FR3101506A1 - Method for characterizing a real speed of a wireless connection to an internet access box - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of characterizing from a remote server (3) a real speed of a wireless connection to an internet access box (2), characterized in that it comprises steps of: (b) Sending from the server (3) to the internet access box (2) of a data stream in a communication protocol using a connectionless transmission mode; (c) Redirection by the internet access box (2) of said data stream to a target local equipment (1a) connected to the internet access box (2) via said wireless connection; (d) Characterization of the actual speed of the wireless connection to said internet access box (2) as a function of at least one packet counter transmitted from said data stream. Abstract figure: Fig 1

Description

Method for characterizing a real throughput of a wireless connection to an internet access box

GENERAL TECHNICAL AREA

The present invention relates to the field of providing Internet access.

More specifically, it relates to a method for characterizing a real throughput of a wireless connection to an Internet access box.

STATE OF THE ART

It is desirable, whether to identify malfunctions or on the contrary to verify improvements in performance, to be able to monitor the data rates at a user. For example, it is common for a user to complain that they no longer have adequate Internet access and call customer service, and the latter must be able to see the problem in order to be able to provide a solution.

If the data rate at the level of the access gateway (the "box"), called WAN rate (for Wide Access Network) is easily measurable (for example by having it download a file), the actual WiFi rate behind this gateway is much less.

Indeed, if we simply download a file to the user's equipment, we will be able to see the existence of a bottleneck limiting the flow somewhere, but we will not be able to know where. However, it is quite possible that the FTTH or xDSL connection (i.e. the WAN link) of a gateway is nominal, but that the Wifi is the limiting factor, for example because of a problem in the radio transmission at the level gateway or due to electromagnetic interference. Conversely, Wifi can be under capacity if the WAN throughput is too low. And in any case, it is still possible that the problem is not related to Wifi or to the WAN link but comes from a configuration error in the user's equipment.

It would be possible to measure the real Wifi speed by installing on a client device of the local network connected an application capable of exchanging data with the gateway, or even by having the user perform certain actions.

However, this is not desirable: on the one hand, we cannot envisage having applications for all the equipment potentially connected via Wifi to a gateway (which can be of very varied types, ranging from the network printer to the console games), and on the other hand, users may be novices and the test procedure must be able to be carried out entirely remotely by customer service.

It would therefore be desirable to have a new universal, reliable solution that can be fully implemented remotely for measuring the real throughput of a wireless connection.

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect, the present invention therefore relates to a method for characterizing from a remote server an actual bit rate of a wireless connection to an internet access box, characterized in that it comprises steps of :

(b) Transmission from the server to the internet access box of a data stream in a communication protocol using a connectionless transmission mode;

(c) Redirection by the internet access box of said data stream to target local equipment connected to the internet access box via said wireless connection;

(d) Characterization of the actual speed of the wireless connection to said Internet access box according to at least one packet counter transmitted from said data flow.

According to advantageous and non-limiting characteristics:

The method comprises a step (a) of selecting said target local equipment from among all the local equipment connected to the internet access box via said wireless connection.

Said selected target local equipment is inactive or not very active.

Step (c) is implemented using a redirection rule to said target local equipment, step (a) further comprising the creation on the internet access box of said redirection rule following the selection said target local equipment.

Said redirection rule is a network address translation, NAT, or port address translation, PAT rule.

Step (a) first includes the secure connection of the server to the internet access box.

Said transport layer communication protocol using a connectionless transmission mode is a transport layer protocol, in particular the UDP protocol.

Step (d) includes estimating an actual achievable throughput of the wireless connection to said internet access box as a function of at least one parameter of said wireless connection.

Step (a) comprises obtaining said at least one parameter of said wireless connection.

Said at least one parameter of said wireless connection is chosen from among a noise level, a signal strength indicator, a number of streams.

According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a server for characterizing an actual speed of a wireless connection to an Internet access box, characterized in that it is configured for:

• create on the internet access box a redirection rule to target local equipment connected to the internet access box via said wireless connection;
• send to the internet access box a data stream in a communication protocol using a connectionless transmission mode, with a view to its redirection by the internet access box to said target local equipment;
• characterize the actual speed of the wireless connection to said Internet access box according to at least one packet counter transmitted from said data flow.

