WO2005096607A1

WO2005096607A1 - Processing device for automatic modem configuration with configuration data transmitted through a telephone network.

Info

Publication number: WO2005096607A1
Application number: PCT/IB2005/050922
Authority: WO
Inventors: Leo Rek
Original assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
Priority date: 2004-03-30
Filing date: 2005-03-16
Publication date: 2005-10-13

Abstract

A processing device (D) is coupled to a telephony means (TM), able to be linked to a telephone network (TN) and to receive, and possibly send, data messages from, and possibly to, this telephone network (TN) through a telephonic link (L1), and coupled to a modulation/demodulation means (MD) arranged to establish a communication with at least one data network (DN) when configured with chosen configuration data. This processing device (D) comprises processing means (PM) coupled to the telephony means (TM) and arranged, upon reception by this telephony means (TM) of at least one data message comprising configuration data, to transmit the received configuration data to the modulation/demodulation means (MD) in order to configure it.

Description

PROCESSING DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC MODEM CONFIGURATION WITH CONFIGURATION DATA TRANSMITTED THROUGH A TELEPHONE NETWORK.

Field of the invention The present invention relates to modem configuration.

Background of the invention To enable a communication equipment device to access to a data network such as the Internet, the communication equipment device needs to be coupled to, or to comprise, a modem (or modulator/demodulator) that is connected to this data network through a transport medium. As it is known by one skilled in the art, the modem is in charge of the electrical and logical adaptation of the digital data flows, transmitted through the transport medium, to the specific access medium of the communication equipment device. The transport medium may be a telephone line (possibly of the ADSL type), a coaxial cable, or an optical fibre, or else a satellite link. Before digital data flows can be transmitted to a communication equipment device by a data network, a connection needs to be established with the data network service provider (for example an ISP -"Internet Service Provider"). In order to allow this connection to be established, the modem needs to be configured with configuration data (or parameters) that are known by the service provider. These data could be the user identification parameters (login and password), protocol types (such as PPPoE, PPPoA and the likes), transport parameters (ATM VCI/VPI, ATM encapsulation methods), or a combination of these parameters. The configuration of a modem requires a user to manually set these parameters using its communication equipment device, when this communication equipment device is a computer or the likes, or through an auxiliary computer when this communication equipment device is a user equipment device such as a mobile telephone or a PDA ("Personal Digital Assistant"). This operation is not an easy task for users that have little technical knowledge and it always requires a computer. Moreover the user needs to know the configuration data before starting the modem configuration. Furthermore, this operation takes time and error(s) may be introduced by the user as it is a manual operation. Finally, the user must write down the configuration data on paper and preserve it for future reference, in case the modem needs to be re-configured (or re- initialized).

Summary of the invention So, the object of this invention is to improve this situation. For this purpose, it provides a processing device for a telephony means linkable to a telephone network and able to receive, and possibly send, data messages from, and possibly to, the telephone network through a telephonic link and coupled to a modulation/demodulation means arranged to establish a communication with at least one data network when it is configured with chosen configuration data. This processing device is characterized in that it comprises processing means coupled to the telephony means and arranged, when the telephony means receives one ore more data messages comprising configuration data, to transmit the received configuration data to the modulation/demodulation means in order to configure it. The processing device according to the invention may include additional characteristics considered separately or combined, and notably:

- the data messages may be of the SMS type ("Short Message Service") and/or of the EMS type ("Enhanced Messaging Service") and/or of the ?MMS type ("Multimedia Messaging Service"),

- the configuration data may be the user identification parameters such as a login and a password, or a DHCP client activation data, or else one or more fixed IP- addresses, but it could be also a primary DNS ("Dynamic Name Server") IP ("Internet Protocol") address, a secondary DNS IP address, default gateway data or protocol parameters,

- the configuration data may be configuration and activation data related to the physical and logical connection parameters, such as authentication protocols (PPPoA, PPPoE, and the likes), transport parameters (ATM VCI/VPI settings, ATM encapsulation method and the likes) or other connection parameters,

