WO2003058911A1

WO2003058911A1 - Establishing communication between a tcp/ip network and an electric terminal without implemented tcp/ip protocols

Info

Publication number: WO2003058911A1
Application number: PCT/DE2003/000045
Authority: WO
Inventors: Frank GÜNTHER; Felix Klamroth
Original assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
Priority date: 2002-01-11
Filing date: 2003-01-02
Publication date: 2003-07-17
Also published as: DE10201247A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a communication terminal with implemented TCP/IP protocols, a command interface and a serial interface, said communication terminal being usable for communication of an electronic terminal without implemented TCP/IP protocols with a TCP/IP network owing to the interaction of the command interface and the implemented TCP/IP protocols. The invention further relates to a method for establishing communication between a TCP/IP network and an electronic terminal, according to which a communication terminal with implemented TCP/IP protocols, a command interface and a serial interface are interposed between the electronic terminal and the TCP/IP network, said implemented TCP/IP protocols and said command interfaced interacting under program control.

Description

description

Communication mediation between a TCP / IP network and an electrical end device without implemented TCP / IP protocols

The invention relates to a method and a communication device for communicating between a TCP / IP network and an electronic terminal without implemented TCP / IP protocols or a so-called “TCP / IP stack”. A protocol stack is understood to mean all of them Possible interacting and coordinated protocols that cover and enable a complete communication relationship. TCP / IP protocols form the basis for communication on the Internet and also in an intranet of a company. IP stands for Internet Protocol, TCP for Transmission Control Protocol. Electronic end devices, also referred to as so-called “client applications”, which use communication devices in order to gain access to a TCP / IP network, such as for example the Internet or an intranet of a company, require their own implemented TCP / IP stack in order to communication with the front TCP / IP network to be able to take. However, the implementation of a TCP / lP stack requires a lot of resources, such as working memory, so-called RAM (Random Access Memory), computing power and high development effort. For example, all applications on a PDA that want to use a GPRS mobile device with GPRS require their own TCP / IP stack. Many client applications do not have the option to implement their own TCP / IP stack due to a lack of resources. As an example, an electricity meter can be given that sends a measured electricity consumption to a control center. It could be desirable be worth it to construct the electricity meter quite simply, which would not be possible by providing a TCP / IP stack at the same time. The cordless sending of the data could be provided as an additional option, such as a configuration variant. As already mentioned above, a communication device must be provided in order to be able to grant access to the Internet. In order to make the connection of the electricity meter to the Internet as easy as possible, all communication-specific software

Integrate L0 protocols in the communication device. Another example is a toll device, such as a coupling of a GPS module for determining the position of a vehicle with a communication device. The position of the vehicle can be sent to a person via the Internet

L5 control center can be sent, which can then calculate the applicable road use fees. It is also desirable not to have to expand the insufficient resources in the GPS module.

20 It is known to implement a TCP / IP stack in the client application. For example, a TCP / IP stack is implemented in all notebooks or PDAs that can be used to connect to the Internet via a mobile phone. For this, the notebook or the PDA is connected via a serial

25 interface or connected to the mobile device via a wireless serial infrared connection (IRDA). As already mentioned, this results in a higher need for memory and computing power. All other applications have so far been denied access to a TCP / IP network. As a result, many mobile applications are prevented from using the higher transfer rates offered by GPRS. It was therefore an object of the present invention, too

Applications without their own TCP / IP stack can access one

Enable TCP / IP network.

This object is achieved by an inventive communication device according to claim 1 and / or by an inventive method according to claim 6. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are set out in the respective subclaims.

10

According to claim 1, a communication device with implemented TCP / IP protocols, a command interface and a serial interface is provided, the communication device by means of a cooperation of the command L5 interface and the implemented TCP / IP protocols for communicating an electronic terminal device without an implemented one TCP / IP protocols can be used with a TCP / IP network.

! 0 The electronic terminal can be, for example, a PDA, a measuring device, such as an electricity meter or a weather station, a control unit, such as a lighting system, a vending machine or a cash register terminal for

5 money cards.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the communication device according to the invention, the command interface is an AT interface or a so-called AT-0 interface. Such an AT interface can be controlled with so-called AT commands. The AT commands can be entered in a display of the electronic terminal and sent to the communication device via the serial interface become. The communication terminal or the AT interface of the

Communication device receives the AT commands, interprets their content and solves the underlying underlying the AT commands

Actions. It should be noted that according to the invention,

5 de other interface is conceivable.

