently solved by a mobility protocol using the IP protocol, generally called mobilté4P by those skilled in the art. For example, refer to the documents giving the specifications of the IP mobility protocol for versions 4 and 6 of the IP protocol.

  In a simple network using the IP protocol, when a mobile terminal changes access subnet, all its communications are interrupted.

  The IP mobility protocol solves the interrupt problem and allows communication to be maintained as the terminal moves from one access subnet to another.

  In fact, FIG. 1 shows an IP network 1, this IP network 1 possibly also being the interconnection of several IP networks. A terminal 20 can access the network 1 by an access network divided into several access sub-networks, for example referenced by 2, 3. The access subnet 2 to which a terminal 20 is usually connected is said subnet 20 mother or subnet home according to the terminology generally used by those skilled in the art. The address of the terminal 20 in the sub-network 2 is called permanent address or home address.

  The terminal 20 connected to the subnet 2 opens initially a communication with a correspondent 40 connected to the network 25 through an access network 4. This correspondent 40 may be a fixed or mobile terminal.

  The terminal 20 then moves to the sub-network 3. The sub-network 2 comprises means 21 for managing the mobility of the terminal 20 and to avoid a cut-off of communications during the passage from the subnet 2 to the subnet 3 visited. The mobility means 21 are called parent agent. When the terminal 20 connects to the other subnet 3 during its movement, it first detects that it has changed access subnet. It then acquires a temporary address, also called care of address according to the Anglo-Saxon terminology generally used by the skilled person.

  The terminal 20 then notifies the home agent 21 of its new location on the access network by indicating its temporary address 5 on the access subnet 3 visited. By knowing the temporary address of the terminal 20, the parent agent 21 can intercept the datagrams intended for the terminal 20 sent to the subnet 2, from the correspondent 40, and transmit them to the subnet 3 visited.

  To optimize the routing of the datagrams, the terminal 20 can also directly notify its correspondent 40 of its new location on the access network to prevent the datagrams from passing through the home agent 21. The terminal therefore sends its temporary address on the subnet 3 directly to the correspondent 40. The correspondent 40 then sends the datagrams directly to the terminal 20 at its temporary address.

  The IP mobility protocol thus makes it possible to provide the terminal 20 with a continuity of its communications during its travels, from one access subnet to another.

  IP mobility, however, does not allow a mobile terminal to move from one access network to another. It does not allow a terminal traveling on several access networks of different types to have a continuity of services for several different access providers and / or services. The IP mobility protocol does not allow a mobile terminal to switch from one ISP and / or services of one type to an ISP and / or services of another type.

  Nor does the IP mobility of the prior art allow a terminal to have access to all the services to which it subscribes when it connects to a particular access network.

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

  The invention proposes to overcome these disadvantages.

  One of the aims of the invention is to provide a technique allowing continuity of services to a mobile terminal subscribed to a plurality of access providers and / or IP services of different types.

  Thus, one of the aims of the invention is to provide a technique allowing a continuity of communications to a mobile terminal, regardless of its access provider, and regardless of its service provider. The providers of access and / or services of an access network to the other may therefore be different when moving the mobile phone in communication.

  Another aim of the invention is to propose a technique enabling a terminal to have permanent access to all the services to which it subscribes, regardless of the access service or the access network used. . All the services to which the terminal is subscribed is thus available, regardless of the type of access network that it uses at any given time.

  Another object of the invention is to provide a technique for which the transitions between different types of access networks is done in a simple, efficient and transparent manner for a user of the mobile terminal.

  To this end, the invention proposes a method for managing the movements of a mobile telecommunications terminal in communication with a service on a network using the IP protocol by virtue of a connection to a network access network, characterized in that it comprises the steps according to which the terminal: - receives at least one permanent address in at least one space managed by a parent agent of an IP mobility service of at least one service provider, the parent agent being connected a service platform comprising a plurality of services to which the terminal may be subscribed; detects a new transmission resource of its communication on another access network during a movement, connects to it and receives a new address; sends the new address to each home agent so that each home agent knows the new location of the terminal in the network and ensures the continuity of its communication during its movement between the different network access networks.

