FR3136622A1 - Method for identifying equipment having associated a network identifier, and method for providing the identity of equipment in a communications network. - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of identifying a first piece of equipment (20) having associated a network identifier allowing the identification of the first piece of equipment in a communications network, comprises the following steps implemented by a communications terminal (40): - when said communication terminal is arranged in contact with said first equipment, emission (E1) of at least one vibration signal (S) representative of a request for identification of equipment, - reception (E2) of the network identifier associated with said first equipment, and - provision (E3) of the identifier received or data relating to said first equipment associated with said identifier received in a user interface. Figure for abstract: Fig. 2

Description

Method for identifying equipment having associated a network identifier, and method for providing the identity of equipment in a communications network.

The present invention relates to a method for identifying equipment having associated a network identifier allowing the identification of the equipment in a communications network.

It further relates to a method for providing the identity of equipment in a communications network.

Furthermore, the invention relates to devices implementing these methods.

The invention applies to any communication network comprising connected objects configured to detect vibrations. It generally applies in the context of the “Internet of Things” (“Internet of Things” or IoT in Anglo-Saxon literature), for connected objects intended for the general public or intended for professionals.

Nowadays, communications networks include numerous pieces of equipment or connected objects with various functions. With the rise of the Internet of Things and new networks such as 5G, this equipment is increasingly numerous and is used in different environments, such as buildings, cities, factories, etc.

Equipment installed in a network is uniquely identified in a communications network, for example by means of a network identifier, such as an IP address. However, it can be complicated, particularly when numerous devices are installed in the network, to know which equipment installed in a geographical area corresponds to each piece of equipment in the network. In other words, identifying network equipment, in a geographic area where the communications network is installed, can be complicated. In fact, there is rarely a plan indicating the location of network equipment. In addition, equipment may change location over time or be uninstalled. Furthermore, several devices of the same type may be present in the network.

Although the identification of network equipment in a geographical area is not a simple task to carry out, the identification of equipment may be necessary in many situations, for example during maintenance operations, or repair or replacement. equipment in the event of a fault detected. Some equipment issues notifications when it has a fault. For example, some devices are configured to issue a notification when their battery level is low. Sometimes, networks include equipment configured to detect network faults, for example by analyzing the content of messages sent by the equipment.

Whatever the method used to identify faulty equipment, to be able to carry out their repair or maintenance, it is necessary to physically identify the faulty equipment, or in other words, it is necessary to make the link between the identifier network of equipment and equipment installed in a geographical area or environment, this task can be complex when the number of equipment in the network is high.

A classic solution consists of placing a label on each piece of equipment, this label including a unique identifier allowing the equipment to be uniquely identified. The label may include, for example, a bar code or a QR code (QR Code for “Quick Response” Code in Anglo-Saxon terminology). The unique identifiers of the equipment are recorded in a database in association respectively with network identifiers of the equipment.

The use of labels to identify equipment presents a significant cost, in particular due to the time required for applying the labels and the association with the network identifier of the equipment. In addition, this solution can be complicated to implement when equipment from different manufacturers is installed in the same communications network. Furthermore, this solution lacks reliability since the links between the unique identifiers of the equipment and the identifiers of the equipment in the network can be modified, for example in the event of temporary disconnection of certain equipment. In addition, since the label must be visible to be able to physically identify the equipment, this solution presents physical constraints relating to the object itself, such as its shape and size, and its installation.

The present invention proposes to improve the situation by making it possible to facilitate the hardware identification of equipment in a communications network in a geographical area.

To this end, the invention aims, according to a first aspect, at a method for identifying a first piece of equipment having associated a network identifier allowing the identification of said first piece of equipment in a communications network.

According to the invention, the method comprises the following steps implemented by a communication terminal:
- when said communication terminal is placed in contact with said first equipment, emission of at least one vibration signal representative of a request for identification of equipment,
- reception of the network identifier associated with said first equipment, and
- provision of said received network identifier or data relating to said first equipment associated with said received identifier in a user interface.

Thus, thanks to the invention, it is possible to reliably identify which equipment installed in a geographical area corresponds to a network identifier. Indeed, the implementation of the steps presented above makes it possible to identify equipment installed in a geographical area by means of a communication terminal obtaining either the network identifier of the equipment or data relating to the equipment associated with the network identifier, in response to the emission of a vibration signal. This vibration signal is emitted by the communication terminal when it is placed in contact with the equipment. The communication terminal obtains and makes available the network identifier or data relating to the equipment associated with the network identifier of the equipment with which it is in contact, in response to the emission of the vibration signal.

Note that by “identifying equipment”, we mean identifying or locating equipment in a geographical area.

