WO2016099671A1

WO2016099671A1 - Open wrt network service provider front end (nspfe) usb dongle

Info

Publication number: WO2016099671A1
Application number: PCT/US2015/058249
Authority: WO
Inventors: Casimir Johan Crawley
Original assignee: Thomson Licensing S.A.
Priority date: 2014-12-19
Filing date: 2015-10-30
Publication date: 2016-06-23
Also published as: TW201637402A

Abstract

A method and apparatus for establishing a wide access network (WAN) connection between a router gateway (RG) and a network service provider (NSP) using an OpenWRT network service provider front end (NSPFE) dongle is described herein. The method includes connecting the OpenWRT NSPFE dongle to the NSP, connecting the OpenWRT NSPFE dongle to an OpenWRT router gateway (RG), and establishing the WAN connection.

Description

OPEN WRT NETWORK SERVICE PROVIDER FRONT END (NSPFE) USB DONGLE

FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to USB Dongle flash disk and modems that offer provisioning features and are able to support router gateway network access.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Most network service providers (NSPs) require router gateways (RGs) to connect their network service with customer premise equipment (CPE). Current vendor solutions implement both router gateway requirements and Data Over Cable Server Interface Specification (DOCSIS), Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), Gigabit Passive Optical Network (GPON), and the like, requirements on the same silicon-on-chip (SOC). This approach introduces unnecessary complexity, reduced flexibility, and increased vendor dependency.

[0003] Older cable and DSL modems only operate as bridge devices and do not implement router gateway requirements. Such modems offer Ethernet or USB slave network connections. The slave interface only implements standard communications device and Ethernet USB classes or custom device drives only supporting Windows. USB mass storage file-systems are not supported and customer diagnostics are limited.

[0004] There is a need for a solution that provides less complexity, increased flexibility, and decreased vendor dependency.

SUMMARY

[0005] An Open WRT network service provider front end (NSPFE) dongle is a composite

USB device bridging Open WRT router gateways (RGs) and network service providers (NSPs). The dongle plugs into an OpenWRT RG's USB host port providing a certified DOCSIS, DSL, GPON, and the like, NSP front end connection. The dongle simultaneously supports mass storage, communications device, and Ethernet USB device classes. The communications device and Ethernet class provide a standard OpenWRT network interface. The mass storage immediately provides a plug-and-play OpenWRT user-space device driver and services. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING(S)

[0006] Figure 1 is an example block diagram of an OpenWRT NSPFE USB dongle, an

NSP, and a RG; and

[0007] Figure 2A and 2B are an example of an OpenWRT NSPFE USB dongle operation flowchart.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

[0008] It is to be understood that the figures and descriptions of embodiments have been simplified to illustrate elements that are relevant for a clear understanding of the invention, while eliminating other elements and steps that are well known in the art and do not facilitate a better understanding of the present invention.

[0009] An OpenWRT network service provider front end (NSPFE) dongle is a composite

USB device bridging OpenWRT router gateways (RGs) and network service providers (NSPs). The dongle plugs into an OpenWRT RG's USB host port providing certified Data Over Cable Server Interface Specification (DOCSIS), Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), Gigabit Passive Optical Network (GPON), and the like, and an NSP front end connection. The dongle simultaneously supports mass storage, communications device, and Ethernet USB device classes. The communications device and Ethernet class provide a standard OpenWRT network interface. The mass storage immediately provides a plug-and-play OpenWRT user-space device driver and services.

[0010] USB 3.0 offers standard device classes and 5 Gbps transfer speeds making such dongles feasible. The OpenWRT NSPFE dongle loosely couples an NSP front end and RG functions so development and support may occur independently. The mass storage function of the dongle provides convenient support software installation before network service establishment.

[0011] The OpenWRT NSPFE dongle includes the functionality previously included in a

RG. The movement of the functionality from the RG to the OpenWRT NSPFE dongle allows for a universal RG, which inevitably is cheaper. Previous embodiments required either separate RG and modem systems or a single integrated RG/modem system. The separate systems suffered higher costs from duplicate enclosures, power supplies, cabling, and the like. Single integrated systems reduced material costs but only serviced specific telecom or cable networks exclusively. Such integrated systems also contain proprietary telecom or cable technology that reduces competition. The OpenWRT NSPFE dongle reduces material cost by implementing the proprietary telecom or cable technology in a cheap USB dongle. Plugging the USB dongle into OpenWRT routers eliminates duplicate enclosures, power supplies, and cabling while network provisioning an industry- standard router.

[0012] Figure 1 is an example block diagram of an OpenWRT NSPFE USB dongle, an

NSP, and a RG. The OpenWRT NSPFE dongle 100 is connected to a NSP 105 and a RG 110. The OpenWRT NSPFE dongle 100 may be connected to the NSP 105 using a first connector and may be connected to the RG 110 using a second connector. The OpenWRT NSPFE dongle 100 may be connected to the NSP 105 using a cable wire (not shown). The RG 110 may be wired or wirelessly connected to a customer premise equipment (CPE) 115.

