FR2884379A1 - Information data e.g. traffic information, automatic transmission service management device for e.g. proxy server, has processing unit arranged to select quality of service for automatic transmission of data based on transmission speed - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a processing unit (MT) arranged to select a quality of service for a mobile communication terminal (UE) for automatic transmission of information data based on a transmission speed, where the user of the terminal is subscribed to an automatic transmission service. An information base (BI) stores user identifiers of the terminals in correspondence to a data representative of the speed offered by technology of radio access network coverage zone, in which the terminal is situated.

Description

AUTOMATIC DATA TRANSMISSION SERVICE MANAGEMENT DEVICE

  INFORMATION THROUGH A MOBILE COMMUNICATION NETWORK

  The invention relates to communication networks, and more specifically the automatic transmission of information data to mobile communication terminals.

  As is known to those skilled in the art, certain mobile networks (or PLMNs) make available to their subscribing customers an automatic transmission service (or push service) which makes it possible to transmit periodically to their mobile (communication) terminals ( for example mobile phones or personal digital assistants (PDAs)) information of any type, local, national or international, such as meteorological information, stock exchange, road, political, cultural or sports.

  In addition, it is possible to transmit information data to mobile terminals connected via different radio access networks (technologically). As long as the bit rates offered by the radio access networks of radio networks of different technologies (for example GSM, EDGE or UMTS) were of the same order of magnitude, the question of the quality of service associated with the automatic transmission of data of information did not arise. This quality of service was slightly variable at the mobile network level and only a small capacity adaptation was made at some mobile terminals.

  With the advent of so-called Generic Access Network (GAN), which allows mobile terminals to be connected to mobile networks via WiFi or WiMax wireless local area networks, much higher data rates are available. are now available. Typically, the technology of a GSM access network offers a bitrate of about 40 kbits, the technology of an EDGE access network offers a bitrate of about 100 kbits, and the technology of an access network WiFi offers a speed of about 5 Mbits which moreover is free for the operator.

  It is recalled that these new accesses can in particular be made at an access point of a WiFi or WiMax network connected via one or more IP transport networks: E either directly to a core network equipment (or core network) GPRS of a mobile network, of the PDG type (for Packet Data Gateway), E either indirectly to the GPRS core network via a SGSN-type function (for Serving GPRS Support Node) and via a controller. generic access (or GAN) providing interoperability between the IP network and lo the interface Gb (and eventually read) of the core network GPRS, that is to say, according to the technology called UMA (for Unlicensed Mobile Access - unlicensed mobile access).

  The automatic transmission services are not designed to adapt the information volume and the transmission periodicity of the information data according to the technology of the radio access network to which the recipient mobile terminal is connected. volume and / or this periodicity may be inappropriate (too high or not enough).

  The invention therefore aims to improve the situation.

  To this end, it proposes a device dedicated to the management of the service of automatic transmission of information data to the mobile terminals of subscribers who subscribe to this service, the latter being implemented by a mobile communication network provided with an information base storing the identifiers of users of mobile terminals in correspondence of data representative of the transmission rates offered by the technologies of the radio access network coverage areas in which their terminals are located respectively.

  This management device is characterized by the fact that it comprises processing means responsible for selecting, for each mobile terminal whose user subscribes to an automatic transmission service, a quality of service, for the automatic transmission of data from information, as a function of the bit rate represented by the data stored in correspondence of the identifier of the user of the mobile terminal concerned in the information base.

