FR2964523A1 - PROVIDING INFORMATION BY A MOBILE TERMINAL IN A NETWORK. - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to the provision of information accessible via a data provision module included in a terminal coupled to a network, by: • searching, in the network, of at least one entity providing a customer sharing service; • activating an information sharing between the share management module and the entity; After activation of the sharing, transmitting to the entity a path comprising data enabling the information to be accessed via the data supply module.

Description

The present invention relates generally to the communication between equipment connected to a home network, and in particular the exchange of information between these devices.

Mobile devices with advanced features, commonly referred to as the "Smart Phone", centralize an increasing amount of information, including personal data, user preferences, and access elements. many services. At the same time, home networks allow the interconnection of a plurality of equipment, in particular televisions, hi-fi channels, set-top boxes, Internet access points, computers, game consoles. Also, the user may wish, when at home or at friends for example, to access certain services, using the equipment connected to the home network. For example, the user may wish to view, on a television, a video available on the internet after connection to his account opened in a social network. However, when the information necessary to access the services is stored in the mobile terminal of the user, it may be desirable to transmit the information to the home network for the latter to use. In addition, the mobile terminal may include content, for example music, videos or photos, that the user may want to transmit to one of the devices of the home network, for example to display a photo stored in the terminal mobile on a photo frame connected to the home network. To transmit information between the mobile terminal and a device of the home network, it is possible to implement point-to-point data links, for example via a "BlueTooth" data link. However, the devices of the home network, for example television decoders or "Set-Top-Box" in English, do not necessarily have the necessary hardware components to implement this point-to-point connection. More generally, the existing techniques for exchanging information between the equipment of a home network and a mobile terminal presuppose the shared use of hardware means to access the same physical layer.

There is therefore a need for means of exchange, via an application layer, in a home network, of information between personal-use equipment and common-use equipment, and more particularly between a mobile terminal and a decoder for television so that the latter can access information accessible via the mobile terminal. The present invention aims to improve the situation.

According to a first aspect, there is provided a method of providing information accessible via a data delivery module. It comprises the following steps, implemented by a sharing management module intended to be implemented in a terminal coupled to a network: - searching, in the network, of at least one entity offering a customer sharing service; - activation of information sharing, between the share management module and the entity; after activation of the sharing, transmission to the data connection entity of the data supply module. In particular, said entity may be a UPnP device capable of being detected by a UPnP control device implemented in the terminal. Thus, the method allows two devices connected to the network to exchange information.

In particular, one of these devices can be equipment storing personal data, for example a mobile phone. The method then proposes a solution for putting the personal data, included on a mobile phone carrying a sharing management module, available to entities present on the network. This entity is, for example, a collective equipment offering a customer sharing service, such as a decoder coupled to a television. The decoder can thus use the personal data. The method can be implemented by software components, without requiring hardware updates of the terminal. In addition, the information accessible via the terminal being made available to the decoder, the latter can access services and features, without the user having to re-enter data connection and / or authentication. In particular, the decoder may for example provide remote access to the user's personal contents by using the information accessible via the terminal, or display on the television information stored on the terminal. In one embodiment, the activation of information sharing is subject to obtaining authorization from a user of said entity. For example, a dialog box requesting confirmation of activation of the share may be displayed on the equipment implementing the data sharing service, for example on the display device coupled to the decoder, so as to obtain authorization of a user of this equipment. This embodiment also makes it possible to improve security by avoiding any undesired sharing activation. The information may include authentication and / or configuration and / or personalization data, specific to a user of said terminal, and allowing access from a device of said network to at least one service.

This information is useful in particular to know the authentication elements, preferences, and configuration elements specific to the user. This information makes it possible to adapt and personalize the services and functionalities corresponding to said information, by limiting the entries and more generally the interventions of the user.

According to a second aspect, the invention also relates to computer programs on an information medium, these programs being capable of being implemented respectively in a computer, these programs respectively comprising instructions adapted to the implementation of the instructions. process steps according to the first aspect. These programs can use any programming language, and be in the form of source code, object code, or intermediate code between source code and object code, such as in a partially compiled form, or in any other form desirable shape. According to a third aspect, there is provided a computer readable information medium, and comprising instructions of a computer program according to the second aspect. The information carrier may be any entity or device capable of storing the program. For example, the medium may comprise storage means, such as a ROM, for example a CD ROM or a microelectronic circuit ROM, or a magnetic recording medium, for example a floppy disk or a disk. hard. On the other hand, the information medium may be a transmissible medium such as an electrical or optical signal, which may be conveyed via an electrical or optical cable, by radio or by other means. The program according to the invention can be downloaded in particular on an Internet type network. Alternatively, the information carrier may be an integrated circuit in which the program is incorporated, the circuit being adapted to execute or to be used in the execution of the methods in question.