The AT command set is a command set developed by the Hayes company (Hayes command set) for controlling, for example, a modem, a module or similar L0 functional units. This command set begins with the AT command, for attention, from which the name is derived. This instruction set has developed as a quasi-standard.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention

.5 communication device, the interaction of the command interface and the implemented TCP / IP protocols is program-controlled. According to the invention, an algorithm is provided with the aid of which the TCP / IP stack implemented in the communication device can also be used for external electronic

! 0 make electronic end devices usable without an implemented TCP / IP stack. Via the AT interface, data arriving from such a terminal via the serial interface to the communication device is forwarded to the TCP / IP stack of the communication device and from there in

5 appropriate format in a TCP / IP network, such as the Internet or an intranet of a company. The corresponding procedure can be carried out in the reverse direction, i.e. from a TCP / IP network to the terminal. The functional interface of the TCP / lP stack is switched to the AT

0 interface shown. This means that a corresponding AT command is provided for each function that provides an implementation of the TCP / IP protocol. This creates a complete AT command set with which functions for using and configuring the

TCP / IP protocol can be run.

The communication device according to the invention preferably belongs to a group of devices consisting of modules, telephones and modems.

The communication device according to the invention can preferably be used in a group of communication systems consisting of GSM, GPRS, Bluetooth, EDGE, UMTS, DECT, HOMEFREE.

Furthermore, the invention provides a method for communicating between a TCP / IP network and an electronic terminal, in which a communication device with implemented TCP / IP protocols, a command interface, between the electronic terminal and the TCP / IP network and a serial interface is arranged, the implemented TCP / IP protocols and the command interface interacting under program control.

An AT interface or a so-called AT interface is preferably selected as the command interface.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the interaction of the TCP / IP protocols or the so-called TCP / IP stack with the AT interface is achieved by an algorithm implemented by AT commands. This algorithm maps the TCP / IP interface to the AT interface, so that communication between a terminal device without an implemented TCP / IP stack and a TCP / IP network is possible via a corresponding communication device. The process according to the invention is preferably carried out in one

Communication system carried out, which belongs to a group of communication systems, which consists of GSM, GPRS, EDGE, Bluetooth, UMTS, DECT and HOMEFREE.

Three program sequences are described below:

Example A: Picking up an email from a POP3 server

The following designations apply below: -> Send to the terminal according to the invention <- Received from the terminal according to the invention The individual program steps are numbered consecutively. An explanation of the AT commands is given in the appendix

1.Configuration of the connection

First, a communication profile is created that contains all the necessary data to establish a connection to the Internet via an Internet service provider. A connection ID is assigned to each configuration profile.

-> at IPcon £ = l, CSD, 0301234566, 0. 0. 0. 0, 0. 0. 0. 0, 0. 0. 0. 0, username, password <- OK

2. Establish connection

The connection for the corresponding communication profile is established with the following command, i.e. the terminal device according to the invention is then connected to the Internet.

-> at IPdial = l <- CONNECTED

3. Request the IP socket An IP socket is created for the connection with the connection ID and the identification number is returned

5 -> at ^* ~ IPsocket = 1, SOCK_STREAM <- sid = 42 <- OK

4. Connect the IP socket to port (connection position) 110 on the 10 pop3 server (Post Office Protocol)

-> at ^A IPconnect = 42, pop3. Berlin . de, 110 <- OK

15 5. Switch to data mode

-> at IPdatamode = 42 <- CONNECT

20 6. POP3 protocol: fetch existing emails

<- + OK InterMail POP3 Server ready.

-> USER y. x

<- + OK please send PASS command 25 -> PASS xyz

<- + OK x.y is welcome here

-> LIST

<- + OK 1 messages

<- 1 1011! 0 <-.

