DE102007007545A1 - Mobile network agent for use in communication system, has interfaces for communicating with mobile terminal and home network agent, respectively, and registering device for registering home network agent - Google Patents

Abstract

The agent has an interface for communicating with a mobile terminal (11) e.g. mobile telephone, and another interface for communicating with a home network agent (22), which is assigned to a home network. A registering device is provided for registering the home network agent, and an adaptation device is provided for adapting to data formats and/or data types. The home network agent simulates a home network terminal (21) e.g. universal plug and play (UPnP) device. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a home network agent comprising an interface (2) a method for exchanging data/information between a mobile terminal and a home network terminal.

Description

The The present invention relates to a mobile network switch (MNP) to exchange data / information between at least one, a mobile network associated mobile terminal and at least one, a Home network associated home network terminal (UPnP device). Furthermore, the invention relates a method for exchanging data / information between at least a, assigned to a mobile network mobile terminal, and at least a home network terminal (UPnP device) associated with a home network.

Home network terminals, so-called UPnP devices (UPnP = Universal Plug and Play), are designed such that she over an internet-based network can be controlled from a control point can. Home networking devices for example a stereo, a router, a printer, home appliances, etc. be. UPnP enables the Universal networking of home network devices as well as the exchange of Services with each other without the use of a central server or computer. UPnP is characterized in particular by that the checkpoint, z. As a handheld, the home network devices without Interaction of the user can find. A handheld called a portable device for different ones Applications that are very small or light. It may be in use in one hand, hence the term handheld, to be kept. As a handheld in the light of this invention, inter alia, the following Equipment, such as portable computers, so-called personal digital assistants (PDAs), mobile phones, portable game consoles, portable measuring devices, portable devices for playing of music or movies or remote controls.

UPnP is also characterized by the fact that all physical media, the IP communication (IP = Internet Protocol), z. Ethernet, wireless (Bluetooth, wireless LAN), FireWire (IEEE 1394), can be used. A UPnP home network terminal or UPnP control point can be on any IP-enabled Operating system and with a variety of programming languages, mainly C, C ++ and Java.

A Connection of mobile devices, such as For example, a mobile phone, which is assigned to a mobile network are to exchange data and information to the home network, to which various home network terminals are assigned, so far not possible.

task The present invention is to provide access from a mobile terminal which is assigned to a mobile radio network, to a home network terminal, or an access from a home network terminal to a mobile terminal, which Associated with a mobile network, to create data between to be able to exchange this. The goal is that the mobile terminal of one or more home network terminal (s) as a Home network terminal is recognized.

These The object is achieved by a mobile network switch with the features according to the independent claim 1, by a home network switch with the features according to the independent claim 3, by a communication system having the features of the independent claim 5 and through a process of exchanging data / information between at least one mobile network associated mobile terminal and at least one home network terminal associated with the home network Features according to the independent claim 8. Other benefits, features, details, aspects and effects of Invention will become apparent from the dependent claims, the description and the drawing. Features and details associated with the inventive mobile network switch are of course also applicable in context with the home network intermediary according to the invention, the communication system according to the invention as well as the method according to the invention to exchange data / information between at least one, a mobile network associated mobile network, and at least one, a Home network associated home network terminal, and vice versa.

According to a first aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by a mobile network switch (MNP) for exchanging data / information between at least one mobile terminal associated with a mobile network and at least one home network terminal (UPnP device) assigned to a home network, wherein the mobile network mediator has an interface for communicating with the at least one mobile terminal, an interface for communicating with a home network mediator associated with the home network, and registration means for registering the home network mediator. The home network switch establishes a connection to the mobile network proxy (MNP) via a communication channel, particularly via the Internet, and registers with the mobile network intermediary. This is because a direct connection from a mobile terminal associated with a mobile network to a home network terminal of a home network is not possible. That is, before a mobile terminal of a mobile network to a home network terminal of a home network and vice versa, a connection is first established between the mobile network operator of the mobile network and the home network intermediary of the home network.

In order to the mobile network intermediary can communicate with the at least one mobile terminal he has one for it trained interface. Further, the mobile network mediator an interface for communicating with the home network broker on. Thus, a data exchange between the mobile network broker and the home network broker The home network broker must first be able to Register mobile network intermediaries. The purpose of this is the Registration device of the mobile network intermediary.