The implementation of the method allows a user to identify, in a geographical area, in a reliable manner, the equipment which is associated with a network identifier. For example, a user seeking to perform an operation (such as a repair or replacement) on equipment for which they know the network identifier, must physically identify the equipment (i.e. the hardware equipment ). Indeed, the user can know the network identifier of a network device to be repaired but he does not know to which hardware device this network identifier is associated. The user equipped with the communication terminal implementing the method presented above can therefore identify on which hardware equipment he must carry out the operation.

Note that, in other words, identifying equipment corresponds to identifying equipment installed in a geographical area having associated a network identifier or in other words to making the link between equipment itself (or hardware equipment) and the identifier equipment network.

Providing the network identifier or data relating to the equipment on the communication terminal allows the user of the communication terminal to know the network identifier of the equipment or information relating to the equipment network and thus know if this is the equipment he is looking for, for example to carry out a repair.

Indeed, the network identifier or the data relating to the first equipment make it possible to physically identify the first equipment. This may be, for example, network information about the equipment or a message indicating that the hardware equipment corresponds to the network identifier sought.

In one embodiment, the network identifier and data or information relating to the equipment are made available.

The identification of equipment is reliable even if the equipment has been changed location.

According to one characteristic, the network identifier is received from a second piece of equipment connected to said first piece of equipment and said communication terminal via the communications network.

The second equipment is equipment belonging to the same network as the first equipment and can for example be a server, an access point, a connected object etc., this second equipment storing or having access to the network identifiers of the equipment of the communication network .

In another embodiment, the network identifier is received by the communication terminal from the first equipment.

It will thus be noted that the network identifier comes from network equipment, this network equipment being able to be either the first equipment (equipment receiving the vibration signal from the communication terminal) or another network equipment (second equipment).

According to one characteristic, the provision of the network identifier includes the display of the network identifier or data relating to the first equipment on the user interface.

In one embodiment, the user interface is located in the communications terminal, allowing the user of the communications terminal to quickly and reliably physically identify network equipment, i.e. say to make the link between hardware equipment and a network identifier or in other words, to know the network identifier of hardware equipment or data or information relating to the equipment.

In another embodiment, the user interface is on a device different from the communications terminal. In this embodiment, the communication terminal is configured to communicate with this device, in particular to send to the device the network identifier or data or information relating to the equipment obtained. The device having received the network identifier of the equipment or data or information relating to the equipment, displays the network identifier or the data relating to the equipment on its communication interface. In one embodiment, the network identifier and equipment-related data may be displayed on the communications interface.

It should be noted that the provision of information may include the display of the information and/or the transmission of the information to other equipment.

According to one characteristic, the vibration signal comprises a sequence of vibrations generated by the mobile terminal, the sequence of vibrations comprising an identifier making it possible to identify the communication terminal.

For example, the identifier making it possible to identify the communication terminal may be an identifier of the communication terminal or an identifier of the user of the communication terminal. In both cases, it is an identifier associated with the communication terminal. For example, the identifier of the terminal associated with the terminal may be a unique identifier making it possible to identify the communication terminal in an operator's network, a serial number of the terminal, a physical address or MAC address (for "Media Access Control") or be a numeric or alphanumeric sequence (for example a PIN code type code (for "Personal Identification Number") associated with the communication terminal. The identifier of the user of the terminal can be, according to one example, a numerical or alphanumeric sequence associated with the user and allowing the identification of the user. In these examples, the numerical or alphanumeric sequence associated with the terminal or the user of the terminal is inserted in the vibration signal. For example, the sequence is encoded using a sequence of vibrations.

In one embodiment, the transmission of the vibration signal is preceded by a prior transmission of a preliminary vibration signal indicating that a vibration signal representative of a request for identification of equipment will follow.

The equipment receiving the preliminary vibration signal transmitted by the communication terminal can prepare to receive the vibration signal, that is to say it can listen to determine whether the vibration signal received corresponds to a signal vibration representative of a request for identification of equipment.

According to one characteristic, the identification method further comprises the display on said user interface of a message indicating whether the received network identifier corresponds to a predefined network identifier.

Thus, the operator is notified when he finds the equipment he was looking for, for example to repair or replace it.

According to another characteristic, the identification method further comprises the display on said user interface of a message indicating whether the received network identifier belongs to a list of predefined network identifiers.

The user of the terminal is thus informed that the terminal for which he is requesting the identifier is equipment requiring an operation, such as repair or maintenance.

According to one characteristic, the transmission of the vibration signal is implemented in response to an action by a user on said communication terminal.

For example, the user can trigger the emission of the vibration signal by using a button in the communication terminal, once he has brought the communication terminal into contact with the first equipment.