-> ÜIDL

<- + OK 1 messages

<- 1 <20020102125257. VKWX27460.mailoutvl21@there>

<-. 5 -> RETR 1

<- + OK 1011 octets <- Return path: <mrx@linux.berlin.de>

<- Received: from mailoutvl21.berlin.de ([195.243.105.33])

<- by kxmail.berlin.de

<- (InterMail vK.4.03.05.00 201-232-132 license

5 <- C0e4b842fleddc5308d584e55543c802)

<- with ESMTP

<- id

<- 20020102125119. BETQ10270.kxmail@mailoutvl21.berlin.de>

<- for <x.y@berlin.de>; Wed, Jan 2, 2002 13:51:19

L0 <- +0200

<- Received: from there ([217.225.11.84]) by a

<- mailoutvl21.berlin.de

<- (InterMail vK.4.03.05.00 201-232-132 license

<- C0e4b842fleddc5308d584e55543c802) .5 <- with SMTP id

<- <20020102125257.VKWX27460.mailoutv!21@there>

<- for <x.y@berlin.de>; Wed, Jan 2, 2002 13:52:57

<- +0100

<- Content-Type: text / plain; ! 0 <- charset = "iso-8859-15"

<- From: mr x <mrx @ linux>

<- To: x.y@berlin.de

<- Subject: test

<- Godfather: Wed, 2 Jan 2002 13:52:11 +0100: 5 <- X-Mailer: KMail [version 1.3.1]

<- MIME version: 1.0

<- Content transfer encoding: 8bit

<- Message-Id: <20020102125257.VKWX27460.mailoutvl21@there>

0 <- This is a test. <-.

-> DELE 1 <- + 0K -> QUIT

<- + OK x.y InterMail POP3 server signing off.

7. Back to AT mode -> +++

8. Close the IP socket -> at IPclose = 42 <- OK

9. End internet connection -> at ^{^} IPdisconnect = 1 <- OK

Example B: Setting up an HTTP server

1.- 3. As in example A

4. Bind the IP socket to the standard HTTP PORT 80

-> at IPbind = 42.0.0.0.0.80

5. Establish readiness for connection requests, set up a queue

-> at IPlisten = 42, 10

<- OK

6. Signaling that a client is in the queue

<- + IPlisten = 43 7. Accept client connection

-> at ^λ IPaccept = 43 <- OK , Switch to data mode

-> at IPdatamode = 43 <- CONNECT

5

9.HTTP protocol: processing client requests

<- GET http: //www.mymodul. de: 80 / HTTP / 1. 1

LO

-> HTTP / 1. 1,200 OK

, , , (send the internet page)

L5

10. Back to AT mode

-> +++

20 11. Close the IP socket

-> at IPclose = 43 <- OK

25 12. Wait for new clients

<- + IPlists = 44

i0 Further advantages will be shown with the help of the following figures.

Fig.l Schematic representation of an interaction of an electronic terminal without an implemented TCP / ip stack with an embodiment of a communication device according to the invention;

Fig. 2 Schematic representation of an interaction of an electronic terminal without an implemented TCP / IP stack with a further embodiment of a communication device according to the invention.

In FIG. 1, a communication device 1 is connected to an electronic terminal 3 via a serial interface 2. The electronic terminal 3 can control the communication device 1 by sending defined character strings, so-called AT commands, via the serial interface 2. At the same time, the electronic terminal can receive 3 character strings on the interface 2. This can be data or a signaling of the communication device 1. The AT commands sent by the electronic terminal 3 are commands which control the functions of a TCP / IP protocol. The program part in the electronic terminal 3 which sends the AT commands can thus establish a connection to the Internet 5 via a TCP / IP stack 4 of the communication device 1 and act both as an Internet client and as an Internet server.

In the communication device 1, the AT commands are evaluated by a so-called AT interface 6 and the corresponding functions of the TCP / IP protocol are called up. If the electronic terminal 3 wants to send data to the Internet 5 in a program sequence, these data are packaged in IP packets with the aid of these functions. In order to send these IP packets to the Internet 5, the communication device 1 has the option of using different communication protocols, such as GSM, GPRS or UMTS, a connection to

To build Internet 5.

In FIG. 2, a serial interface 2 is provided with a multiplex protocol 7. The multiplex protocol 7 enables several logical channels 8 to be used via the serial interface 2, which corresponds to a physical channel. A logical channel 8 is assigned to each Internet application 9 in the electronic terminal 3. The Internet application can send the TCP / IP-AT commands or send or receive data via this respective channel 8. Correspondingly, a multiplex protocol 10 is also provided in the communication device 1. Each logical multiplexer channel 11 is assigned an instance 12 of the AT interface 6, that is to say the program part that recognizes the TCP / IP AT commands and calls the corresponding functions of the TCP / IP stack 4.