[0013] Figures 2A and 2B are an example of an OpenWRT NSPFE USB dongle operation flowchart.

[0014] In Figure 2A, an NSPFE dongle may be connected 201 to an NSP cable. The

NSPFE dongle may be inserted 202 into an OpenWRT RG USB host port. The NSP head-end may provision 203 the NSPFE dongle. The NSP may configure the dongle for providing network services including signal activation, certificate exchanges, wide-area network address allocation, and the like. The OpenWRT RG may enumerate 204 the NSPFE dongle USB communications device class, for example 4G LTE USB modem or USB fax-modem. The OpenWRT RG may also enumerate 205 the NSPFE dongle USB Ethernet device subclass, for example a USB to Ethernet local access network (LAN) adapter. The OpenWRT RG may enumerate 206 NSPFE dongle USB mass storage class, for example a USB flash drive or a USB hard drive. The OpenWRT RG may mount 207 NSPFE dongle mass storage file-system. The OpenWRT RG may install 208 an NSPFE LAN server. The NSPFE LAN server may process 213 smartphone application requests.

[0015] In Figure 2B, the OpenWRT RG may attempt 209 a wide area network (WAN) connection. On a condition that the OpenWRT RG establishes a WAN connection 210, the process is complete 211 and a connection is established. On a condition that the OpenWRT RG has not established a WAN connection 210, a smartphone application may request 212 diagnostics. A NSPFE LAN server may process 213 the smartphone application request (as illustrated in Figure 2A).

[0016] While embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be appreciated that modifications of these embodiments are within the true spirit and scope of the invention. The invention is not limited to any particular element(s) that perform(s) any particular function(s) and some may not necessarily occur in the order shown. For example, in some cases two or more method steps may occur in a different order or simultaneously. Although illustrated in the context of separate functional elements, these functional elements may be embodied in one, or more, integrated circuits (ICs). Similarly, although shown as separate elements, any or all of the elements may be implemented in a stored-program-controlled processor, e.g., a digital signal processor, which executes associated software, e.g., corresponding to one, or more, of the functions. These and other variations of the methods disclosed herein will be readily apparent, especially in view of the description of the method described herein, and are considered to be within the full scope of the invention.

* * *

Claims

1. A method for establishing a wide access network (WAN) connection between an OpenWRT router gateway (RG) and a network service provider (NSP) using an OpenWRT network service provider front end (NSPFE) dongle, the method comprising:

connecting the OpenWRT NSPFE dongle to the NSP;

connecting the OpenWRT NSPFE dongle to the OpenWRT RG; and

establishing the WAN connection.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the NSP provisions the OpenWRT NSPFE dongle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the OpenWRT RG enumerates an OpenWRT NSPFE dongle communications device class.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the OpenWRT RG enumerates an OpenWRT NSPFE dongle Ethernet device subclass.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the OpenWRT RG enumerates an OpenWRT NSPFE dongle USB mass storage class.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the OpenWRT RG mounts an OpenWRT NSPFE dongle mass storage file-system.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the OpenWRT RG installs an OpenWRT NSPFE dongle local access network (LAN) server.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein a smart phone application requests diagnostics on a condition that the OpenWRT RG attempts and fails to establish the WAN connection.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein an NSPFE local access network (LAN) server processes the smartphone application request.

10. An OpenWRT network service provider front end (NSPFE) dongle for establishing a wide access network (WAN) connection between an OpenWRT router gateway (RG) and a network service provider (NSP) comprising:

a first connector configured to connect the OpenWRT NSPFE dongle to the NSP; and a second connector configured to connect the OpenWRT NSPFE dongle to the

OpenWRT RG;

wherein the WAN connection is established when the first connecter is connected to the NSP and the second connector is connected to the OpenWRT RG;

wherein the OpenWRT NSPFE dongle supports mass storage, communications device, and Ethernet USB device classes.

11. The OpenWRT NSPFE dongle of claim 10, wherein the NSP provisions the OpenWRT NSPFE dongle.

12. The OpenWRT NSPFE dongle of claim 10, wherein the OpenWRT RG enumerates an OpenWRT NSPFE dongle communications device class.

13. The OpenWRT NSPFE dongle of claim 10, wherein the OpenWRT RG enumerates an OpenWRT NSPFE dongle Ethernet device subclass.

14. The OpenWRT NSPFE dongle of claim 10, wherein the OpenWRT RG enumerates an OpenWRT NSPFE dongle USB mass storage class.

15. The OpenWRT NSPFE dongle of claim 10, wherein the OpenWRT RG mounts an OpenWRT NSPFE dongle mass storage file-system.

16. The OpenWRT NSPFE dongle of claim 10, wherein the OpenWRT RG installs OpenWRT NSPFE dongle local access network (LAN) server.

17. The OpenWRT NSPFE dongle of claim 10, wherein a smart phone application requests diagnostics on a condition that the OpenWRT RG attempts and fails to establish the WAN connection.

18. The OpenWRT NSPFE dongle of claim 17, wherein an NSPFE local access network (LAN) server processes the smartphone application request.