The present invention relates, according to a second aspect, to a method of providing the identity of a first piece of equipment in a communications network, comprising the following steps implemented by said first piece of equipment:
- reception, from a communication terminal brought into contact with said first equipment, of a predefined vibration signal, and
- transmission either to the communication terminal, of the network identifier of said first equipment or of data relating to said first equipment, or to a second equipment of the network, of a first message, the reception of said first message by said second equipment triggering the transmission of a second message including the network identifier of said first equipment to said communication terminal.

The predefined vibration signal is a signal representative of a request for identification of equipment. This predefined vibration signal may be specific to the communication terminal which emits it or to the user of the communication terminal which emits it. The network equipment is configured to recognize this predefined vibration signal, that is to say to identify that it is a signal representative of a request for identification of equipment.

According to one embodiment, the first message is a message informing that it has received an identification request.

Thus, when a first piece of equipment receives such a predefined vibration signal, it sends a first message to a second piece of equipment informing that it has received an identification request.

According to another embodiment, the first message includes data representative of said received vibration signal.

This embodiment is advantageous when the first equipment does not have the resources necessary to determine whether the received vibration signal corresponds to a predefined vibration signal.

According to one characteristic, the method of providing an identity further comprises determining the communication terminal having transmitted the predefined vibration signal.

According to one characteristic, the determination includes the extraction of an identifier making it possible to identify the communication terminal having transmitted said vibration signal, from the vibration signal received.

Thus, the method of providing the identity further comprises the extraction of an identifier making it possible to identify the communication terminal having transmitted said vibration signal, said identifier being included in said vibration signal.

In one embodiment, the extraction of the identifier is implemented by the first equipment, the extracted identifier being included in the first message sent to the second equipment. The second device can in turn extract the identifier of the first message.

In another embodiment, the extraction of the identifier is implemented by the second equipment, this identifier forming part of the data representative of the vibration signal received by the first equipment.

Thus, in this embodiment, the method of providing the identity further comprises, the determination by the second equipment, from the first message, of the communication terminal to which the second message must be addressed, this communication terminal being the one that emitted the vibration signal.

In another embodiment, the communication terminal to which the second message must be sent is predefined.

In this embodiment, extraction of the identifier is therefore not necessary.

The characteristics of the methods for identifying equipment and providing identity presented above can be taken in isolation or in combination with each other.

The present invention relates, according to a third aspect, to a communication terminal configured to implement the proposed identification method.

In particular, the communication terminal comprises:
- a transmission module configured to emit at least one predefined vibration signal, this predefined vibration signal state representative of a request for identification of equipment,
- a reception module configured to receive the network identifier associated with said first equipment, and
- a provision module configured to make available said received identifier in a user interface.

The present invention relates, according to a fourth aspect, to equipment configured to implement steps of the proposed method of providing an identity.

In particular, the first equipment includes:
- a reception module configured to receive a predefined vibration signal, coming from a communication terminal brought into contact with said first equipment, and
- a transmission module configured to transmit either to the communication terminal, the network identifier of the first equipment or data relating to said first equipment, or to a second equipment of the network, a first message, the reception of the first message by the second equipment triggering the transmission of a second message including the network identifier of the first equipment to the communication terminal.

The present invention relates, according to a fourth aspect, to a system comprising a proposed communication terminal and first piece of equipment, and a second piece of equipment transmitting a message to the communication terminal comprising the network identifier of said first piece of equipment.

The present invention relates, according to a fifth aspect, to a computer program comprising code instructions for implementing the steps of the identification method and/or the steps of the identification providing method according to the invention, when it is executed by a processor.

The present invention relates, according to a sixth aspect, to an information medium readable by a processor in a communications terminal or equipment, on which the computer program according to the invention is recorded.

The communication terminal, the equipment, the system, the computer program and the information medium have characteristics and advantages similar to those described previously in relation to the method of identifying equipment.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear in the description below.

In the appended drawings, given as non-limiting examples:
- there represents an example of a context in which the proposed methods can be implemented,
- there illustrates steps of the identification method and the method of providing an identity conforming to one embodiment,
- there illustrates an example of a reference vibration sequence;
- there illustrates examples of vibration sequences not constituting a reference vibration sequence;
- there illustrates a hardware architecture that can implement the proposed identification method;
- there is a functional representation of a communication terminal according to one embodiment;
- there illustrates a hardware architecture that can implement steps of the proposed identification providing method;
- there is a functional representation of a first piece of equipment conforming to an embodiment;
- there illustrates a hardware architecture that can implement steps of the proposed identification providing method; And
- there is a functional representation of a second piece of equipment conforming to an embodiment;

The proposed technique applies particularly to the identification of equipment or objects connected in a communication network, whether they are connected objects intended for the general public, for example in a connected home system, or intended for professionals, for example in a control system in a factory. The proposed technique finds an advantageous application in communication networks comprising a high number of connected objects.