- at least when the modulation/demodulation means is coupled to the telephony means for the first time, said telephony means may be arranged to generate and then transmit a dedicated data message, comprising a configuration request, to a chosen address or a telephone number, through the telephone network, so that the configuration data could be transmitted to them. In that case the telephony means may be arranged to generate and transmit the dedicated data message when it receives the configuration request and a user authorization,

- alternatively, the processing means may be arranged to generate a configuration request in order that the telephony means transmits a dedicated data message, representative of this request, to a chosen address or a telephone number, through the telephone network, so that the configuration data could be transmitted to the telephony means. In that case the telephony means may be arranged to automatically generate and transmit the dedicated data message when it receives the configuration request. But the telephony means may also be arranged to generate and transmit the dedicated data message when it receives the configuration request and a user authorization,

- the processing means may be arranged to determine whether the modulation/demodulation means has been correctly configured and to generate a status information message, representative of the configuration in order that the telephony means transmits it to the chosen address or the telephone number,

- the chosen address or telephone number may be the communication address or the telephone number of a data provider communication equipment device to which the telephone network is coupled and that possibly belongs to an Internet Service Provider (ISP). The invention also provides a first communication equipment device comprising a telephony means linkable to a telephone network, able to receive data messages from the telephone network through a telephonic link and to be coupled to a modulation/demodulation means arranged to establish a communication with at least one data network when configured with chosen configuration data, and a processing device such as the one introduced above. The invention also provides a first communication system comprising a communication equipment device, such as the one introduced above, and a modulation/demodulation means coupled to the telephony means of this communication equipment device and arranged to establish a communication with at least one data network when it is configured with chosen configuration data. The modulation/demodulation means of this first communication system may be connected to the data network through a connection such as a telephone line, a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), a coaxial cable, an optical fibre or a satellite link, or else any other physical link. Moreover, this first communication system may also comprise at least one other equipment device coupled to the modulation/demodulation means, such as a router, a switch, a wireless access point, or a peripheral connector. The invention also provides a second communication equipment device comprising a telephony means, able to be linked to a telephone network and to receive data messages from this telephone network through a telephonic link, a modulation/demodulation means coupled to the telephony means and arranged to establish a communication with at least one data network when it is configured with chosen configuration data, and a processing device such as the one introduced above. The modulation/demodulation means of this second communication equipment device may be connected to the data network through a connection such as a telephone line, a Digital Subscriber Line, a coaxial cable, an optical fibre, a satellite link, or any other physical link. The invention also provides a second communication system comprising a second communication equipment device such as the one introduced above, and at least one other equipment device such as a router, a switch, a wireless access point, or a peripheral connector. Brief description of the drawings Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent on examining the detailed specifications described hereafter with reference to the appended drawings, wherein:

- Fig.l schematically illustrates an example of communication equipment which comprises a processing device according to the invention and which is linked to a telephone network and to a data network, through an external modem, - Fig.2 schematically illustrates an alternative example of communication equipment comprising a processing device according to the invention and an internal modem,

- Fig.3 schematically illustrates an alternative example of the communication equipment illustrated in Fig. 2,

- Fig.4 schematically illustrates an example of a communication system comprising the communication equipment of Fig.1 and a router connected to the external modem and to a wireless access point,

- Fig.5 schematically illustrates another example of a communication system comprising the communication equipment of Fig.2 and a router connected to said communication equipment and to a wireless access point, and - Fig.6 schematically illustrates another example of a communication system comprising a telephone function (including messaging function), a modem function, a routing function and a wireless access point function integrated in one communication equipment device. The appended drawings may not only serve to complete the invention, but also to contribute to its definition, if need be.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments Reference is initially made to Fig.l to describe a processing device D adapted to allow an automatic configuration of a modem MD (or modulation/demodulation means). In the illustrated example, the processing device D is accommodated in a communication equipment device CE provided with a telephony module TM adapted to be linked to a telephone network TN to allow the establishment of a communication with another remote communication equipment device. According to the invention, the telephony module TM comprises a messaging module MM adapted at least to receive data messages from the telephone network TN. This messaging module ?MM is also preferably adapted to transmit data messages to the telephone network TN. The data messages are preferably of the SMS type ("Short Message Service"). But they also could be of the EMS type ("Enhanced Messaging Service") and/or of the -MMS type ("Multimedia Messaging Service"). In fact, the messaging module MM may be adapted to exchange SMS messages and/or EMS messages and/or