  The management device according to the invention may comprise other characteristics that can be taken separately or in combination, and in particular: its processing means may be responsible for choosing the quality of service for the automatic transmission as a function of the flow rate (represented by data stored in correspondence of the identifier of the mobile terminal in the information base) and data representative of the type of subscription of the user of said terminal (for example gold, silver or bronze); its processing means may be responsible for selecting the transmission frequency of the information data to a mobile terminal as a function of the bit rate represented by the data stored in correspondence with the identifier of its user in the information base, as well as possibly of data representative of the type of subscription of the user of the mobile terminal; its processing means can be loaded either to periodically access the information base to determine the data representative of each transmission rate (stored in correspondence with each mobile terminal identifier), or to automatically receive these data from the database information when this data has changed, in order to have a real-time knowledge of the available transmission rate to the terminals of the subscribers to the service; its processing means may be responsible for accessing the information base (for determining the data rate of a mobile terminal) at a frequency greater than or equal to a maximum frequency of transmission of information data to the mobile terminal ; its processing means may be responsible for determining each maximum frequency according to the type of subscription of the user of the terminal concerned; its processing means may be responsible for interfacing with the information base to determine the data (representative of the transmission rate) stored in correspondence of the identifier of the user of a given mobile terminal; the data representative of the transmission rates may be flow type data, such as, for example, a high flow rate, a medium high flow rate, a moderately low flow rate, and a low flow rate; in the presence of automatic transmission services corresponding to different combinations of quality of service type values each associated with a transmission quality of service, its processing means may be responsible for associating with each combination of quality type values service a combination of rate type and user subscription type. For example, the quality of service types are the transmission frequency, the amount of information data to be transmitted each time, the quality of the information data to be transmitted and the type of data (for example, the choice between a text transfer or voice transfer or voice and video transfer); data representative of the technology throughput of the coverage area may be included in the identifier of the localization area or routing area (eg Location Area or Routing Area of a 3GPP network) part of the coverage area (for example in the form of particular values of two specific bits of these location area or routing identifiers). Thus, the location area identifiers associated with a GAN type access may have a value making it possible to distinguish them (for example in the form of particular values of two determined bits of these location area identifiers); the location area identifiers associated with a direct access access to a PDG type equipment of the core network of the mobile network may have a value making it possible to distinguish them (for example in the form of two determined bits of these identifiers from location area); the information base can for example be arranged in the form of a so-called presence server, as defined by the 3 GPPP.

  The invention also proposes a server, for example of the proxy type, equipped with a management device of the type of that presented above.

  Other features and advantages of the invention will appear on examining the detailed description below, and the attached drawing, in which the single figure very schematically illustrates an example of a mobile communication network, connected to a wireless local area network via an Internet network (IP), and comprising an embodiment of the management device according to the invention, installed in a server. The attached drawing may not only serve to complete the invention, but also contribute to its definition, if any.

  The object of the invention is to enable the management of automatic transmission to mobile data communication terminals.

  Any type of mobile communication network (or cellular) type PLMN is concerned by the invention, whether of type 2G, such as GPRS / GSM networks, type 2.5G, such as GPRS / EDGE networks, or 3G type, like UMTS networks.

  In the following, by way of illustrative example, the mobile network is considered to be a GPRS / EDGE network.

  As illustrated in the single figure, a cellular radio network may, in a very schematic manner, but nevertheless sufficient for the understanding of the invention, be summarized to a GPRS (or GPRS Core Network) core network GCN coupled to a a radio access network (called BSS) and a backbone Internet (IP) of services (or IP backbone service).

  The radio access network comprises BTS base stations and radio network controllers or BSC nodes interconnected by a private transport network CPN.

  Each base station BTS is associated with at least one cell covering a radio zone Z1 in which UE mobile terminals can establish (or continue) radio links.

  Here, mobile terminal means any mobile or portable communication terminal capable of exchanging data in the form of radio signals, either with another terminal or network equipment, via their network (s) of attachment, or with its own home network. It may therefore be, for example, mobile phones, or desktop or portable computers or digital personal assistants (or PDAs) equipped with a radio communication module.

  The BSC radio network controllers are responsible for managing the allocation of network logical resources or channels (such as radio link channels or channelization codes) for the establishment of services between mobile terminals UE and the network. GCN heart. For example, a service is a connection that can be used for the transmission of data between the mobile network and a mobile terminal UE.

  In the illustrated example, only one base station BTS, one radio network controller BSC and one cell have been represented. But, a mobile network generally comprises several base stations BTS, several radio network controllers BSC and several cells.

  The GCN core network comprises network equipment connected to the BSC radio network controllers and to other public and / or private communication networks, called external networks, such as the Internet network. This allows mobile network customers, on the one hand, to access external terminals or servers, by means of their own mobile terminals (or stations), and on the other hand to access their mobile network via the mobile network. radio access network of another radio network.

  The connection to an external network is provided by a router or node type GGSN (Gateway GPRS Serving Node), usually under the control of a node type SGSN (Service GPRS Serving Node).

  In particular, an SGSN node provides the interface and the transfer of upstream and downstream data packets between the radio access network of its mobile network and the core network GCN, which gives access to the external networks.

  A GGSN node is usually coupled to at least one SGSN node and acts as a logical interface between the mobile network and the external networks. In other words, a GGSN is responsible for providing connectivity of at least one mobile network with one or more external networks.