More particularly, the proposed technique applies to the identification of connected equipment or objects configured to detect vibrations. For example, this equipment includes at least one accelerometer. Often, accelerometers are of the MEMS type (for “Microelectromechanical systems”), that is to say accelerometers implemented by a microelectromechanical system. Indeed, the cost and footprint on an electronic card of this type of sensor is low. So, nowadays, these sensors are often embedded in connected objects, for example to detect the fall of the object.

By connected or communicating object we mean any equipment configured to communicate (transmit or receive data) with other equipment. In the remainder of this document, the terms object, connected object or equipment will be used without distinction.

There represents an example of a system implementing the proposed identification method.

System 1 comprises a set of equipment or connected objects 20-26 connected to a communications network 2.

The equipment 20-26 can be of various types and be used for numerous applications. Examples of connected equipment or objects are sensors of different types, such as movement, light, temperature sensors, etc., a camera, a mobile telephone terminal, a laptop, a tablet, a gateway, printer, audio speaker, television decoder, television, game console, household appliance, etc. 20-26 equipment is used in many contexts and for many applications.

One of the pieces of equipment 20-26 is an access device 26, such as an access gateway, allowing access to a second communications network 3. For example, the first communications network 2 is a network of LAN type (for “Local Area Network”), such as a residential network or a business network, and the second communications network 3 is an extended communications network 3 or WAN type network (for “Wide Area Network” ), such as the Internet.

The equipment 20-26 is configured to exchange data between them, at least according to wireless communications, for example in accordance with a Wi-Fi protocol (for “Wireless FIdelity”, registered trademark) or using LoRa modulation (registered trademark ). Conventionally, the access gateway 26 allows communication of other connected objects 20-26 with equipment forming part of the second communications network 3, for example servers 30.

In addition, the equipment 20-26 can be configured to communicate with each other peer-to-peer (or “peer-to-peer” in English). Peer-to-peer communications can be implemented using many technologies, such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), WiFI, WiFI Direct, LTE (Long Term Evolution), 5G etc.

The system 1 further comprises a communication terminal 40 configured to implement the proposed method of identifying equipment 20-26.

The communication terminal 40 is for example a mobile communication terminal, such as a mobile telephone, a tablet, a personal computer or a console. The communication terminal 40 is configured to communicate with the network 2 at least according to wireless communications, for example in accordance with a Wi-Fi protocol. It can also be configured to communicate with the network 3, via the gateway 26 or via a other access network such as a cellular network according to a generation of standards for mobile telephony such as 3G, 4G, 5G or any later generation.

The communication terminal 40 and the equipment 20-26 will be described in more detail with reference to Figures 3a and 3b.

The communication terminal 40 and the equipment 20-26 are configured to implement the proposed technique allowing the identification of equipment 20-26 in a geographical zone Z.

According to embodiments, the communication terminal 40 and the equipment 20-26 are configured to communicate with each other using short-range wireless technologies, such as WiFi, Bluetooth, etc.

The equipment identification technique is described with reference to . This identification technique makes it possible to locate equipment in a geographical area Z for which the network identifier is known.

The proposed identification technique comprises steps of a method of identifying a first piece of equipment 20 implemented by a communication terminal 40, and steps of a method of providing the identity of a piece of equipment implemented implemented by the first equipment 20 or by a second equipment of the first communications network 2.

To describe the proposed technique, we take the example of an operator equipped with a communication terminal 40 wishing to physically identify, in a geographical zone Z (for example an enclosure of a factory in which a communication network 2 is installed ), 20-26 equipment to repair. The operator is aware of the network identifier of the equipment to be repaired and must identify it, or locate it, in the geographical area (in this example, the enclosure where communication network 2 is installed).

In a first step E1 of the identification method, the communication terminal 40 emits a predefined vibration signal or vibration signal preferably Sr. This predefined vibration signal Sr is representative of a request for identification of equipment.

In one embodiment, the vibration signal Sr includes a sequence of vibrations generated by the communication terminal 40. When the vibration signal is representative of a request for identification of equipment, it includes a sequence of reference vibrations.

A reference vibration sequence Sr is represented in .

In one embodiment, each vibration of the vibration sequence is generated in a time interval t of a predefined duration, for example 100 ms. For example, in each time interval, either the communication terminal 40 generates a vibration or it does not generate a vibration (that is to say the communication terminal is at rest). The generation of a vibration or the absence of vibration correspond respectively to binary values, making it possible to generate a sequence of reference vibrations.

The reference vibration sequence is sampled (in intervals of 100 ms in this example) so as to generate a vibration signal. The sequence of vibrations comprising either the presence of a vibration or the absence of a vibration is encoded in binary.

The number of vibrations in the sequence is variable and preferably between 10 and 20. In other words, the reference vibration sequence has a predefined duration. Please note that the duration of the vibration sequence should not be excessive for the operator to easily identify the equipment.