  The invention is advantageously completed by the following features, taken alone or in any of their technically possible combination: at least one service provider comprising a service platform comprising a plurality of services and sending the permanent address to the mobile terminal is located upstream of the network using the IP protocol, and in that the terminal receives a temporary address at each connection on an access network and sends this temporary address to the parent agent of said service provider so that the latter knows the location of the terminal in the network; at least one access network comprises a service provider comprising a service platform comprising a plurality of services to which the terminal may subscribe and in particular an IP mobility service, and in that the mobile terminal: receives an address permanent in each area managed by a parent agent of the mobility service; when connected to an access network, uses the permanent address vis-à-vis the access network master agent accessed as a permanent address, sends this address to each other agent mother, this address being used as a temporary address vis-à-vis the mother agent of each access network not accessed, each mother agent can then determine the current location of the mobile terminal and ensure the continuity of its communication when his movement by sending him the information corresponding to the service at the temporary or permanent address; the method comprises the step of configuring each platform of 30 services to provide the terminal with electronic services, instant or not and / or Web and / or network applications using the IP protocol; The invention also relates to a telecommunications system adapted to be in communication with a mobile terminal and comprising a network using the IP protocol and a plurality of network access networks of different types, characterized in that it comprises at least one Service platform comprising a plurality of services to which the terminal may be subscribed and including an IP mobility service including a home agent capable of providing a permanent address to the terminal, the system further comprising means capable of providing an address to the terminal when connected to an access network, this access address to an access network is then received by each parent agent so that the latter can know the location of the terminal in the network and ensure continuity of a communication between the system and the terminal.

  The system is advantageously completed by the following characteristics, taken alone or in any of their technically possible combination: it comprises at least one service platform comprising a plurality of services to which the terminal may be subscribed and comprising an IP mobility service comprising a home agent, the platform being located upstream of the network using the IP protocol; it comprises at least one access network comprising a service platform comprising a plurality of services to which the terminal may be subscribed and comprising an IP mobility service comprising a home agent; each service platform comprises electronic messaging means, instantaneous or not, and / or web and / or network applications using the IP protocol.

  The invention also relates to a mobile telecommunications terminal adapted to be in communication with a telecommunications system comprising a network using the IP protocol that can be accessed by a plurality of access networks of different types, characterized in that it comprises means capable of: - connecting to a plurality of network access networks of different types; - receive at least one permanent address in a space managed by a parent agent of an IP mobility service of at least one service provider on the network; receive an address in an address space of an access network during a connection, and send this address to each home agent of each mobility service; detect a new transmission resource on at least one other access network during a movement.

  The terminal comprises means capable of carrying out the IP mobility protocol.

PRESENTATION OF THE FIGURES.

  Other features, objects and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description which follows, which is purely illustrative and nonlimiting, and which should be read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1, already commented, schematically represents connections to different access subnets of a mobile terminal when moving in an IP network, these connections being made according to the IP mobility protocol of the state of the art; FIG. 2 diagrammatically represents a first possible embodiment of a service continuity system according to the invention; - Figure 3 schematically shows a second possible embodiment of a service continuity system according to the invention; and FIG. 4 diagrammatically represents a third possible embodiment of a service continuity system according to the invention.

  In all the figures, similar elements bear identical reference numerals. The IP network 1 may be the interconnection of several IP networks.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION.

  With reference to FIGS. 2 to 4, the invention applies to a general network 1 using IP technology, ie the IP protocol.

  The general network 1 can be accessed by several types of access networks referenced for example by 5, 6, 7, and 8, which can use other protocols than the IP protocol, but compatible with the IP protocol.

  The access network 5 comprises, for example, fixed networks, such as, for example, a PSTN (Switched Telephone Network) network, an asymmetrical digital subscriber line or ADSL (Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line), etc. The access network 6 comprises, for example, mobile radio networks, such as for example a general packet radio service or GPRS (General Packet Radio Service), or a universal telecommunications system with mobile or UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunication System).