According to a third and a fourth aspect, the invention relates to a computer program product comprising code instructions for the execution of a method according to the first characterization aspect from a remote server of a real speed of a connection wireless to an internet access box; and storage means readable by computer equipment on which a computer program product comprises code instructions for the execution of a method according to the first aspect of characterization from a remote server of an actual throughput of a connection wireless to an internet access box.

PRESENTATION OF FIGURES

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear on reading the following description of a preferred embodiment. This description will be given with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 represents a preferred embodiment of an architecture for implementing the method according to the invention;

Figure 2 is an example illustrating the difference between actual throughput and actual throughput achievable.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Global architecture

Referring to Figure 1 , a method is proposed for characterizing from a remote server 3 an actual bit rate of a wireless connection to an internet access box 2.

By "characterization", we mean in particular the estimation of said flow or at least an order of magnitude, or even simply an evaluation of its normal character or not. Note that we are considering here the "real" flow, that is to say actually observed and not the physical flow abbreviated "phy rate", which is easy to know but corresponds to a theoretical flow which is not in practice reached, a fortiori if there is a problem.

This method makes it possible at least to signal such a problem in the WiFi connection, and advantageously to allow the problem to be resolved quickly and efficiently, by avoiding laborious manipulations for the user, or the need for a technician to come by.

This process can be launched in particular remotely by a Customer Advisor (if for example the user complains about his Wi-Fi speed), by a technician who has commissioned the Internet access box 2 at a customer's, directly by the user to self-diagnose, etc.

In FIG. 1, the box 2 is connected to the Internet network 20 via an operator network 21. The remote server 3, typically a server of the operator of the Internet access box 2, is placed in the Internet network 20 or the operator network 21 and is thus connected to box 2.

This box 2 generates a local network (called LAN for Local Access Network) at least partially wireless, that is to say that a wireless connection is established, and it is assumed that at least one equipment 1a, 1b local is connected to said box via said wireless connection. Said wireless connection is typically a Wifi connection (we will take this example in the remainder of the description), but also a Bluetooth connection or any other radio or other protocol. Note that it is not excluded that the box 2 is connected to one or more other devices 1a, 1b via a wired connection, typically Ethernet.

Here, the wireless connection exists but is not necessarily in a "nominal operating state", i.e. a state free of anomalies and/or faults. By contrast, it is said that the wireless connection is not in a nominal operating state when it does not allow access to the network 20 via the box 2, or in a degraded way (poor quality of service, for example throughput abnormally slow or cuts) in other words that it is not capable of fulfilling its role, whether due to a problem in the box 2, but also in the environment (electromagnetic interference) or in a customer equipment 1a, 1b.

Conventionally, the internet access box 2 and the server 3 comprise respective data processing means of the processor type, and if necessary data storage means (a memory), for example a hard disk.

The equipment(s) 1a, 1b can be of any type. In FIG. 1, the first device 1a is a mobile terminal of the smartphone type and the second device 1b is for example a network printer.

Principle

Conventionally, the wireless connection is established at the level of the lower layers of the OSI model, and in particular the physical layer (level 1) and/or the data link layer (level 2, in particular one or more sub -layers of this layer).

For example, Wifi is governed by the standards of the IEEE 802.11 group (ISO/IEC 8802-11) which sets out to define at the level of the physical layer the modulation of radio waves and the characteristics of signaling for data transmission. , and at the level of the data link layer the interface between the bus of the machine and the physical layer, in particular an access method close to that used in the Ethernet standard and the communication rules between the various control stations of access to MAC-like support. In addition, it is possible to use any IP-based transport protocol on an 802.11 network in the same way as on an Ethernet network.

Here it is assumed that at least one local equipment 1a, 1b is connected to the internet access box 2 via said wireless connection, i.e. that they are able to "exchange data packets", without further specificity. This translates in practice into connectivity at the level of the network layer of the OSI model (level 3), typically conforming to the IP protocol (in other words, each device 1a, 1b has a local IP address).

IP protocols provide best effort routing of packets. They don't care about the contents of the packets, but provide a method to get them to their destination, and are considered "unreliable". This does not mean that they do not send data correctly over the network, but that they do not offer any guarantees for the packets sent regarding the following points:

• data corruption;
• packet arrival order;
• packet loss;
• duplicate packages.

In terms of reliability, the only service offered by an IP protocol is to ensure that the headers of transmitted packets do not contain errors through the use of a checksum. If a packet's header includes an error, its checksum will not be valid and the packet will be discarded without being transmitted. If a packet is lost, no notification is sent to the sender.