According to a fourth aspect, there is provided a shared management module adapted to be coupled to: a data delivery module through which information is accessible; - to a network.

It is configured to: - search, in the network, at least one entity offering a customer sharing service; - Activate information sharing, between said share management module and the entity; transmitting, after activation of the sharing, to the entity, connection data to the data supply module. According to a fifth aspect, there is provided a terminal comprising a sharing management module according to the fourth aspect.

According to a sixth aspect, there is proposed a client sharing module adapted to be coupled to: a sharing management module according to the fourth aspect; - to a network. It is configured to: - obtain, after activation of an information sharing with said share management module, connection data to a data supply module; - offer a customer sharing service; interrogating said data delivery module to obtain shared information. According to a seventh aspect, there is provided a content rendering device, comprising a client sharing module according to the sixth aspect and capable of declaring a data sharing service implemented by the client sharing module. 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 help of the drawings, in which: FIG. 1, previously described, illustrates, by a block diagram, a home network according to one embodiment; FIG. 2 illustrates, by a block diagram, a method, according to one embodiment, of exchanging information between a client sharing module and a sharing management module; - Figure 3 shows, in a schematic diagram, a home network 5 according to one embodiment. In Figure 1 is shown a home network 5 according to one embodiment. By way of non-limiting example, the home network 5 may include a wireless local area network according to the IEEE 802.11 standard called "Wi-Fi". The home network 5 may also include other wireless and / or wired networks, such as an Ethernet network, and / or a line carrier network. The home network 5 thus federates all the networks that constitute it, by interconnecting them. In addition, the home network 5 is coupled to the Internet via a gateway 20 or "Home Gateway" in English. It comprises at least one client sharing module SC 10, adapted to be coupled to the home network 5 via a network interface. By way of nonlimiting example, the customer sharing module SC can be included in a decoder 12, or "Set-Top-Box" in English, coupled to a television.

The client sharing module SC comprises a processing unit 9 adapted on the one hand to present, via an SCS client sharing service, the services S1..S 'that it offers, and on the other hand to receive information provided. provided by the other devices of the home network 5. The client-sharing module SC comprises an SI communication interface 11 adapted to make calls to data supply services provided by other entities of the home network 5 The communication interface 11 may in particular be used, by applications and / or man / machine interfaces running on the decoder 12, to receive information available on the home network. The client sharing module SC comprises a user interface 13, particularly adapted to take into account the requests of a user and display information, for example in the form of a web page displayed on a screen coupled to the decoder 12. The network domestic 5 comprises at least one sharing management module 14 adapted to be coupled to the home network 5 via a network interface, for example a wireless network interface type "Wi-Fi". By way of non-limiting example, the shared management module 14 may be included in a mobile terminal 18, for example a mobile phone. The shared management module 14 comprises a processing unit 15, in particular adapted to detect the presence, in the home network 5, of the client sharing module 10, to activate a sharing, possibly securely, with the client-sharing module 10. and to transmit to the client-sharing module 10 INF information.