Appendix: Generic AT interface

! .AT commands for handling a physical connection 5

1.1 Configuration of the connection

This AT command creates a communication profile that contains all the data required to establish a connection to the Internet via a 10 Internet service provider. A connection ID is assigned to each configuration profile.

Command:

L5 at ^A IPconf = <cid>, <medium>, <nuπ-ber>, <IP>, <dnsl>, <dns2>, <usernam e>, <password>, ...

<cid> = 1,2,3, ..., n (connection ID)

20 <medium> = CSD, GPRS, ...

<number> = phone number

<IP> = IP address, 0.0.0.0 for dynamic assignment

<dnsl> = first DNS server address, 0.0.0.0 for one

Server assigned address 25 <dns2> = second DNS server address, 0.0.0.0 for server assigned address

<username> = username

<password> = password

10 Return value: OK \ ERROR

OK: Set the configuration profile successfully

ERROR -. error

: 5 1.2 Open a connection

If a configuration profile has been created for a connection ID, the following AT command can be used to try to establish the connection to the Internet.

: 0

Command: at ^A IPdial = <cid>

5 <cid> = 1,2,3, ..., n (connection ID)

Return value: CONNECTED \ NO DIALTONE \ NO CARRIER \ AUTHENTIFICATION FAILED I ERROR

CONNECTED connection successfully established NO DIALTONE selection not possible NO CARRIER connection not possible AUTHENTICATION FAILED: Login with user / password failed

ERROR: other error

1.3 Query the status of a connection

The status of a connection can be queried with this command:

Command: at ^ IPgetstate = <cid>

10

<cid> = 1,2,3, ..., n (connection ID)

Return value: CONNECTED \ CONNECTING | DISCONNECTING | DISCONNECTED

15 CONNECTED: Connection established

CONNECTING: Connection establishment not yet completed

DISCONNECTING: Connection clearing not yet completed

DISCONNECTED: no connection

20 1.4 Closing a connection

Command:

At ^ IPdisconnect = <cxd>

25

<cid> = 1,2,3, ..., n (connection ID)

Return value: OK \ ERROR

50 OK: Connection successfully closed

ERROR: error

1.5 Signaling of a connection abort

55 Not:

+ IPconnbroken = <cid>

<cid> = 1,2,3, ..., n (connection ID) 10

2. AT commands for IP sockets

2.1 Request your own IP address

-5

Command: at ^A IPgetIPadr = <cid>

> 0 <cid>: l, 2,3, ..., n (connection ID)

Return value: <address> OK | ERROR <address> OK: <adress> = IP address

ERROR: error

2.2 Determining the IP address of an Internet name address

Command: at 'IPgethostbyname = <cid> _/ <n_adress><cid>: 1,2,3, ..., n (connection ID)

<n_address>: address name, e.g. "Www.xy.de"

Return value: <address> OK | ERROR <a.ddress> OK: <adress> = IP address

ERROR: error

2.3 Structure of an IP socket command: at ^ IPsocket = <cid>, <style>, <protocol>

<cid>: l, 2,3, ..., n (connection ID) <style>: SOCK_STREAM, SOCK_DGRAM

<protocol>: 0

Return value: sid = <sid> OK \ ERROR <sid> = OK: Connection successfully established, <sid> = 1,2,3, ..., n (socket ID)

ERROR: Connection could not be established

2.4 Closing an IP socket

Command: at ^Λ IPclose = <sid>

<sid>: 1,2,3, ..., n (socket ID)

Return value: OK, ERROR oκ: Socket closed successfully

ERROR: Socket could not be closed

2.5 Establishing a connection to a server Command: at ^Λ IPconnect = <sid>, <serverhost>, <port>

<sid> = 1,2,3, ..., n (socket ID)

<serverhost> IP address or name of the server

<port> server port

Return value: OK, ERROR

OK: connection established

ERROR: Socket could not be connected

2.6 Binding a socket to an IP address and to a port

Command: at 'IPbind = <sid>, <address> _/ <port>

<sid> = 1,2,3, ..., n (socket ID)

<address> = IP address <port> = server port

Return value: OK, ERROR oκ: Binding successful ERROR: Error

2.7 Establishing readiness for connection requests Command: at ^Λ IPlisten = <sid>, <queuelength>

<sid> = 1,2,3, ..., n (socket ID)