  In the illustrated example, the SGSN node is connected to an IPN public internet network via a generic access network (or GAN). The latter comprises a UNC type of access controller (for UMA Network s Controller) providing interoperability between the IP network and the A / Gb / lu interface of the core network GPRS (technology called UMA).

  Moreover, in the example illustrated a wireless local area network, represented by one of its AP access points and the corresponding coverage area Z2, is connected to the IPN Internet network. For example, this wireless local area network is a WiFi or WiMax type network.

  The access controller UNC is responsible for managing access to the services of the mobile network operator of the mobile terminals UE which are connected (here) to the IPN internet network via the WiFi network PA access network (or WiMax). ) when located in one of its Z2 coverage areas.

  In the example illustrated, the IPN internet network, and therefore the WiFi network (or WiMax), are also directly connected to the GCN core network of the mobile network through an established connection with a PDG type equipment (for Packet Data Gateway - Gateway packet data). Here, the PDG gateway and the GGSN node are located in the same network equipment referenced GGSN / PDG, but this is not mandatory.

  The mobile network may also include an SP server dedicated to automatic data transmission services (or push service). This server SP is responsible for periodically transmitting to the mobile terminals UE, which belong to subscribed users, via the SIPB service backbone, selected information data from content server (s) SC1 to SC3.

  The information transmitted can be of any type. They can be local, national or international. This includes, for example, weather, stock, road, political, cultural or sports information.

  In order to manage this data transmission for each subscriber's mobile terminal UE, the invention proposes a management device D. The latter can be implemented in the service server SP, as illustrated. But, it could also be connected to the SP service server. The service server SP is for example of the proxy type.

  The management device D, according to the invention, comprises a processing module MT responsible for selecting, for each subscriber's mobile terminal UE, a quality of service for the automatic transmission of the information data relating to it. This choice is made according to data representative of the transmission rate which is offered by the technology of the coverage area Z1 or Z2 in which the mobile terminal UE concerned is located.

  This data representative of the transmission rates are at least lo stored in correspondence of the identifiers of the mobile terminals UE in a BI information base, which is for example implemented in the presence and reachability information server (or presence and reachability). server) SI of the mobile network, which is accessible via the SIPB backbone.

  The debit data is provided to the BI information base and updated by the GGSN / PDG equipment. They represent, for example, different types of bit rate, for example a high bit rate (for example signaling a WiFi or WiMax type of technology), a medium high bit rate (signaling, for example, a UMTS (or 3G) type of technology), a moderately low bit rate. (For example, signaling a GPRS / EDGE (or 2.5G) type technology), and a low bit rate (for example signaling a GSM (or 2G) type of technology).

  Data representative of the technology throughput of the coverage area considered may, for example, be included in the identifier of the location area or the routing area (eg Location Area or Routing Area of a network 3GPP) of which the coverage area is part (for example in the form of specific two-bit values of these location-area or routing-area identifiers - two bits are sufficient to differentiate the four types of flow presented above ).

  It is recalled that a location area LA designates a set of cells (or coverage areas) of a radio access network, managing connections in circuit mode and generally located in the same geographical area. An LA area is usually associated with a call center (or MSC). In addition, a routing area RA designates a set of cells (or coverage areas) of a radio access network, managing packet mode connections and generally located in the same geographical area. A routing area RA is usually associated with an SGSN node.

  Thus: the location area identifiers, associated with a GSM, EDGE or UMTS type access, may have a value making it possible to distinguish them (for example in the form of particular values of two determined bits of these identifiers; location area); the location area identifiers, associated with a GAN type access, may have a value making it possible to distinguish them (for example in the form of particular values of two determined bits of these location area identifiers); the location area identifiers, associated with a direct access access to a PDG type equipment of the core network of the mobile network, may have a value enabling them to be distinguished (for example in the form of two specific bits of these networks); location area identifiers).

  The use of location area and / or routing area identifiers as flow rate representative data is just one example of use among others. Data representative of the flow can indeed be contained in other types of information.

  The management device D may comprise storage means ME in which its processing module MT stores the identifiers of the subscribers to the automatic transmission service (or push service) and possibly the corresponding data of the corresponding mobile terminals UE, which it has determined via the BI information base. These storage means ME may be in any form, for example in the form of a memory.

  To obtain the available rate data for sending information to the corresponding mobile terminals UE, the processing module MT interfaces the information base BI, via the service backbone SIPB, preferably periodically, or receives this data from through a notification issued by the BI information base, for example when the rate data changes.