Thus, the guarantees not offered by an IP protocol are delegated to higher level protocols, which is why the wireless connection can be perfectly established at level 3 of the OSI model without being in the said nominal operating state: if it is if the problem is at one of these higher levels.

The present method proposes to cleverly use the higher level protocols, in particular those of the transport layer of the OSI model (level 4) or a higher layer to be able to characterize the real speed of said wireless connection.

More specifically, we will take advantage of the properties of a communication protocol using a connectionless transmission mode, in particular a transport layer communication protocol (what is "more simply called a "transport protocol" ).

"Connectionless transmission mode" or "unconnected mode" means data transmission in which each packet is prefixed with a header containing a destination address, sufficient to allow autonomous delivery of the packet, without using other instructions. This is understood as opposed to a "connection-oriented" mode of transmission in which it is necessary to declare the exchange of data, in particular via a "handshake" mechanism.

The typical transport protocol using a connectionless transmission mode is User Datagram Protocol (UDP). A packet transmitted in connectionless mode is indeed frequently called a datagram.

The role of this protocol is to allow the transmission of data in a very simple way between two entities, each being defined by an IP address and a port number (i.e. connection established in layer 3). No prior communication is required to establish the connection, unlike TCP (Transmission Control Protocol), which uses the handshake mechanism. UDP is detailed in RFC 768.

A protocol that uses a connectionless mode of transmission exposes the program that uses it to possible network reliability problems: there is no guarantee of protection as to delivery, order of arrival, or possible duplication of datagrams. UDP is therefore suitable for use where error detection and correction is not necessary, or is performed directly by the application, which is why it is generally used to transmit small amounts of data quickly, from a server to many clients or in cases where the possible loss of a datagram is preferred to waiting for its retransmission. DNS, Voice over IP or online games are thus typical users of this protocol: for example, in the case of VoIP transmission or an FPS type game, the occasional loss of a packet is tolerable insofar as there are mechanisms for replacing missing data, on the other hand the speed of transmission is an essential criterion for responsiveness.

It is also used to transmit data to several receivers simultaneously (multicast, broadcast), the TCP connection being only point-to-point.

In the present process, it is paradoxically the "unreliable" character of UDP (and in general of any communication protocol using a transmission mode without connection) which is expressly sought because it will precisely make it possible to highlight possible problems with the wireless network.

Thus, a UDP stream sent from server 3 to Internet access box 2 and redirected to local equipment 1a, 1b connected via said wireless connection will make it possible to characterize the actual speed of this wireless connection.

Indeed, it is possible to "spray" a device with unsolicited packets (and therefore without any user action or application having to be involved), which the latter will simply reject since it does not expect nothing. However, the transmission did take place so it is possible by observing it to estimate the actual speed of the wireless connection.

Note that we can use any other communication protocol using a connectionless transmission mode such as FASP (Fast and Secure Protocol), ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol), IPX (Internetwork Packet Exchange), etc.

Process

The method begins with an optional step (a) of initialization of the method by the server 3. Note that the method can be managed directly by the box 2, and thus begin directly with the following step (b), see below After.

Preferably, step (a) begins by establishing a secure connection between the server 3 and the box 2, for example via SSH (Secure Shell) or even TLS, SSL, etc.

Next, step (a) comprises in particular the selection (by the server 3 or the box 2) of a target local equipment 1b from among all the local equipment 1a, 1b connected to the internet access box 2 via said wireless connection.

By target device, we mean the local device to which to send the UDP stream. Technically, the target device could be any local device connected to the wireless network, but preferably an inactive or inactive device is selected (in particular the least active device among the connected devices, i.e. exchanging the least packets).

Indeed, the active device is already exchanging TCP packets on the wireless connection, and there is a risk of conflict between these TCP packets and the UDP packets: either it will be able to receive fewer UDP packets than what 'it could if it was idle (in other words, UDP bandwidth is "limited" by TCP handshakes), or TCP packets will be blocked due to UDP saturation and device usage target will be disturbed. In summary, an inactive target device therefore allows a more reliable and interference-free real flow measurement.

For example, we can choose equipment such as a network printer (as shown in Figure 1), an IP camera or generally a connected object (in particular home automation), because these are equipment operating intermittently and mostly inactive , unlike equipment such as a mobile terminal of the smartphone type which exchanges data continuously.