The 1NF information includes user-specific authentication and / or configuration and / or personalization elements, enabling access to content provided by services accessible via the home network. In particular, the 1NF information may include one or more of the following non-exhaustive list: one or more contents, for example: a list of contacts, short messages, SMS for short message service, e-mails, and more generally all other contents stored in the mobile terminal 18; and / or access data to a service or entity of the network or remote, in particular user identification and / or authentication data, for example identifier / password pairs, for: - access sites and services via the Internet; - access a terminal of a remote network, after connecting to a gateway of this network; - connect to a server or a mediation platform; configuration data and / or customization of a service and / or equipment. The sharing management module 14 cooperates with a data supply module 16, for example implemented by the terminal in the form of a data module. data server configured to deliver information / data shared in response to a request. The data supply module 16 is furthermore coupled with the components of the mobile terminal 18 storing and managing the information 1NF, such as for example an address book management component, a message management component and / or emails. The data delivery module 16 offers 1NF information delivery services, at the request of a customer. Requests can include web service calls. According to an alternative embodiment, the data supply module 16 is implemented in a separate device of the terminal implementing the shared management module 14, or even in a device located outside the home network 5. In the latter case , the data delivery module 16 is for example implemented as a web service ("Web service") easily remotely invokable by HTTP request. In one embodiment, the home network 5 comprises entities conforming to the ISO / IEC 29341 standard, "Information technology - UPnP Device Architecture", and more particularly implements the "Universal Plug and Play Audio & Video" protocol, generally designated by the acronym UPnP AV. According to the UPnP Av terminology: the shared management module 14 comprises a CP UPnP control device (called "Control Point" or "Digital Media Controller" in the UPnP standard), able to detect the devices conforming to the UPnP AV protocol and the services provided by these devices, receiving events from said devices and controlling them by sending them commands (called actions in the UPnP standard); a television or a hi-fi system coupled to the decoder 12 comprises a rendering device MR, called "Digital Media Renderer" in the UPnP standard; this rendering device itself comprises a client sharing module 10 implementing a data sharing service; as any service of a UPnP device, the existence of this data sharing service is detectable by the controller CP in accordance with the mechanisms of discovery and declaration of services provided in UPnP. Each of the UPnP entities implements services specified by the UPnP AV standard. In addition to the services specified in the UPnP AV standard, the rendering device MR implements, in accordance with what is described in this document for the client sharing module, a data sharing service. The client sharing module 10 and the data sharing service, implemented by this client sharing module as described in this document, may be integrated into any other UPnP device of the network 5, which it either of the "Digital Media Renderer", "Digital Media Server", "Digital Media Player" or "Digital Media Controller" type. According to the UPnP device in which this client sharing module 10 will be integrated, the use of the shared data may be different, particularly in relation to the functions specific to this UPnP device. For example, a data sharing with a UPnP ("Digital Media Server") content server may be used to transmit metadata to be used to enrich the metadata of content referenced by this content server or to transmit new content to reference in this content server. The remainder of the description illustrates the exemplary case in which the improved UPnP device is the MR rendering device of the decoder 12. An embodiment of a method of exchanging information between the client sharing module 10 and the Share management module 14 is illustrated in FIG. 2. The method is for example implemented when a user wishes to connect his mobile terminal 16 and his decoder 12 in order to use a graphical interface displayed on a coupled television. to the decoder 12 to manipulate / exploit information available via its mobile terminal 16. In a step 110, the share management module 14 triggers by means of its UPnP control device ("Checkpoint" UPnP) a search, in the home network 5, of a UPnP entity offering the SCS client sharing service, for example the client sharing module SC 10. The user can thus start the search for a device, for example a decoder with which he wishes to exchange INF information. By way of example, step 110 may be implemented using the simple service discovery protocol, more generally referred to by the acronym "SSDP" for "Simple Service Discovery Protocol".

In a step 120, a list L of UPnP entities offering the SCS client sharing service is constituted by the shared management module 14. In a step 130, an entity of the list L is selected. Typically, the list L is displayed on the mobile terminal 18, and the user selects an entity from the list L with which he wishes to exchange the information INF. It is assumed that the selected entity is the MR rendering device of the decoder 12. In a step 140, a sharing activation request is sent by the sharing management module 14 to the selected entity of the list L. For example, according to the UPnP Av protocol, the request for activation of the share can take the form of sending a UPnP action called "ActivateSharing" of the sharing service implemented by the entity's client sharing module 10. selected. The client sharing module 10 receives the activation request then, during the step 140 causes by means of its user interface 13 the display of a dialog box on a display screen of the decoder 12, prompting the to confirm that it allows 1NF information to be shared with the selected entity, with the user being able to accept or reject this sharing. In response to the activation request, the client sharing module 10 sends the sharing management module 14 a sharing activation state.

In a step 150, the activation state of the share is received by the sharing management module 14. This state can in particular correspond to the acceptance, to the refusal of the activation of the sharing, or to an impossibility of activation. sharing. The activation state can be transmitted via a UPnP event, sent by the client-sharing module 10 of the entity selected in the list L.