The reference vibration sequence S of the comprises, at the start of the sequence, two consecutive vibrations, and at the end of the sequence, an absence of vibration followed by a vibration. Note that the entire vibration sequence is not represented. Thus, the reference vibration sequence Sr has a predefined shape, known by the communication terminal and by the equipment receiving the vibration signal so that this equipment can determine whether the vibration signal includes the reference vibration sequence.

In an embodiment such as that shown in , a reference vibration sequence Sr is preceded by a preliminary vibration sequence Sp (forming a preliminary vibration signal). The presence of this preliminary vibration signal Sp indicates that a vibration signal representative of a request for identification of equipment will follow. Thus, the equipment receiving the preliminary vibration signal transmitted by the communication terminal can prepare to receive the vibration signal, that is to say it can listen to determine whether the vibration signal received corresponds to a vibration signal representative of a request for identification of equipment.

As a non-limiting example, this preliminary vibration sequence Sp comprises an alternation of vibrations and absences of vibration. In the example shown, the preliminary vibration sequence Sp includes a vibration followed by an absence of vibration, a vibration and an absence of vibration.

Like the reference vibration sequence, the preliminary vibration sequence has a predefined duration.

In another embodiment not illustrated, the vibration signal can be encoded from vibrations of the communication terminal of different intensity. To do this, the communication terminal must be configured so that the vibration intensity can have different values.

As an illustration, the represents two examples of vibration sequences corresponding to a reference vibration sequence Sr. One of the examples represents a single vibration of duration t' different from the duration t of a vibration in the reference vibration sequence Sr. A second example represents a sequence comprising an absence of vibration followed by vibration. This sequence of vibrations is different from the reference vibration sequence Sr represented in . As will be described below, when the first equipment 20-26 receives (or detects) a vibration signal representative of a vibration sequence different from the reference vibration sequence Sr, for example one of the vibration sequences represented to the , it ignores these vibration sequences. In fact, equipment can detect a vibration during a fall or when it is struck.

The transmission step E1 is implemented when said communication terminal 40 is placed in contact with equipment 20-26. For example, the operator places the communication terminal 40 in contact with a first piece of equipment 20 in order to obtain its network identifier or information relating to the equipment and to know if it is the equipment to be repaired. .

By placing the communication terminal in contact with the equipment, we mean placing the communication terminal sufficiently close to the equipment so that a vibration signal emitted by the equipment can be detected by the equipment. A person skilled in the art knows that depending on the communication terminals and the equipment, the communication terminal and the equipment must be placed close to each other or be placed in such a way that they touch each other.

In one embodiment, the transmission step E1 is implemented in response to an action by a user (the operator in the example described) on said communication terminal 40.

For example, the user can trigger the transmission of the vibration signal by using a button B in the communication terminal 40, once he has brought the communication terminal 40 into contact with the first equipment 20.

Once the transmission of the vibration signal has been implemented, the communication terminal 40 receives E2 the network identifier associated with said first equipment 20 or data relating to the first equipment 20 associated with the network identifier, and the makes E3 available in an HMI user interface.

Thus, in one embodiment, the communication terminal 40 receives E2 the network identifier associated with said first equipment 20 and makes it available E3 in an HMI user interface.

In another embodiment, the communication terminal 40 receives data relating to the first equipment 20 associated with the network identifier of the first equipment. The data relating to the first equipment makes it possible to physically identify the first equipment. This may be network information about the equipment (network identification, an identified malfunction, etc.) or a message indicating that the hardware equipment corresponds to the network identifier sought. This data can come from the first device or from another device in the network.

In another embodiment, the communication terminal receiving the network identifier of the first terminal uses this network identifier to obtain, from equipment of the communications network, data relating to the first equipment associated with the network identifier. The data relating to the first equipment obtained is then made available in a user interface.

In an embodiment such as that shown in the figures, this HMI user interface is located in the communication terminal 40, the provision of the network identifier comprising the display of the network identifier, or relative data to the first device, in the HMI user interface.

The operator can thus check whether the first equipment 20 corresponds to the equipment having the network identifier of the equipment to be repaired.

If the first equipment does not correspond to the desired network identifier, the communication terminal can implement the identification process again for other equipment 21-26.

In an embodiment not illustrated, the user interface is on a device different from the communication terminal 40. This device can for example be a second communication terminal connected to the communication terminal 40. In this embodiment, the communication terminal 40 is configured to communicate with this device, in particular to send to the device the network identifier, or the information relating to the first equipment, obtained from the equipment. The device having received the network identifier of the equipment, displays it on its communication interface.

In the embodiment described, the communication terminal 40 receives the network identifier coming from a second piece of equipment of the first communication network 2. For example, this second piece of equipment can be an access device 26 to a second network of communication 3.