Alternatively or in addition, the target equipment can be selected according to other criteria such as, and without this being exhaustive, its received signal level, its number of antennas, its announced compatibility with the different versions of the connection standard wireless, or a combination of these criteria (especially among inactive target devices).

Then, step (a) advantageously comprises the creation on the Internet access box 2 of a redirection rule towards said target local equipment 1b, which is in particular a NAT rule (Network Address Translation, i.e. translation of network address) and/or PAT (Port Address Translation, i.e. port address translation).

More specifically, while the Internet access box 2 has a public IP address, the local equipment 1a, 1b only have private IP addresses. Said NAT and/or PAT rule associates a port of box 2 with the address of target equipment 1b. Thus, to send data to the target equipment 1b from the outside (i.e. from the Internet network 20), it suffices to send them to the public address of the box 2 on the corresponding port, and the box will translate this address to the address of the target device 1b.

Note that either this redirection rule is created by box 2, or it is pushed onto the latter by server 3, which is facilitated in the event of a secure connection from server 3 to box 2.

Finally, step (a) advantageously comprises obtaining information prior to the test, and in particular obtaining at least one parameter of said wireless connection, in particular associated with said target equipment 1b. As we will see, this parameter makes it possible to define the conditions under which the wireless connection is established, and is preferably chosen from a noise level, a received signal strength indicator (RSSI), a radio noise level, an occupancy rate of the radio by disturbers on the same radio channel or adjacent channels, an occupancy rate of the radio channel by other equipment sharing the same radio resource, a chosen modulation (MCS), a number of flow obtained (in the case of spatial multiplexing), an announced compatibility with the different versions of the wireless connection standard, a type of equipment identified by its manufacturer (YES) associated with the unique global identifier of the equipment (Address MAC), a number of lost packets and/or a number of retransmitted packets….

Furthermore, the information prior to the test may include a packet counter (i.e. the counter is read before the test).

Test

In the main steps (b) then (c), the test is in practice carried out: the server 3 generates and sends to the internet access box 2 a data stream in said communication protocol using a connectionless transmission mode (in particular UDP), and the internet access box 2 redirects this data flow to the target local equipment 1a connected to the internet access box 2 via said wireless connection (in particular thanks to the redirection rule) .

The data stream must be sent at a sufficient rate, in particular greater than or equal to the capacity of the WAN link and/or the theoretical rate of the wireless connection, if the real rate is not to be estimated in a biased manner of the wireless connection, and its content can be arbitrary. Note that you can play on the size of UDP packets to refine the diagnosis.

Then, in a step (d), the actual speed of the wireless connection to said Internet access box 2 can be characterized as a function of at least one packet counter transmitted from said data flow.

More precisely, even if the packets are rejected by the target equipment 1b, it is possible to know how many packets have actually been transmitted (by comparing the counter before and after) over which time interval and to deduce an estimate of the actual throughput.

Preferably, step (d) comprises the deletion of the added redirection rule (so as to leave the box 2 in the original state and not create any potential disturbance), and the closing of the possible secure connection.

It should be noted that it is still possible for the box 2 to permanently include a redirection rule, for example established when the box 2 is first started and updated at each connection/disconnection of equipment 1a, 1b from the network without -fil, for example using a dedicated port defined and reserved by the operator.

Standardization

It may be desirable to estimate, in addition to actual "instantaneous" throughput, actual achievable throughput, especially under "optimal" conditions, or even actual achievable throughput on local equipment actively used by the customer. For example, in FIG. 1, what is important in practice is the speed that can be reached on its terminal 1a.

This largely solves a possible user experience problem.

Thus, step (d) can include the estimation of said actual achievable speed of the wireless connection to said Internet access box 2 as a function of at least one parameter of said wireless connection.

The idea is to “normalize” the estimated throughput according to said parameters of said wireless connection. For example, with reference to Figure 2 , if a high noise level and a poor signal strength indicator are observed, one can estimate the value of the actual throughput that would have been obtained if these noise levels/signal strength indicator signal strength had been normal. Thus, it becomes possible to compare two achievable actual throughput values to determine whether there is a problem or not.

More specifically, estimating the actual achievable throughput corresponds to calculating the actual throughput that should have been measured if the parameters of said wireless connection had presented standard values (representative of a normal situation).