  The network 7 comprises for example a wireless local area network (WLAN) or wireless local area network (WLAN).

  The network 8 comprises for example a local area network or LAN (Local Area Network).

  The different access networks 5 to 8 are managed by access providers to the IP network 1. They can be public or private.

  They allow a mobile terminal 20 to have access to the network 1.

  The terminal 20 thus comprises means making it possible to have access to one or more of the different access networks 5 to 8. The terminal 20 is therefore subscribed to one or more access providers.

  The terminal 20 is also subscribed to different types of IP services.

  IP services are for example IP telephony, instant messaging or not, the Web, network games, business applications, etc. IP services are provided by at least one IP service provider. The service provider thus comprises a platform 9 of services comprising means 91 to 93 capable of providing IP services.

  Each service platform 9 also comprises means 90 forming the parent agents of a mobility service and able to perform the function of the parent agent of the IP mobility protocol.

  The means 90 are thus able to give a permanent address in a space managed by them at the terminal 20, possibly on a particular access network which then becomes the mother network of the terminal 20. They are also able to receive from the terminal A temporary address of the terminal 20 on an access network which is not the mother network of the terminal 20, that is to say which is not the network on which the terminal 20 has its permanent address, but on which he is connected.

  The means 90 are also able to send data relating to an IP service to the mobile terminal 20 on its temporary address, this temporary address changing according to the movements of the terminal 20 and its connections on the different access networks 5 to 8.

  Of course, the terminal 20 comprises means capable of producing the mobile terminal part of the IP mobility protocol.

  Thus, the mobile telecommunications terminal comprises means capable of receiving at least one permanent address in a space managed by at least one home agent 90 of a mobility service of at least one service provider 9. It comprises means able to receive a temporary address in a space on an access network 5 to 8 when the access network to which the terminal is connected is not the mother network on which the terminal is subscribed and able to send this temporary address to each parent agent 90.

  The mobile terminal 20 comprises means capable of detecting a new transmission resource on at least one other access network 20 during a movement, the access to said other network can be managed by another access provider.

  The terminal 20 also comprises means capable of managing the decision making of the transition of the communications between the different types of access networks 5 to 8. Indeed, the transitions of an access network to another network of access networks. access are characterized by a change in access network and access provider technology, and therefore a change of interface at the mobile terminal 20. The transitions are also accompanied by a change of the point attachment to the access network and an IP subnet change. When the mobile detects the presence of a new transmission resource, it can decide to transfer all or part of its current communications on this new resource. The decision to transfer or not a communication depends on the availability of one or more transmission resources at a time. It also depends on communication requirements in terms of quality and security, as well as the cost and type of subscription.

  FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of a service continuity system according to the invention.

  According to this first possible embodiment, the system includes a service platform 91 to 93 which is situated upstream of the IP network 1 with respect to the access networks 5 to 8. In other words, the platform 9 of services 91 to 93 is not tied to any of the ISPs that manage access networks 5 to 8.

  The service platform 9 furthermore comprises an IP mobility service comprising a home agent 90. It will be recalled that the home agent 90 is able to perform the IP mobility functions, just as the terminal 20 can perform the IP mobility function. . The terminal 20 is thus pre-configured to perform these functions. The pre-configuration can be manual, or proceed from a download or reading of a means for supporting computer data, such as for example a compact disc CD or a card to be inserted in the terminal 20.

  Thus, the terminal 20 acquires a permanent address on a space managed by the home agent 90. This address becomes the permanent address of the terminal 20.

  Thus, when the terminal 20 wants to access the services 91 to 93 available on the network 1 through the provider 9, it accesses the IP network 1 through an access network 5 to 8 and its subscription to the access providers managing access networks.

  When connected to an access network 5 to 8, the terminal 20 acquires on this network a temporary address.

  The terminal 20 then sends a message to the home agent 90 to indicate its temporary address. This message allows the home agent to know the current location of the terminal 20 in the IP network and to ensure the transfer of data during a communication. The data corresponding to the service accessed will be sent to the temporary address on the access network. 1!