In this embodiment, the access equipment 26 includes a memory in which the network identifiers of the equipment 20-26 of the communication network 2 are recorded.

In other embodiments, the communication terminal 40 can receive the network identifier coming from other equipment 20-25 of the first communication network 2 or from equipment of the second network 3 via the access device 26. For example, the communication terminal can receive the network identifier (or data relating to the first equipment) from the first equipment itself. The first device can be aware of its network identifier or request it from a second device in the communications network. Of course, to implement this embodiment, the communication terminal and the first equipment are configured to communicate with each other, for example using short-range wireless technology, such as WiFi.

When the communication terminal 40 and the first equipment 20 are in contact and the communication terminal emits E1 a vibration signal S, the first equipment 20 implements the method of providing the identification of equipment. According to this method, the first equipment 20 receives F1 the vibration signal S (Sr) transmitted by the communication terminal 40.

In one embodiment, the first equipment 20 checks F2 if the vibration signal S received corresponds to a reference vibration signal Sr. This reference vibration signal Sr corresponds to a vibration signal representative of a request for identification of equipment . In other words, during the verification step F2, it is checked whether the vibration signal corresponds to a vibration signal representative of a request for identification of equipment.

In the embodiment described, the received vibration signal Sr corresponds to the vibration signal Sr transmitted by the communication terminal 40. It should however be noted that the method of providing the identity of equipment is implemented when the equipment receives any vibration signal. For example, a vibration signal can be received (or detected) by the equipment during a shock caused for example by a fall or when it is struck by an object ( ).

When the received vibration signal corresponds to a vibration signal corresponding to a vibration signal representative of a request for identification of equipment (Sr), the first equipment 20 transmits F4 to the second equipment of the network 26 (the access device in this example), a first message M1.

In the embodiment described, the first message M1 includes a message informing that the first equipment 20 has received a request for identification of equipment. For example, the first message M1 may include the network identifier of the first equipment 20 as well as a code representative of an identification request. The format of this first message is different depending on the communication technology used. Those skilled in the art know how to adapt the format of messages according to the protocols used for communications between entities.

In one embodiment, the first message M1 may also include an identifier making it possible to identify the communication terminal 40 or the user of the communication terminal 40. In this embodiment, the first equipment implements a step d F3 extraction of this identifier making it possible to identify the communication terminal or the user from the vibration signal.

In one embodiment, the identifier making it possible to identify the communication terminal or the user is encoded in the vibration signal. For example, as described below, the identifier is encoded by a series of vibrations or rest (absence of vibration) generated by the communication terminal, the vibration and rest respectively representing binary values. In this embodiment, the identifier takes the form of a series of binary data. In this embodiment, extraction F3 of the identifier making it possible to identify the communication terminal or the user is implemented by sampling the received vibration signal S/Sr at a given frequency. Then, the samples of the vibration signal are analyzed in order to determine a sequence of binary data representative of the identifier.

Of course, the identifier can be encoded differently. For example, the identifier can be encoded by vibrations of different intensity, for example by vibrations of high intensity or vibrations of low intensity, each representing a binary value.

The transmission F4 of the first message M1 comprising an identifier making it possible to identify the communication terminal or the user to the second equipment, allows the latter to be aware that the first equipment has received an identification request and from whom this request for identification comes from.

In another embodiment not illustrated, the first message M1 does not include an identifier making it possible to identify the communication terminal or the user. In this embodiment, the identity of the communication terminal emitting vibration signals is known by the second equipment.

Alternatively or in addition, the first message M1 may include the vibration signal received in step F1. In other words, the first equipment 20 can transmit the received vibration signal S to the second equipment 26. For example, the first equipment 20 can transmit the binary sequence extracted from the received vibration sequence S/Sr. This may be the case when the first equipment does not include the means for, or is not configured to, check whether the vibration signal corresponds to a vibration signal representative of a request for identification of equipment. In this embodiment, the verification of the vibration signal is implemented by the second equipment. According to different embodiments, the extraction of the identity of the communication terminal or of the user can be implemented by the first equipment and/or the second equipment.

In one embodiment, verification F2 consists of verifying that the binary sequence received in the vibration signal corresponds to the reference sequence.

Of course, the measurement of similarity between the received vibration signal S and a reference vibration signal Sr can be implemented by other means.

When the first message M1 transmitted F4 is received G1 by the second equipment 26, the latter generates G1 and transmits G2 a second message comprising the network identifier of said first equipment 20 to a communication terminal 40 having transmitted the vibration signal S.

The messages exchanged between the network equipment among themselves and with the communication terminal take a form adapted to the communication technology used. Those skilled in the art know how to adapt the format of messages according to the protocols used for communications between entities.