One such mobile network facilitator allows the data from a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone, a PDA, a smartphone, a mobile network can be transferred to a home network. D. that is, the mobile network switch, for example, allows one Control or a review of Home networking devices of the home network. For example, home network terminals may all UPnP devices be, which can be controlled centrally. These are devices, like Stereos, TVs, projectors, computers, whiteboards, routers, kitchen appliances, printers, Home controllers, etc., the manufacturer across the Home network, typically an Internet Protocol-based network, can be controlled. The control can via a Gateway, the gateway has a kind of router functionality. As a result, a platform independence is obtained in the context of OSGi (OSGi = Open Services Gateway Initiative) or embedded Java Benefits. The gateway is based on a set of standardized Network protocols and data formats. A network protocol is doing an exact agreement, according to the data between computers or processes exchanged by the home network with each other are connected. The agreement consists of a set of rules and formats, the so - called syntax, which is the communication behavior of the determine communicating instances in the computers.

Advantageous is a mobile network broker which is a customizer for Adapting data formats and / or data types. To data between the mobile device the mobile network and the at least one home network terminal exchange to be able to if necessary, the format of the data or the type of data, that from the mobile terminal be transferred to the at least one home network terminal to adapt to the usual Format and the usual Type of home network. Furthermore, can through the adaptive device of the mobile network intermediary bit rates, the screen resolution, for example, in videos or photos, and / or speeds, d. H. for example, the pictures per second in videos to the required bandwidth for the transmission to adapt to the current network situation in the mobile network. Z. For example, a 2.5G GPRS connection has a maximum transmission rate 56 kbit / s while MP3 files usually between 128 and 192 kbit / s are encoded. To this end, the mobile network mediator prefers a fitting device.

According to one Another aspect of the invention is achieved by a home network broker (MHNP) for exchanging data / information between at least a home network terminal associated with a home network, and at least a, a mobile network associated mobile terminal, wherein the home network broker an interface for communicating with the at least one home network terminal, an interface for communicating with the mobile network switch and an emulation device for emulating the identifier of the mobile terminal in a home network Identification has solved. MHNP is the abbreviation here of English expression for the home network broker, namely for mobile home network proxy. For communication with the home network terminals, the home network switch has a corresponding one Interface on. The interface becomes the home network broker with home network devices interconnected to exchange data. Further, the home network intermediary instructs Interface for communicating with the mobile network intermediary. That is, the home network broker turns over the interface a communication channel, in particular via the Internet, connect to the mobile network broker. Furthermore, the home network switcher has an emulation device for Emulate the identifier of the mobile terminal in a home network known identifier. Because home network terminals only communicate with home network terminals can is offered with the home network intermediary such a device. That is, the mobile terminal is not recognized as such by the home network terminals, but only the home network intermediary, so to speak, the mobile terminal represents. Therefor provides the emulation device, the identifier of the mobile terminal in a the home network known identifier converts. This allows it Home networking devices with mobile devices a mobile network to communicate.

In this case, a home network broker is preferably an adaptation device for adaptation of data formats and / or data types. In order to be able to exchange data between the at least one home network terminal and a mobile terminal of a mobile radio network, it may be necessary to change the format of the data or the type of data transmitted from the at least one home network terminal to the mobile terminal. adapt to the common format and the common type of mobile network. Further, by the home network provider's adapter, bit rates, screen resolution, such as videos or photos, and / or speeds, ie, frames per second in video, may be adjusted to accommodate the bandwidth needed for transmission to the current network situation in the mobile network. For example, a 2.5G GPRS connection has a maximum transfer rate of 56kbps, while MP3 files are usually encoded between 128kbps and 192kbps. For this purpose, the home network broker preferably has a matching device.

According to one Third aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by a communication system for Exchange of data / information between at least one, one Mobile network associated mobile terminal, and at least one, a home network associated home network terminal, wherein the communication system is a mobile network switch according to the invention as described above and a previously described home network switch according to the invention has dissolved. Such a communication system allows access from one mobile terminal, which a mobile network is assigned to a home network terminal, or an access from a home network terminal to a mobile terminal, which A mobile network is assigned to exchange data between them to be able to. By Such a communication system will be the mobile terminal of a or more home network terminal (s) such as a home network terminal, so that this data / information, such as control commands, from the mobile terminal can accept.

The Communication system allows that every home network terminal access data / information from a mobile device as if it were locally connected in the home network. On the other hand, a mobile can terminal Access data / information from any home network terminal being there for the home network devices looks like as would the mobile device a home network terminal connected locally in the home network. This allows the home network broker. This pretends to any home network terminal that the mobile device a home network terminal represents. The home network broker therefore has an emulation device for emulating the identifier of the mobile terminal in an identifier known to the home network. That is, the mobile terminal will not recognized as such by the home network terminals, but only the Home network broker, representing the mobile terminal, so to speak. The emulation device converts the identifier of the mobile terminal into a home network known identifier.

Advantageous is a communication system where the mobile network intermediary and the home network broker communicate the internet with each other. That is, the connection between a home network terminal A home network and a mobile terminal of a mobile network via the public Internet. Both the mobile network broker and the home network broker therefore have interfaces for the use of the Internet.