A state variable VE, which can take for example values corresponding to an ON or OFF activation status, can be used to keep and track the activation status of the share. In a step 160, if the sharing activation state corresponds to a state in which the sharing is actually active, the sharing management module 14 transmits, to the client sharing module 10 of the selected entity of the list L , connection data to the data supply module 16, for example in the form of an address of the data supply module 16 or also of a CA access path to the data supply module 16. The access path CA interrogating the data providing module 16 to obtain the shared INF information. The access path CA can for example be a uniform resource locator (URL, Uniform Resource Locator), identifying and locating the data delivery module. The access path CA in this case comprises an address IP of the equipment integrating the data supply module 16 and a communication port number via which this data delivery module 16 is addressable. The transmission of connection data to the data supply module 16 is performed for example by invoking a UPnP action called "SetDataProviderURI" of the data sharing service implemented by the client sharing module 10 of the selected entity: the path AC access is passed to the client share module as a parameter of the "SetDataProviderURI" action. When the entity selected from the list L is the rendering device MR, the communication interface 11 can use the access path CA to interrogate the data supply module 16 in order to obtain the information 1NF present on the terminal mobile. In order to enhance security, the data delivery services provided by the data delivery module 16 may be invoked by the shared management module 14 using the secure hypertext transfer protocol or "HTTPS" for "HyperText Transfer Protocol Secured "in English. In an optional step 170, the sharing is terminated on receipt of a request sent by the sharing management module 14 or by the client sharing module 10 of the entity selected from the list L. By way of example the user can terminate the sharing: either by using an application on the mobile terminal, the sharing management module 14 invoking a UPnP action called "DeactivateSharing" of the client share module 10 of the selected entity; or by using an application on the decoder 12, the client sharing module 10 of the selected entity then sending back an end of sharing event intercepted by the shared management module 14. It will be noted that in the Based on the UPnP protocol, the client sharing module 10 of the selected entity exposes the following UPnP actions: - "ActivateSharing"; - "DeactivateSharing"; - "SetDataProviderURl" with as input parameter the CA path; In a step 180, the equipment integrating the client sharing module 10, that is to say here the decoder 12, uses the INF information received from the data supply module 16 to access an online service or to implement service in this equipment. This INF information is exploited either directly by the client sharing module 10, or by a software application for implementing a service, interfaced with the client sharing module 10, able to receive this information from the client sharing module 10 and to trigger upon receipt of this data the execution of one or more operations using this information: display of information, retrieval of information, configuration / customization of a service / or device, transmission of information to an entity, establishment a connection to a local or remote entity using the information when it is connection information, etc.