In one embodiment, the second equipment determines to which communication terminal it must send the second message M2 comprising a network identifier. To do this, in one embodiment, it extracts from the first message M1, the identifier of the communication terminal 40.

In another embodiment, the communication terminal 40 to which it must send the network identifier is predetermined stored in a memory of the second equipment.

In another embodiment, the second equipment broadcasts the second message without determining to which communication terminal it must send this second message.

In an embodiment in which the network identifier is contained in the first message M1, the network identifier of the first equipment 20 is extracted from the first message M1 received from the first equipment and is introduced into the second message M2.

In another embodiment, the second equipment 26 can itself determine the network identifier of the first equipment 20, for example by using the IP address that the first equipment 20 used to send the message.

There schematically illustrates a hardware architecture of a communication terminal 40 capable of implementing the proposed equipment identification method.

The communication terminal 40 comprises a communication bus 400 to which are connected:
- a processing unit 401, named in the figure CPU (for “Central Processing Unit”) and which may include one or more processors;
- a non-volatile memory 402, for example ROM (for “Read Only Memory”), EEPROM (for “Electrically Erasable Read Only Memory”) or a Flash memory;
- a 403 RAM or RAM (for “Random Access Memory”);
- an input/output interface 404, named in the figure I/O (for “Input/Output”), for example keys or buttons B (for example to trigger the emission of a vibration signal), a screen , a keyboard, a mouse or another pointing device such as a touch screen or a remote control allowing a user to interact with the communication terminal 40 via a graphical interface or human-machine interface or user interface UI; And
- a communication interface 405, named COM in the figure, adapted to exchange data for example with other equipment, or with a server 50 via a communications network 3.

Furthermore, the communication terminal 40 includes a vibration module 406 configured to generate vibrations.

The RAM 403 includes registers suitable for recording variables and parameters created and modified during the execution of a computer program comprising instructions for implementing the proposed identification method. The instruction codes of the program stored in non-volatile memory 402 are loaded into RAM memory 403 in order to be executed by the CPU processing unit 401.

The non-volatile memory 402 is for example a rewritable memory of the EEPROM or Flash memory type which can constitute a support within the meaning of the invention, that is to say which can comprise a computer program PG comprising instructions for the implementation of the proposed identification method.

This PG program defines, through its instructions, functional modules of the communication terminal 40 which are implemented and/or control the hardware elements described above. There is a functional representation of a communication terminal according to one embodiment.

These modules may include:
- a transmission module (41) configured to emit at least one predefined vibration signal, this predefined vibration signal state representative of a request for identification of equipment,
- a reception module (42) configured to receive the network identifier associated with said first equipment, and
- a provisioning module (43) configured to make available said received identifier in a user interface.

In addition, the communication terminal 40 comprises a vibration module 44 configured to generate a reference vibration signal, this reference vibration signal being representative of a request for identification of equipment.

The aforementioned modules and means are controlled by the processor of the processing unit 401. They can take the form of a program executable by a processor, or a material form (or “hardware”), such as a specialized integrated circuit (known in Anglo-Saxon terminology known as ASIC for “Application-Specific Integrated Circuit”), a system on chip (known in Anglo-Saxon terminology as SoC for “System On Chip”), or an electronic component of the programmable logic circuit type, such as an FPGA type component (for “Field-Programmable Gate Array”).

There schematically illustrates a hardware architecture of a first piece of equipment 20-25 capable of implementing steps of the proposed supply method.

The equipment 20-25 includes a communication bus 200 to which are connected:
- a processing unit 201, named in the figure CPU (for “Central Processing Unit”) and which may include one or more processors;
- a non-volatile memory 202, for example ROM (for “Read Only Memory”), EEPROM (for “Electrically Erasable Read Only Memory”) or a Flash memory;
- a RAM 203 or RAM (for “Random Access Memory”);
- an input/output interface 204, named in the figure I/O (for “Input/Output”), for example keys or buttons (for example to trigger the emission of a vibration signal), a screen, a keyboard, mouse or other pointing device such as a touch screen or remote control allowing a user to interact with the equipment 20-25 via a graphical interface or human-machine interface or UI user interface; And
- a communication interface 205, named COM in the figure, adapted to exchange data for example with other equipment, or with a server 50 via a communications network 3.

Furthermore, the equipment 20 comprises vibration detection means 206. For example, the detection means comprise at least one accelerometer, for example of the MEMS type (for “Micro-electromechanical systems”), that is to say say accelerometers implemented by an electromechanical microsystem.

The RAM 203 includes registers suitable for recording variables and parameters created and modified during the execution of a computer program comprising instructions for implementing the proposed method of providing an identity. The instruction codes of the program stored in non-volatile memory 202 are loaded into RAM memory 203 in order to be executed by the CPU processing unit 201.