  The terminal acquires a new temporary address when it changes the access network, and sends this new temporary address to the home agent 90. The home agent 90 is therefore able to manage the movements of the terminal 20 between the different home networks. access 5 to 8, and provides a continuity of services. It is also understood that the terminal 20 has at every moment the possibility of having access to all the services for which it is subscribed, since the service provider 9 alone manages all the services IP 91 to 93 to which the terminal 20 may be subscribed.

  In addition, the terminal 20 is reachable at any time on the entire network.

  Figure 3 shows a second embodiment of a service continuity system according to the invention.

  According to this second possible embodiment, the system comprises a service platform 91 to 92 by access network 5 to 8. Each platform 9 is located downstream of the IP network 1. Thus, each platform 9 of services 91 to 92 is linked to an access network. Optionally, the service provider 9 and the access provider managing an access network may be linked.

  Each service platform 9 also comprises an IP mobility service comprising an IP mobility master agent 90. The terminal 20 is pre-configured to perform the IP mobility functions. The pre-configuration can be manual, or proceed from a download or reading of a computer data support means, such as for example a compact disc CD or a card to be inserted into the terminal 20.

  Thus, the terminal 20 acquires a permanent address on each space managed by each parent agent 90 of each service provider 9. This address becomes the permanent address of the terminal 20 on each access network.

  Thus, when the terminal 20 wants to have access to services 91 to 92 available, on an access network 5 for example, through a provider 9, it accesses the IP network 1 through this access network 5 and its subscription to the corresponding access provider.

  When connected to this access network 5, the terminal 20 uses its permanent address with respect to this access network 5. The home agent 90 of this accessed network 5 therefore knows the location of the terminal 20 and gives it access to services available on this access network 5.

  The terminal 20 also sends a message to the agent rfTmre 90 of each other access network 6, 7 and 8, to indicate their address. This message contains the permanent address on the network 5, which becomes a temporary address for each of the networks 6, 7 and 8. Each parent agent 90 therefore knows the current location of the terminal 20 in the IP network and 10 ensures the transfer of data during a communication to the terminal 20.

  The terminal 20 repeats the same operation each time it changes the access network. It uses the permanent address of the network accessed as a permanent address with respect to the network accessed, and as a temporary address with respect to the other access networks.

  It is thus clear that the terminal 20 has at every moment the possibility of having access to all the services for which it is subscribed, since each service provider 9 knows the location of the terminal 20 and can send him on request the services that it manages and to which the terminal 20 is subscribed.

  In addition, the terminal 20 is reachable at any time on the entire network.

  FIG. 4 represents a mixed situation between the embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 3.

  Thus, the system comprises a service platform 9 upstream of access networks 5 to 8, and service platforms 9 on access networks 6 and 8 for example.

  The access networks 5 and 7 comprise service platforms 10 that do not include mobility services. The mobile terminal can only access services 101 and 102 by connecting to the corresponding access networks 5 or 7.

  It is then understood that the mobile terminal 20 can access the services 91 to 93 offered by the platform upstream of the network 1 by sending to the mother agent 90 of said platform the temporary addresses received during a connection from the networks 5 to 8. The terminal 20 may also have access to the services 91 and 92 linked to the access networks 6 and 8 by using the permanent address in the network 5 accessed as a permanent address with respect to this network ec; edé, and as a temporary address to other access networks.

  The invention thus has the advantage of offering the terminal omnipresence and continuity of services. Open communications are kept alive no matter where, the support network, the service provider, the application used. Thus, a user of a terminal can for example start a telephone call or a web consultation on the network of his home, continue his communications by moving outside his home using a wide area network, and finally continue the same communications on the local network when he arrives at his business.

  All services to which the terminal is subscribed are accessible. The mobile terminal is modular or self-contained. It makes it possible to connect to any type of access network and to use any type of IP telecommunication service.