All Particularly advantageous is a communication system in which the Home Network Broker over a router or gateway with the mobile network switch and with the at least a home network terminal communicated. A router is doing a switching computer which connects several networks. At the router will be incoming network packets of a protocol based on so-called network layer information and routed to the intended destination network.

router work only on the third shift, d. H. the network layer of the OSI reference model, whereas Gateways a more general term for any kind of connections between different networks or different terminals. Advantageously, a DSL router or a wireless router is provided be. These devices are combinations of different components. That's the combination from a DSL modem or an ADSL modem and a router often as DSL router or ADSL router called. A combination of one Access point and a router is often referred to as a wireless router. For this should a WAN port can be provided. The so-called routing then finds between Wi-Fi and WAN instead. DSL means Digital Subscriber Line, d. H. a broadband digital connection via a Telephone network. ADSL means Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line. WIRELESS INTERNET ACCESS (Wireless Local Area Network) means a "wireless" local area network, where usually a standard of IEEE 802.11 is meant. The radio network is a network in which data / information transmitted by electromagnetic waves become. about the WAN port, the router connects to the Internet. The LAN port or the WLAN port provide the connection to the local Home network.

• a) ein dem Heimnetzwerk des wenigstens einen Heimnetzwerk-Endgerätes zugeordneter Heimnetzwerk-Vermittler stellt über einen Kommunikationskanal eine Verbindung zu einem dem Mobilfunknetzwerk zugeordneten Mobil-Netzwerk-Vermittler des wenigstens einen mobilen Endgerätes her,
• b) nach Herstellung der Verbindung registriert sich der Heimnetzwerk-Vermittler bei dem Mobil-Netzwerkwerk-Vermittler,
• c) das wenigstens eine mobile Endgerät sendet über den Kommunikationskanal Daten/Informationen an das wenigstens eine Heimnetzwerk-Endgerät des Heimnetzwerkes,
• d) der Heimnetzwerk-Vermittler wandelt die Kennung des wenigstens einen mobilen Endgerätes in eine dem Heimnetzwerk entsprechende Kennung um.

According to the last aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by a method for exchanging data / information between at least one mobile terminal associated with a mobile network and at least one home network terminal assigned to a home network, the method being characterized by the following steps:

• a) a home network switch assigned to the home network of the at least one home network terminal establishes a connection via a communication channel to a mobile network switch assigned to the mobile network network of the at least one mobile terminal,
• b) after establishing the connection, the home network intermediary registers with the mobile network operator intermediary,
• c) the at least one mobile terminal sends data / information via the communication channel to the at least one home network terminal of the home network,
• d) the home network broker converts the identifier of the at least one mobile terminal into an identifier corresponding to the home network.

By Such a procedure will easily allow one to access mobile device, which is assigned to a mobile radio network, to a home network terminal, or an access from a home network terminal to a mobile terminal, which Associated with a mobile network, to create data between to be able to exchange this. The mobile device is by this method of one or more home network terminal (s) such as a home network terminal recognized.

In In a first step, a home network intermediary of the home network provides via a communication channel a connection to a mobile network switch associated with the mobile network ago. The communication channel provides a transmission path for data / information In a second step, the home network intermediary registers at the mobile network work broker. This is the communication channel open. In a next Step sends the at least one mobile terminal over the open communication channel Data / information to the at least one home network terminal of the home network. After all The home network broker converts the identifier of the at least one mobile terminal in a home network corresponding identifier, so that the mobile terminal from the home network terminals also recognized as home network terminal. For this purpose points the home network broker an emulation device. That is, the home network broker takes on the role of the mobile device. He is deceiving, so to speak in front of the mobile device would be an internal one Home network terminal. This makes it possible To exchange data / information between the mobile terminal and the home network terminal (s). So can the home network terminals of the mobile terminal to be checked. In another application, the home network terminals of the mobile terminal be controlled so that the actions execute. This can be, for example turning it on or off a home network terminal be.

Prefers is still such a method in which the home network intermediary via the Internet connects to the mobile network switch. The Connection between a home network terminal of a home network and a mobile device a mobile network is over the public Internet made. Both the mobile network broker and the home network intermediary have interfaces for use of the internet. It is particularly advantageous if the data exchange between the home network broker and the mobile network broker and between the home network broker and the at least one Home network terminal via a Gateway or a router takes place. The gateway or the router couples with it multiple networks with each other and connects the terminals of one Network with each other. That is, at the router will arrive Network packets of a protocol based on so-called network layer information analyzed and routed to the intended destination network or routed.