  The BI information base may possibly be arranged in the form of a presence server, as defined by the GPPP. It is recalled that this type of server is generally dedicated to presence services and therefore contains presence information on user clients.

  The periodic access to the information base BI is then preferably done at a frequency greater than or equal to the maximum frequency of transmission of information data to the mobile terminal UE lo considered. For example, the maximum frequency associated with a given mobile terminal UE depends on the type of subscription subscribed by the user of this terminal. This type of subscription is for example chosen from the subscriptions gold (gold), silver (silver) and bronze.

  The processing module MT can also use the user's subscription type, in addition to the debit data, to choose the quality of service of the automatic transmission of information data concerning it.

  The quality of service of the automatic transmission of the information data that the processing module MT is responsible for determining may include as parameter the frequency of transmission of the information data to a mobile terminal UE subscriber. Indeed, the transmission of information data monopolizing resources, it is preferable to adapt its frequency according to the transmission rate which is offered by the technology of the coverage area Z1 or Z2 in which a mobile terminal UE is located . A high frequency can thus be used when the bit rate offered by the technology of the radio access network concerned is high (for example in the case of access via a WiFi network), whereas a low frequency can be used when the The bit rate offered by the technology of the radio access network concerned is low (for example in the case of access via a 3o GPRS / GSM network).

  In this case, the processing module MT determines the transmission frequency of the information data to a mobile terminal UE according to the corresponding rate data (stored in the database 2884379 II BI and / or in the memory ME) .

  The processing module MT can also use the user's subscription type, in addition to the debit data, to select the transmission frequency of the information data to its mobile terminal UE. For example, for the same coverage area technology a higher transmission frequency is used for a gold subscription than for a silver or bronze subscription.

  For example, it is possible to define a central transmission frequency lo for each bit rate and several intermediate transmission frequencies framing each central transmission frequency in order to take account of the different types of subscription.

  In the foregoing it has been a question of choosing for each mobile terminal UE subscriber a quality of service based on data of available flow to a terminal, and possibly a type of subscription.

  Quality of service (or QoS) refers here to the overall information data transmission rate which is preferably a function of a combination of different quality of service types such as the transmission frequency, the amount of information data. to transmit each time, the quality of the information data to be transmitted, and the type of data (such as the choice between a text transfer, a voice transfer or a voice and video transfer).

  The amount of information data to be transmitted each time can be related to the duration of the transmission or the volume of data to be transmitted. It corresponds for example to 30 s, 1 min, 2 min or 4 min in the case of sounds or a video.

  The quality of the information data to be transmitted is for example defined by the number of frames per second in the case of a video, or by the sampling frequency of the sounds, for example 3 kHz in the case of an AMR coding (for Adaptive MultiRate code) adapted to GSM, GPRSIEDGE and UMTS networks, or 7.1 kHz in the case of a WB-AMR (Wild Band-AMR) coding adapted to UMTS, WiFi or WiMax networks.

  Each automatic transmission service can therefore be associated with several different combinations of quality of service type values, each associated with a quality of transmission service. And, each combination of quality of service type values may be associated with a combination of rate type and subscription type.

  In this way, the processing module MT can quickly choose from the predefined combinations that is best suited to the transmission service concerned given the combination of type of subscription and type of flow that corresponds to a given moment at the terminal. EU mobile. It is then this determined combination which sets the quality of service to be used by the mobile network to transmit the information data to the relevant mobile terminal UE.

  When the processing module MT has determined a new transmission frequency for a mobile terminal UE, the current period has not yet expired and is expected to expire before transmitting 1s the information data according to the new frequency the current period has just expired and the information data is transmitted immediately according to the new frequency.

  The management device D according to the invention, and in particular its processing module MT and its possible memory ME, can be realized in the form of electronic circuits, software (or computer) modules, or a combination of circuits and devices. software.

  Thanks to the invention, the management of the transmission of information data is completely independent of the means used to transmit said data to a mobile terminal.

  Moreover, the invention does not require intervention at the mobile terminal to adapt the service to the bandwidth offered by the technology of the cell in which it is located.

  In addition, the invention can make it possible not to contact a mobile terminal too often (to transmit information data to it) when the technology of the cell in which it is located offers a low rate.