?MMS messages. In the following description the messaging module MM is supposed to be able to exchange (receive and transmit) data messages of the SMS type with the telephone network TN. The communication equipment device CE is typically a fixed telephony device but could alternatively be a mobile (or cellular) telephone, or a computer/laptop capable of telephony functionality (reception and possibly transmission of messages from and to the telephony network). In the following description, it will be assumed that the communication equipment device CE is a fixed telephone, that is connected to a telephone network TN of the PSTN type (or of the Plain Old Telephone Service (or POTS) type), through a physical link LI such as a telephone line. When the communication equipment device CE is a mobile telephone it is able to be radio- connected to a cellular communication network such as, for example, a GSM/GPRS network or an UMTS network or else an EDGE network, possibly through a telecommunication satellite. In these cases, the cellular network or satellite link will have the same function as the fixed telephone network. In the illustrated example, the telephone CE is connected to an external modem MD, which is itself connected to a data network DN through a link (or transport medium) L2. This link L2 may be a telephone line, a coaxial cable, or an optical fibre, or else a satellite link. A telephone line of the ADSL (Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line) type (or other DSL types, such as VDSL, SDSL and the likes), which uses a free spectrum of the twisted copper pair of an existing line as physical transport medium, or a television (TV) cable, which uses a free spectrum of the cable which provides TV channels as physical transport medium, are of particular interest when broadband access to the data network DN is required. In the following description it will be assumed that the link L2 is a broadband physical transport medium of the ADSL type for high speed connection to the Internet (DN). As mentioned above in the introductory part, a modem MD first needs to be configured with configuration data (or parameters) in order to be able to establish a connection between any equipment device connected to this modem MD, typically one or more (personal) computers PC, and the -Internet through the link L2. The processing device D according to the invention is arranged to automatically provide such configuration data to the modem MD. For this piupose, the processing device D comprises a processing module PM that is coupled to the telephony module TM and arranged to transmit configuration data, received by the (SMS) messaging module MM of the telephony module TM through one or more data messages transmitted by the telephone network TN through the link LI, to the modem MD. The processing device D and telephony module TM could be physically separated units or one physically integrated module (one microprocessor for example). The received configuration data comprise usually the user identification parameters, such as a login and a password, that have been defined by the ISP that must provide access to the Internet to the telephone CE when its modem is configured. But the received configuration data may also comprise one or more fixed IP addresses or DHCP ("Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol") client activation data and/or a primary DNS ("Dynamic Name Server") IP ("Internet Protocol") address and/or a secondary DNS IP address and/or default gateway data and/or protocol parameters such as authentication protocols (PPPoA, PPPoE and the likes), transport parameters (ATM VCI/VPI settings, ATM encapsulation method and the likes) or other connection parameters. The processing module PM analyzes every SMS message received by SMS messaging module MM and coming from the telephone network TN in order to detect the messages, which are configuration messages. When a configuration message has been detected, the processing module PM extracts the configuration data it contains. The transmission of these data through the connection (or link) LI to the telephone module TM and through the connection (or link) L3 to the modem MD could be automatic or on request by the user. So, when the modem ?MD receives the configuration data it can configure itself in a way that is well known to those skilled in the art. The configuration messages are sent by dedicated equipment DE that is connected to the telephone network TN. This dedicated equipment DE may be a message server that belongs to the ISP or is accessible to the ISP and that is in charge of the transmission (and possibly the generation) of the configuration data. For example, the ISP has a database in which the configuration data for each user are stored. This database could automatically provide the configuration data and deliver them to the dedicated equipment DE. Several solutions may be envisaged for the activation of the transmission of configuration message(s) by the dedicated equipment DE to a chosen telephone CE. For example, the dedicated equipment DE may be made aware by a specific user action that a data configuration is required. Such a user action may be a phone call to the ISP or to the dedicated equipment DE, or else the transmission of a dedicated

SMS message to the dedicated equipment DE (or any other designated equipment) connected to the telephone network TN, by means of the SMS messaging module MM of its telephone CE. Alternatively, the processing module PM of the processing device D may be arranged to automatically generate a configuration request when it is warned by the telephone CE that it has been coupled to a modem MD, at least for the first time. This configuration request is transmitted to the telephony module TM in order that it generates a dedicated SMS message, representative of this request, and transmits it to the dedicated equipment DE (or any other designated equipment) through the link LI.