One Intermediary, d. H. the home network broker or the mobile network broker, is also commonly referred to as a proxy. Proxy is thus the name for one Network service representative of a program or terminal network connections builds. An HTTP proxy z. B. is concerned with requesting HTML pages representative of a viewer. Proxies are computers between local Networks and WANs, and instead of the individual Send computer data packets to the WAN and receive them from there. Proxies can Increase the speed of connection by acting as storage not often used by the LAN and often demanded packages Request a new request. You can also to increase security by using it as a firewall Do not forward network requests

Also preferred is a method step in which the mobile network switch and / or the home network switch can perform adaptation of data formats and / or data types via an adaptation device. To save data between To be able to exchange the at least one home network terminal and a mobile terminal of a mobile network, it may be necessary to adapt the format of the data or the type of data transmitted from the at least one home network terminal to the mobile terminal the common format and the common type of mobile network. Further, bit rate, screen resolution, such as video or photos, and / or velocities, ie, for example, frames per second in video, may be the bandwidth required for transmission by the mobile network switch or home network switcher adapter adapt the current network situation in the mobile network. For example, a 2.5G GPRS connection has a maximum transfer rate of 56kbps, while MP3 files are usually encoded between 128kbps and 192kbps. Through the adapter, both the mobile network broker and the home network broker can make various adjustments in communication, such as setting the data formats, image size, resolution, bitrates, etc., so that each terminal will match the existing ones Data formats and types.

The Invention will now be described with reference to an embodiment with reference closer to the enclosed drawing explained. Showing:

1 a schematic representation of a communication system.

In 1 schematically is an embodiment of the communication system according to the invention 1 shown. At least one mobile device 11 , here a mobile phone, is a mobile network 10 assigned. Furthermore, the mobile network 10 a mobile network broker 12 assigned. Further, a home network has multiple home network terminals 21 assigned. These are via a router 23 interconnected to exchange data / information. Further, the home network has a home network broker 22 on. This home network broker 22 has an emulation device, not shown. The mobile device 11 and the home network terminals 21 can over the internet 2 communicate with each other. This is made possible by the home network broker 22 , the home network terminals 21 pretends that the mobile terminal 11 a home network terminal would be. Ie. the emulator of the home network broker 22 converts the identifier of the mobile device 11 into an identifier used by the home network terminals 21 is recognized. The home network broker 22 is therefore also with the router 23 connected, so that data / information provided by the mobile terminal 11 sent to the home network via the home network broker 22 and the router 23 to the respective home network terminals 21 be transmitted. It is also possible that the home network terminal 21 Data / information about the home network broker 22 and the router 23 to the mobile device 11 transfer.

Claims (11)

Mobile network intermediary (MNP) for exchanging data / information between at least one mobile terminal associated with a mobile network and at least one home network terminal (UPnP device) associated with a home network, characterized in that the mobile network intermediary An interface for communicating with the at least one mobile terminal, an interface for communicating with a home network intermediary associated with the home network, and registration means for registering the home network mediator. Mobile network switch according to claim 1, characterized in that the mobile network intermediary has an adaptation device to customize data formats and / or data types. Home Network Broker (MHNP) to exchange Data / information between at least one, a home network associated home network terminal (UPnP device), and at least one, a mobile network associated mobile terminal, characterized in that the home network intermediary interfaces for communicating with the at least one home network terminal, a Interface for communicating with the mobile network intermediary and an emulation device for emulating the identifier of the mobile terminal in an identifier known to the home network. Home network switch according to claim 3, characterized in that the home network broker has an adapter to customize data formats and / or data types. Communication system for exchanging data / information between at least one mobile network associated mobile Terminal, and at least one home network terminal (UPnP device) associated with a home network thereby characterized in that the communication system is a mobile network intermediary according to claim 1 and a home network switch according to claim 3 has. Communication system according to claim 5, characterized in that the mobile network Ver and the home network broker communicate over the Internet. Communication system according to claim 5 or 6, characterized characterized in that the home network broker has a Router or a gateway with the mobile network intermediary and with the at least one home network terminal communicates. Procedure for exchanging data / information between at least one, a mobile network associated mobile terminal and at least a home network terminal (UPnP device) associated with a home network through the following steps: a) a home network of at least a home network terminal assigned home network intermediary over a communication channel a connection to a mobile network switch associated with the mobile network of the at least one mobile terminal, b) after production the connection the home network intermediary registers with the mobile network operator intermediary, c) the at least one mobile terminal transmits over the communication channel Data / information to the at least one home network terminal of the home network, d) the home network broker converts the identifier of the at least one mobile terminal into an identifier corresponding to the home network. Method according to claim 8, characterized in that that the home network broker connects through the internet to the mobile network broker manufactures. Method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized that the data exchange between the home network broker and the mobile network broker and between the home network broker and the at least one Home network terminal via a Gateway or a router takes place. Method according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized that the home network broker via an emulation device the identifier of the mobile device eluted into an identifier known to the home network.