  In addition, since the management device can be installed in a proxy server, the information data provider does not have to worry about the bit rate offered by the technology of the cell in which the destination mobile terminal is located.

  The invention is not limited to the management device and service server embodiments described above, by way of example only, but encompasses all the variants that can be envisaged by those skilled in the art.

  within the scope of the claims below.

  Thus, the transfer of information data as a function of data of available throughput to a terminal, as well as possibly of a type of subscription, can for example be done in text mode (SMS) in case of low bit rate, or in MMS mode (text and associated video) in case of high bit rate.

  In addition, the device D can be integrated into a more general portal taking into account other functions such as for example the subscription of subscribers to the notification service and the associated payment.

Claims (18)

  1. A service management device (D) for automatically transmitting information data to mobile communication terminals (UE) via a mobile communication network comprising an information base (BI) storing user identifiers in correspondence of data representative of the transmission rates offered by the access network coverage area technologies (Z1, Z2) in which the mobile terminals (UE) of said users are located respectively, characterized in that it comprises means for processors (MT) arranged to select, for each mobile terminal (UE) whose user subscribes to an automatic transmission service, a quality of service for the automatic transmission of information data according to the bit rate represented by the stored data in correspondence of the identifier of the user of said mobile terminal (UE) in said information base (BI).   2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said processing means (MT) are arranged to choose a quality of service for the automatic transmission according to the rate represented by the data stored in correspondence of the user's identifier. said mobile terminal (UE) in said information base (BI) and data representative of a subscription type of the user of said mobile terminal (UE).   3. Device according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said processing means (MT) are arranged to choose a transmission frequency of the information data to a mobile terminal (UE) according to the flow represented by the data stored in correspondence with the identifier of its user in said information base (BI).   4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that said processing means (MT) are arranged to select said transmission frequency of the information data to a mobile terminal (UE) according to the bit rate represented by the data stored in correspondence. the identifier of its user in said information base (BI) and data representative of a subscription type of the user of said mobile terminal (UE).   5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said processing means (MT) are arranged either to periodically access said information base (BI) so as to determine the data representative of each flow rate. transmission stored corresponding to each user identifier of the service, or to automatically receive these data from said information base (BI) when these data have changed.   6. Device according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that said processing means (MT) are arranged to access said information base (BI), to determine the flow data of a mobile terminal ( UE) of a user subscribed to the service, at a frequency greater than or equal to a maximum frequency of transmission of information data to said mobile terminal (UE).   7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that said processing means (MT) are arranged to determine each maximum frequency according to the type of subscription of the user of the mobile terminal (UE) concerned.   8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said processing means (MT) are arranged to interface with said information base (BI) so as to determine the data, representative of the flow rate of transmission, stored in correspondence of the identifier of a given mobile terminal user (UE).   9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said data representative of the transmission rates are flow type data.   10. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that said flow types are selected from a group comprising at least a high flow rate, a medium high flow rate, a moderately low flow rate, and a low flow rate.   11. Device according to one of claims 9 and 10 in combination with claim 2, characterized in that in the presence of automatic transmission services corresponding to different combinations of quality of service type values each associated with a quality of service. transmission service, said processing means (MT) are arranged to associate to each combination of quality of service type values a combination of type of rate and type of user subscription.   12. Device according to claim 11, characterized in that said types of quality of service are selected from a group comprising at least one transmission frequency, a quantity of information data to be transmitted each time, a data quality of information to transmit lo and a type of data.   13. Device according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that in case of access to the core network (GCN) of said mobile network by means of a GAN access network (UNC), the data representative of the flow rate of the technology of the coverage area (Z2) considered are included in the identifier of the location area or routing area of which said coverage area (Z2) is part.   14. Device according to claim 13, characterized in that the data representing the flow rate of the technology of the coverage area (Z2) considered are included in the identifier of the location area or routing area in the form of particular values of two specific bits.   15. Device according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that in case of direct access to a PDG type equipment (GGSN / PDG) of the core network (GCN) of said mobile network, said representative data of the rate of the technology of the coverage area (Z2) considered are included in the routing area identifier to which said coverage area (Z2) belongs.   16. Device according to claim 15, characterized in that the data representative of the rate of the technology of the coverage area (Z2) considered are included in the routing area identifier in the form of particular values of two specific bits. .   17. Device according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that said information base (BI) is arranged in the form of a so-called presence server.   18. Server (SP) for a mobile communication network, characterized in that it comprises a management device (D) according to one of the preceding claims.