For example, when the INF information received is messages or a contact list or any content, the client sharing module 10 / the software application implements a display or rendering service, for example by causing the display of these messages or of this contact list or the display / the return of this content on a user interface of the decoder 12. When the content is a video or an audio content, this content can be rendered directly by the rendering device For example, when the received INF information is connection data to a service or a device, the client sharing module 10 / the software application automatically connects to the service / device in question. For example again, when the received INF information is configuration data of a service / device, the client sharing module 10 / the software application automatically performs the configuration of the service / device in question or transmits this data of configuration to the entity implementing this service / to this device Referring to Figure 3 is described an example of application of the invention. In the remainder of the description, a home network 5 is considered in one embodiment. An AL1 software application, installed on the mobile terminal 18 of the extended-functionality telephone type, enables a user to access content provided by online services SL1, SL2 and SL3. Services on line SL1, SL2, SL3 are for example: - information and entertainment services providing meteorological data, road traffic, horoscopes; - Sharing services of multimedia content, for example videos, photos, music, and / or texts; services provided by the operator managing the mobile network to which the mobile terminal connects 18. The online services SL1, SL2, SL3 are accessible in particular via a mediation platform 50 which offers a unified format for access to the content of said online services. The mediation platform 50 comprises a database that associates a user account with a set of identifier / password pairs associated with the online services SL1, SL2, SL3. The mobile terminal 18 and the decoder 12 have an ALA software application for accessing the on-line services SL1, SL2, SL3 via the mediation platform 50. The mediation platform 50 is configured to require data from the Internet. authentication of the user before allowing him to access the online services SL1, SL2, SL3. The authentication may consist in entering a pair C identifier / password specific to the user and to the mediation platform 50. The application AL1 stores on the mobile terminal 18 the couple C identifier / password allowing to access the services SL1, SL2, SL3 via the mediation platform 50. A software application AL2, installed on the decoder 12 of the TV decoder type, allows a user to access content provided by online services SL1, SL2 and SL3, via the mediation platform 50, and to display / return these contents using the user interface 13 and the rendering means (screen, loudspeaker, etc.) of the decoder 12. The couple C identifier / word of pass, known from the application AL1, is made available to the software application AL2 by implementing the method of provision by the mobile terminal 18 information to the decoder 12. Thus, the user can access and display on an ec ran to the decoder to the same contents to which he has access from his mobile terminal. For example, when the user connects with his terminal 18 to the home network 5, said home network being deployed at the user's premises, at a third party or in a public place, the INF information relating to the pair C stored on his terminal 18 is The decoder can then connect to the online services SL1, SL2 and SL3, via the mediation platform 50. More particularly, the sequence of steps implemented between the terminal 18 and the terminal is described. decoder 12 leading to the establishment of a connection to the mediation platform 50 and access to the online services SL1, SL2 and SL3: the user uses a sharing application coupled to the sharing management module 14 on its terminal 18 to search the entities present on the home network capable of implementing a sharing; the decoder 12 is detected and selected by the user via a man-machine interface; the sharing management module 14 requests the activation of the sharing at the client sharing module 10 of the selected decoder 12; a confirmation relating to the implementation of the sharing is requested from the user via the user interface 13 of the client sharing module 10; the user confirms his desire to establish sharing, for example by pressing a button on a remote control of the decoder; the client sharing module 10 transmits an event to inform the sharing management module 14 of the acceptance of the sharing; the sharing management module 14 intercepts the event and updates the value of the sharing EV variable to "ACTIVE"; the sharing management module 14 communicates to the client-sharing module 10 the access path CA to the data-supply module 16 in order to obtain the information INF, the said information INF comprising the pair C identifier / password allowing access services SL1, SL2, SL3 via the mediation platform 50; the client sharing module 10 can then use the access path CA to interrogate the data supply module 16 and in particular obtain the pair C identifier / password. Once this connection has been made, the user can use the application ALA on the decoder to access the services SL1, SL2, SL3 via the mediation platform 50. The application ALA, having the torque C, can then connect and interacting with the mediation platform, for example, retrieving a user profile on said platform and accessing all of the online services configured for that user. In an alternative embodiment, instead of connecting to the service via a mediation platform, the ALA application connects directly to a server implementing the service. 10 15 20

Claims (10)

REVENDICATIONS1. Method for providing information (INF) accessible via a data supply module (16), characterized in that it comprises the following steps, implemented by a management module of shares ( 14) intended to be implemented in a terminal (18) coupled to a network (5): - searching (110), in the network, of at least one entity offering a client sharing service (SCS); activating a sharing (120, 130, 140, 150) of the information, between the sharing management module and the entity; after activation of the sharing, transmission (160) to the data connection entity to the data supply module. 2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the activation of the information sharing is subordinated (140) to obtaining authorization from a user of said entity. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein said entity is a UPnP device adapted to be detected by a UPnP control device implemented in the terminal. 4. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the information comprises authentication data and / or configuration and / or customization, specific to a user of said terminal, and to access from a equipment of said network to at least one service. 5. Computer program comprising instructions for implementing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 4 when the program is executed by a processor. Computer-readable information carrier, comprising instructions of a computer program according to claim 5. 7. Sharing management module (14) adapted to be coupled to: - a data delivery module (16) through which information (INF) is accessible; a network (5), characterized in that it is configured so as: to search, in the network, at least one entity offering a customer-sharing service (SCS); - Activate information sharing, between said share management module and the entity; transmitting, after activation of the sharing, to the entity, connection data to the data supply module. Terminal comprising a division management module according to claim 7. 9. Client sharing module (10) adapted to be coupled to: - a sharing management module according to claim 7; - to a network (5); characterized in that it is configured to: - after activation of an information sharing with said shared management module, obtaining data of connection to a data delivery module; - offer a customer sharing service (SCS); interrogating said data providing module (16) to obtain shared information (INF). 20 10. Content recovery device, comprising a client sharing module according to claim 9 and adapted to declare a data sharing service implemented by the client sharing module.