  The use is done without interruption and without major disruption of the services used. Changing access network and access provider technology is total transparency. It is thus possible to switch from a LAN network to a WLAN network, or from an IP access provider to a telephone service provider. 25

Claims (10)

CLAIMS.   A method for managing the movements of a mobile telecommunications terminal (20) in communication with a service (91, 92, 93) over a network (1) using the IP protocol through a connection to an access network (5, 6, 7, 8) to the network (1), characterized in that it comprises the steps according to which the terminal: - receives at least one permanent address in at least one space managed by a home agent (90) d an IP 10 mobility service of at least one service provider (9), the home agent (90) being connected to a service platform (9) comprising a plurality of services (91, 92, 93) to which the terminal (20) can be subscribed; detects a new transmission resource of its communication on another access network (5, 6, 7, 8) during a movement, connects to it and receives a new address; sends the new address to each home agent (90) so that each home agent knows the new location of the terminal (20) in the network (1) and ensures the continuity of its communication during its movement between the different networks of access (5, 6, 7, 8) to the network.   2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one service provider comprising a service platform (9) grouping a plurality of services and sending the permanent address to the mobile terminal (20) is located upstream of the service provider. network using the IP protocol, and in that the terminal receives a temporary address at each connection on an access network (5, 6, 7, 8) and sends this temporary address to the parent agent (90) of said provider. of services so that the latter knows the location of the terminal (20) in the network.   3. Method according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one access network comprises a service provider comprising a service platform (9) comprising a plurality of services to which the terminal (20) can subscriber and in particular an IP mobility service, and in that the terminal (20) mortfoe: - receives a permanent address in each space managed by a home agent (90) of the mobility service; when connected to an access network (5, 6, 7, 8), uses the permanent address vis-à-vis the home agent of the access network accessed as a permanent address, sends this address to each other home agent (90), this address being used as a temporary address vis-à-vis the home agent of each access network not accessed, each parent agent can then determine the current location 15 of the mobile terminal (20) and ensure the continuity of its communication during its movement by sending the information corresponding to the service at the temporary or permanent address.   4. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises the step of configuring each platform (9) services to offer the terminal (20) instant messaging services or not and / or Web and / or network applications using the IP protocol. 25 A telecommunications system adapted to communicate with a mobile terminal (20) and having a network using the IP protocol and a plurality of access networks (5, 6, 7, 8) to the network of different types, characterized in it comprises at least one platform (9) of services comprising a plurality of services to which the terminal may be subscribed and comprising in particular an IP mobility service comprising a home agent (90) able to provide a permanent address to the terminal ( 20), the system further comprising means for providing an address to the terminal (20) when connected to an access network (5, 6, 7, 8), this connection address to a network of access is then received by each parent agent (90) so that the latter can know the location of the terminal (20) in the network and ensure a contirmity of a communication between the system and the terminal (20).   6. System according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises at least one service platform (9) comprising a plurality of the services to which the terminal (20) can be subscribed and comprising an IP mobility service comprising a home agent. (90), the platform (9) being located upstream of the network using the IP protocol.   7. System according to one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that it comprises at least one access network comprising a platform (9) of services grouping a plurality of services to which the terminal (20) can be subscribed and having an IP mobility service comprising a home agent.   8. System according to one of claims 5 or 7, characterized in that each platform (9) of services comprises means of electronic mail, instant or not and / or Web and / or network applications using the protocol IP.   A mobile telecommunications terminal (20) adapted to be in communication with a telecommunications system comprising a network (1) using the IP protocol that can be accessed by a plurality of access networks (5, 6, 7, 8) of different types, characterized in that it comprises means able to: - connect to a plurality of access networks (5, 6, 7, 8) to the network of different types; receiving at least one permanent address in a space managed by a home agent (90) of an IP mobility service of at least one service provider (9) on the network; receiving an address in an address space of an access network (5, 6, 7, 8) during a connection, and sending this address to each home agent (90) of each mobility service; detecting a new transmission resource on at least one other access network (5, 6, 7, 8) during a movement. 10. Terminal according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises means capable of performing the IP mobility protocol.