<qrueuelensrfch> max. Number of requests in the queue Return value: OK, ERROR

OK -. Socket is monitored, connection requests are answered with

"+ IPaccepting = <sid>" signals ERROR: error

2.8 Signaling connection requests

Not: + lPaccepting = <sid>

<sid> = 1,2,3, ..., n (socket ID) 2.9 Accept connections

Command: 5 at ^{^} IPaccept = <sid>

<sid> = 1,2,3, ..., n (socket ID)

10 Return value: sid = <c_sid> OK | ERROR sid = <c_sid> OK: <c_sid> = 1,2,3, ..., n (socket ID of the newly created connection socket, not <sid>!) ERROR connection could not be accepted

.5

2.10 Query socket status

Command:! 0 at ^{^} IPselect = <sid>

<sid> = 1,2,3, ..., n (socket ID)

! 5 Return value: <state>, <accepting>, <dataavail>, <canwrite>, <sendstate>

<state> 0 ... inactive, 1 ... active, 2 ... error,

<accepting> 0 ... none, 1 ... connection requests in the waiting ι 0 queue

<dataavail> 0, 1 ... data ready to receive <canwrite> 0, 1 ... data ready to send <sendstate> X bytes still have to be sent

.5 2.11 Sending data via a socket

Command: at ^{^} IPsend = <sid>, <datatype> _/ <data>

0

<sid> = 1,2,3, ..., n (socket ID)

<datat pe> = 0 ... ascii, 1 ... hex

<data> = data in binary or ASCII format

5 Return value: OK \ ERROR

OK: data sent successfully

ERROR: Sending failed

0 2.12 Receive data via a socket

Command: at ^ IPrecv = <sid>, <datatype>

<sid> = 1,2,3, ..., n (socket ID) <datatype> = 0 ... ascii, 1 ... hex

Return value: <da ta> OK \ ERROR

<data> oκ: <data> data in the requested format ERROR •. receive error

2.13 Switch interface for a socket to data mode

The following command can be used to activate the data mode on the interface, ie all data sent to the interface are sent via the specified socket. All data received on the socket are output directly on the interface. Command: at ^A IPdatamode = <sid>

<sid> = 1,2,3, ..., n (socket ID)

Return value: ERROR

ERROR: Data mode could not be initialized. 2.14 Switch the interface back to command mode

[Pause 1 sec] +++ [pause 1 sec. ] Return value: OK

2.15 Indication that data on a socket is ready to be received

The following message signals that data on a socket is ready to be received and can be received by switching to data mode or with "+ IPrecv".

Not: ₊ IPdata = <sid>

<sid> = 1,2,3, ..., n (socket ID)

2.16 Indication that a socket has been closed Not:

+ IPsockclosed = <sid>

<sid> =

Claims

claims

1. Communication device (1) with implemented TCP / IP protocols (4), a command interface (6) and a serial interface (2), characterized in that the communication device (1) by means of an interaction of the command interface ( 6) and the implemented TCP / IP protocols (4) for communicating an electronic terminal (3) without implemented TCP / IP protocols with a TCP / IP network (5).

2. Communication device according to claim 1, so that the command interface (6) is an AT interface (AT interface).

3. Communication device according to claim 1 or 2, so that the interaction of the command interface (6) and the implemented TCP / IP protocols (4) is program-controlled.

4. Communication device according to one of the preceding claims, that the communication device (1) belongs to a group of devices consisting of modules, telephones and modems.

5. Communication device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that that the communication device (1) can be used in a group of communication systems consisting of GSM, GPRS, EDGE, Bluetooth, UMTS, DECT, HOMEFREE.

6. Method of mediating communication between one

TCP / IP network (5) and an electronic terminal (3), in which a communication device (1) with implemented TCP / IP protocols (4), one between the electronic terminal (3) and the TCP / IP network (5) Command interface (6) and a serial interface (2) is arranged, the implemented TCP / IP protocols (4) and the command interface (6) interacting under program control.

7. The method according to claims, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t that as a command interface (6) an AT interface

(AT interface) is selected.

8. The method according to claim 6 or 7, so that the method is carried out in a communication system that belongs to a group of communication systems that consists of GSM, GPRS, EDGE, Bluetooth, UMTS, DECT, HOMEFREE