This normalization can be carried out by using a database of real bit rate reference values each for an n-tuple of said wireless connection parameters, these n-tuples being as varied as possible. These can be taken from field measurements or external databases. The idea is to build a reference model from this database of reference values, i.e. an abacus, allowing to model how the variations of these parameters of the wireless connection influence the value of the real speed. For this, any technique known to those skilled in the art may be used, in particular statistical techniques, automated learning methods, etc.

By extrapolating, we can even estimate the actual speed that the wireless connection could reach in any room of the home, with any type of equipment 1a, 1b, etc. To do this, it suffices to simulate the parameters of the wireless network that we would then have, and to calculate the actual speed that we should have measured if the parameters of the said wireless connection had presented these simulated values.

Server and computer program product

According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a server 3 configured for the implementation of this method.

In particular, this server 3 is configured to create on the internet access box 2 a redirection rule to the target local equipment 1b connected to the internet access box 2 via said wireless connection, send to the box internet access 2 a data stream in a communication protocol using a connectionless transmission mode (preferably UDP) with a view to its redirection by the internet access box to said target local equipment 1b, and characterize the actual speed of the wireless connection to said Internet access box 2 according to at least one packet counter transmitted from said data stream.

Server 3 is also optionally configured to establish a secure connection with box 2, select said target local equipment 1b, and/or delete said redirection rule from Internet access box 2.

According to a third and a fourth aspect, the invention relates to a computer program product comprising code instructions for the execution (in particular on the data processing means of the server 3) of the characterization method from a remote server 3 an actual speed of a wireless connection to an Internet access box 2, as well as storage means readable by computer equipment (in particular data storage means of the server 3) on which this is found computer program product.

Claims (13)

Method for characterizing from a remote server (3) an actual bit rate of a wireless connection to an internet access box (2), characterized in that it comprises steps of:
(b) Emission from the server (3) to the internet access box (2) of a data stream in a communication protocol using a connectionless transmission mode;
(c) Redirection by the internet access box (2) of said data stream to a target local equipment (1a) connected to the internet access box (2) via said wireless connection;
(d) Characterization of the actual throughput of the wireless connection to said Internet access box (2) as a function of at least one packet counter transmitted from said data stream. Method according to claim 1, comprising a step (a) of selecting said target local equipment (1a) from among all the local equipment (1a, 1b) connected to the internet access box (2) via said wireless connection. Method according to claim 2, wherein said selected target local equipment (1a) is inactive or not very active. Method according to one of Claims 2 and 3, in which step (c) is implemented thanks to a redirection rule to said target local equipment (1b), step (a) further comprising the creation on the Internet access box (2) of said redirection rule following the selection of said target local equipment (1b). A method according to claim 4, wherein said redirect rule is a network address translation, NAT, or port address translation, PAT rule. Method according to one of Claims 2 to 5, in which step (a) comprises beforehand the secure connection of the server (3) to the Internet access box (2). Method according to one of Claims 1 to 6, in which the said transport layer communication protocol using a connectionless transmission mode is a transport layer protocol, in particular the UDP protocol. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 7, in which step (d) comprises estimating an actual achievable speed of the wireless connection to said Internet access box (2) as a function of at least one parameter of said wireless connection. A method according to claim 8 in combination with one of claims 2 to 6, wherein step (a) comprises obtaining said at least one parameter of said wireless connection. Method according to one of Claims 7 and 8, in which the said at least one parameter of the said wireless connection is chosen from among a noise level, a signal strength indicator, a number of streams. Server (3) for characterizing an actual bit rate of a wireless connection to an internet access box (2), characterized in that it is configured to

• create on the internet access box (2) a redirection rule to a target local equipment (1b) connected to the internet access box (2) via said wireless connection;
• send to the internet access box (2) a data stream in a communication protocol using a connectionless transmission mode, with a view to its redirection by the internet access box to said target local equipment (1b);
• characterizing the actual bit rate of the wireless connection to said Internet access box (2) as a function of at least one packet counter transmitted from said data stream.

Computer program product comprising code instructions for the execution of a method according to one of Claims 1 to 10 for characterizing from a remote server (3) an actual bit rate of a wireless connection to a internet access box (2), when said program is executed by a computer Storage means readable by computer equipment on which a computer program product comprises code instructions for the execution of a method according to one of Claims 1 to 10 for characterizing from a remote server (3) a actual speed of a wireless connection to an internet access box (2).