The non-volatile memory 202 is for example a rewritable memory of the EEPROM or Flash memory type which can constitute a support within the meaning of the invention, that is to say which can comprise a computer program PG comprising instructions for the implementation of the proposed method of providing an identity. The rewritable memory may include, for example, a list of network identifiers or an identifier making it possible to identify a communication terminal emitting vibration signals.

This PG program defines, through its instructions, functional modules of the equipment which are implemented and/or control the hardware elements described above. There is a functional representation of equipment conforming to an embodiment.

These modules may include:
- a reception module (21) configured to receive a predefined vibration signal, coming from a communication terminal brought into contact with said first equipment, and
- a transmission module (22) configured to transmit either to the communication terminal the network identifier of said first equipment or data relating to said first equipment, or to a second equipment of the network, a first message, reception of the first message by the second equipment triggering the transmission of a second message including the network identifier of said first equipment to said communication terminal.

According to embodiments, the equipment may further comprise a module for determining (23) an identifier configured to extract an identifier making it possible to identify the communication terminal having transmitted said vibration signal, from said vibration signal.

There schematically illustrates a hardware architecture of a second piece of equipment 26 capable of implementing steps of the proposed supply method. The second equipment 26 has a hardware architecture similar to that of the first equipment described with reference to the and will not be described again. According to one embodiment, the second equipment 26 may not include vibration detection means. There is a functional representation of equipment conforming to an embodiment.

These modules may include:
- A reception module (26a) configured to receive a first message from the first equipment, reception of this first message triggering the transmission of a second message comprising the network identifier of the first equipment or data relating to the first equipment , towards said communication terminal, and
- A transmission module (26b) configured to transmit such a second message.

According to embodiments, the equipment may further comprise a determination module (26c) configured to extract an identifier making it possible to identify the communication terminal having transmitted said vibration signal.

Thus, thanks to the proposed identification technique, equipment being identified in a communication network by a network identifier can be reliably located in a geographical area. This technique responds to numerous constraints linked to the environments where communications networks are installed. For example, in a professional setting, it is common for the environment to be noisy or to have extreme lighting conditions (for example low light or, on the contrary, strong lighting), the proposed technique being advantageously useful in this type of environment. environment.

Claims (14)

Method for identifying a first piece of equipment (20-25) having associated a network identifier allowing the identification of said first piece of equipment in a communications network (2), said method comprising the following steps implemented by a communications terminal ( 40):
- when said communication terminal is placed in contact with said first equipment, emission (E1) of at least one vibration signal (S) representative of a request for identification of equipment,
- reception (E2) of the network identifier associated with said first equipment, and
- provision (E3) of said received identifier or of data relating to said first equipment associated with said received network identifier, in a user interface. Identification method according to claim 1, in which the network identifier is received from a second piece of equipment (26) connected to said first piece of equipment (20-25) and said communication terminal via the communications network. Identification method according to one of claims 1 or 2, in which the vibration signal (S) comprises a sequence of vibrations generated by the communication terminal, said sequence of vibrations comprising an identifier making it possible to identify said communication terminal . Identification method according to one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising the display of said network identifier or data relating to the first equipment on said user interface. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, in which said transmission (E1) is implemented in response to an action by a user on said communication terminal. Method for providing the identity of a first piece of equipment in a communications network, comprising the following steps implemented by the first piece of equipment (20-25):
- reception (F1), from a communication terminal brought into contact with said first equipment, of a predefined vibration signal, and
- transmission (F4) either to the communication terminal of the network identifier of said first equipment or of data relating to said first equipment, or to a second network equipment, of a first message (M1), reception (G1) of said first message (M1) by said second equipment triggering the transmission (G2) of a second message (M2) comprising the network identifier of said first equipment to said communication terminal. Method of providing an identity according to claim 6, wherein the first message comprises data representative of said received vibration signal. Method for providing an identity in accordance with one of claims 6 or 7, further comprising determining the communication terminal having transmitted said vibration signal. Method for providing an identity according to claim 8, in which the determination comprises the extraction of an identifier making it possible to identify the communication terminal having transmitted said vibration signal, from said vibration signal. Terminal configured to implement the equipment identification method according to one of claims 1 to 6. Equipment configured to implement steps of the method for providing an identity conforming to one of claims 7 to 9. System comprising a communications terminal according to claim 10, a first piece of equipment according to claim 11 and a second piece of equipment transmitting a message to the terminal comprising the network identifier of said first piece of equipment. Computer program comprising code instructions for implementing the steps of the identification method according to one of claims 1 to 6, and/or the steps of the method of providing an identity according to one of claims 7 to 9 when executed by a processor. Information medium readable by a processor in a communication terminal or equipment, on which the computer program according to claim 13 is recorded.