Such a solution is fully transparent to the user. It is also possible to authorize the telephony module TM to generate and then transmit the dedicated SMS data message requesting the configuration data if, and only if, it receives a configuration request and a user authorization. For example, the user may be warned by a dedicated sound or visual alarm from his telephone CE initiated by the processing module PM, and can accept or refuse the configuration request, for example by selecting a dedicated item in the menu that is automatically displayed on the screen of the telephone CE. Whatever the solution, when the ISP or the dedicated equipment DE receives the phone call or the dedicated SMS message, it transmits, through the telephone network TN to the requesting telephone CE, one or more configuration messages containing the configuration data dedicated to the modem MD to which this requesting telephone CE is coupled. The transmission of the configuration message(s) may be secured, for example by data encryption. However, when it concerns a message sent over POTS

(PSTN), the need for encryption is limited as POTS provides a fully secured physical point-to-point connection from the dedicated equipment DE to the telephony module

TM. When the modem MD is fully configured it is ready for use. So a connection with the ISP may be established between the telephone and its server. A prerequisite to the connection establishment may be envisaged. -Indeed the ISP may authorize the connection establishment only if it is certain that the modem MD has been correctly configured. In that case, the processing module PM is preferably arranged to determine near the modem ?MD if it is correctly configured. So, when the processing module PM is certain that the modem MD is correctly configured, it generates a status information message, representative of the modem configuration, in order that the telephony module TM transmits it as a SMS message to the dedicated equipment DE (or any other equipment of the ISP), through the telephone network TN. Thus, when the dedicated equipment DE receives the SMS message, it can deduce from the status information contained therein whether it can or cannot authorize the connection establishment of the relevant communication equipment CE. In the above described example, the communication equipment device CE is coupled to an external modem ?MD through an interface IF and through the link L3.

But a communication equipment device CE according to the invention may comprise an internal modem MD as schematically illustrated in Fig.2. A communication equipment device CE of this type may be a mobile (or cellular) telephone, for example.

Fig.3 illustrates an alternative example of the communication equipment device CE illustrated in Fig.2. In this alternative example, the modem MD and the telephony module TM are connected to the same telephone/data link L1 L2. Moreover, a communication equipment device CE according to the invention may be part of a communication system CS.

For example, and as illustrated in Fig.4, this communication system CS may comprise a communication equipment device CE, such as the one described above with reference to Fig.l, a modem MD, coupled to the interface IF of the communication equipment device CE, and at least one other equipment device.

Alternatively, and as illustrated in Fig.5, the communication system CS may comprise a communication equipment device CE comprising an internal modem function, such as the one described above with reference to Fig.2, and at least one other equipment device coupled to the communication equipment device CE, more particularly to its internal modem MD. This other equipment device usually is a network equipment device such as a router, a switch, a wireless access point, or an end-user equipment device, typically a personal computer using a peripheral connector (for example USB, Ethemet and the likes).

In Figures 4 and 5 the modem MD is coupled to a router R, which is itself connected to a wireless access point WAP. However, a lot of other combinations may be envisaged with one or more network equipment devices. It is important to note that the communication system CS may be a combination of equipment devices that are coupled one to the other. But as illustrated in Fig.6, the communication system CS may also constitute a single integrated communication equipment device CE comprising a telephony module (or function) TM with a messaging module (or function) MM, a modulation/ demodulation module (or function) MD, and one or more network modules (or functions), such as a router function R and a wireless access point function WAP. The processing device D and notably its processing module PM, and the telephony module TM and notably its messaging module MM are typically realised with a combination of hardware and software modules. Thanks to the invention the modem configuration is automatic, does not require any manual operation from the user with the risk of errors, is completely safe and without risk of eavesdropping, and can be used (?) instantly as soon as the modem has been coupled to the communication equipment device. Moreover no computer is required for the modem configuration. In addition, the configuration data transmission is secured because of the use of the switched circuit services of a telephone operator. The invention is not limited to the embodiments of processing device, communication equipment device and communication system as described above by way of example, but encompasses all alternative embodiments which may be considered by one s-killed in the art within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. Processing device (D) for a telephony means (TM) able to be linked to a telephone network (TN) and to receive, and possibly send, data messages from, and possibly to, said telephone network (TN) through a telephonic link (LI) and coupled to a modulation/demodulation means (MD) arranged to establish a communication with at least one data network (D?N) when configured with chosen configuration data, characterized in that it comprises processing means (PM) coupled to said telephony means (TM) and arranged, upon reception by said telephony means (TM) of at least one data message comprising configuration data, to transmit said received configuration data to said modulation/demodulation means (MD) to configure it.

2. Processing device according to claim 1, wherein said data messages are SMS data messages.

3. Processing device according to one of claims 1 and 2, wherein said data messages are EMS data messages and/or MMS data messages.

4. Processing device according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said configuration data comprise at least a login and a password.

5. Processing device according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said configuration data comprise configuration and activation data related to physical and logical connection.

6. Processing device according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said telephony means (TM) is arranged, at least when said modulation/ demodulation means (MD) is coupled to it for the first time, to generate and then transmit a dedicated data message, comprising a configuration request, to a chosen address or a telephone number, through said telephone network (TN), so that said configuration data could be transmitted to said telephony means (TM).

7. Processing device according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said processing means (PM) is arranged, at least when said modulation/ demodulation means (MD) is coupled to said telephony means (TM) for the first time, to generate a configuration request in order that said telephony means (TM) transmits a dedicated data message, representative of said request, to a chosen address or a telephone number, through said telephone network (TN), so that said configuration data could be transmitted to said telephony means (TM).

8. Processing device according to claim 7, wherein said telephony means (TM) is arranged to automatically generate and transmit said dedicated data message when it receives said configuration request.

9. Processing device according to one of claims 6 and 8, wherein said telephony means (TM) is arranged to generate and transmit said dedicated data message when it receives an authorization from a user.

10. Processing device according to one of claims 6 to 9, wherein said processing means (PM) is arranged to determine whether said modulation/ demodulation means (MD) has been correctly configured and to generate a status information message, representative of said configuration, in order that said telephony means (TM) transmits it to said chosen address or telephone number.

11. Processing device according to one of claims 6 to 10, wherein said chosen address or telephone number is the communication address or the telephone number of data provider communication equipment (DE) to which said telephone network (TN) is coupled.

12. Communication equipment device (CE), characterized in that it comprises a telephony means (TM) able to be linked to a telephone network (TN), to receive data messages from said telephone network (TN) through a telephonic link (LI) and to be coupled to a modulation/demodulation means (MD) arranged to establish a communication with at least one data network (DN) when configured with chosen configuration data, and a processing device (D) according to one of the preceding claims.

13. Communication equipment device (CE), characterized in that it comprises a telephony means (TM) able to be linked to a telephone network (TN) and to receive data messages from said telephone network (TN) through a telephonic link (LI), a modulation/demodulation means (MD) coupled to said telephony means (TM) and arranged to establish a communication with at least one data network (D?N) when configured with chosen configuration data, and a processing device (D) according to one of claims 1 to 11.

14. Communication equipment device (CE) according to one of claims 12 and 13, wherein said modulation/demodulation means (MD) is connected to said data network (D?M) through a connection (L2) chosen from a group comprising at least a telephone line, a Digital Subscriber Line, a coaxial cable, an optical fibre, a wired Ethernet connection and a satellite connection.

15. Communication system (CS), characterized in that it comprises a communication equipment device (CE) according to one of claims 12 and 14, and a modulation/demodulation means (MD) coupled to said telephony means (TM) of said communication equipment device (CE) and arranged to establish a communication with at least one data network (DIM) when configured with chosen configuration data.

16. Communication system according to claim 15, wherein it comprises at least one other equipment device (R, WAP) coupled to said modulation/demodulation means (DM) and chosen from a group comprising at least a router (R), a switch, a wireless access point (WAP), and a peripheral connector.