Method for bidirectional message transmission with different/divided return channels, at least part of data stream is transmitted from additional data source to terminal

The invention relates to methods and apparatus for bidi -directional communication, in which with respect to the Transfer technology or different way split and return channels between a data source and a terminal are required in a data network.

It is increasingly clear that even, for example, by the Introduction of UMTS, the demand for bandwidth in downstream Direction, ie toward the terminal, insufficient funds can be. Therefore you start thinking about it, under different types of transmission combine. this fall more and more one-way streaming technologies in the Fo cus, such as the use of satellite transmitters as or just terrestrial methods in the form of beispielswei se radio / TV channels. Until now, such services can only offered by network operators, both rates Rich have obligations under its control and hence these Datenströ me in one of them specified way from the terminal to Da source of data or pass them in the opposite direction. The Kun de is thus to a specific service or also to the da tied with related technology. For mobile terminal device te these proprietary solutions, of course, because ih rer geographical limitations do not apply.

www.ietf.org/internet-drafts/draft- From the website soliman-mobileipv6-00.txt from 05.07.2000 a draft is ei nes mobile Internet protocol known.

Further, from W. Richard Stevens; TCP IP Illustrated, Vol. 1, Addison-Wesley, 1994, Reading, USA, fundamental Infor mation on data packets and their delegation, Or organization of an IP network from pages 33 to 53 and basic information on routers from pages 111 to 126 known.

The object underlying the invention is now represent in a method and an arrangement for bidirectional Communication with different or split Return channels between the data source and terminal in egg specify nem data network, which is also for data networks with mobile are suitable participants with a minimum of to rate expenses require.

This object is in terms of the process by the Features of claim 1 and in the arrangement solved by the features of patent claim 7. The other Claims relate to advantageous embodiments of the inventions to the invention process.

The invention essentially consists in that a best Rising infrastructure of a data network for mobile subscribers is used to not only move within a network to allow, but also the use of different reciprocating Return channels or transmitting and Empfangseinhei th / technologies.

The invention is based on the following in the Zeichnun gene illustrated application examples explained in more detail. there shows

<b>Fig.</b> 1 IP data network for mobile subscribers with a through a foreign network nodes caused Datenstromaufspal Maintenance,

<b>Fig.</b> 2 a corresponding network with one of the data source even caused data stream splitting and

<b>Fig.</b> 3 a corresponding network with a by a node the home network caused splitting of the data stream.

In <b>Fig.</b> 1 to 3 is an example of a data network for mobile Participants and the Protocol mentioned MobileIP v4 / v6 shown. Here, a corresponding the node (CN) and the data source of a corresponding Network presented with IPv4 / v6 protocol that egg over NEN router R3 a network N, which eg. the protocol IPv4 / v6 which is connectable. A home unit HA (Ho meagent) of a home network, which is also, for example. The Protocol IPv4 / v6 which is connected via a router R2 just if connected to the network N. Finally, any Node MAP / GFA / FA of a foreign network in the form of FD Mobili tätsankerpunktes MAP, a gateway foreign unit GFA (Gateway foreign agent) ode r a foreign unit (Foreign Agent) with a router R1 of the network N connected. The knot MAP / GFA / FA of the foreign network FD is optionally with further Node of the foreign network FD connectable. Such a further Node can have for example an access router AR1, of having towards the terminal further mobility anchor points or foreign units MAP / FA or MAP '/ FA' connected is. The mobility anchor point or the foreign unit MAP / FA can for example again with access routers AR4 and AR5 related and mobility anchor point MAP '/ FA' for example with an access router AR6 and the mobile node MN may be connected in the form of the terminal.

Out <b>Fig.</b> 1 it is clear that by a request of Endge chine MN a node on the MAP '/ FA', AR1, MAP / GFA / FA, R1, R3 Upstream data stream in the form of a request to the data source CN takes place. The data source CN provides a downstream Data stream via the router R3 and R1 to any unit MAP / GFA / FA of the foreign network FD. In this unit, MAP / GFA / FA occurs as a function of traffic or Verbindungsin formation to split the downstream data stream, another data source SP as a streaming provider z. B. provides a terrestrial downstream to the terminal MN and corresponding of the unit MAP / GFA / FA information receives for transmission. The connection between the terminal and the unit MAP / GFA / FA of the foreign network can only nor a pure upstream data stream, ie towards the Data source CN, as well as a downstream portion of the data stream Terminal included.

In <b>Fig.</b> 2 is a similar network as in <b>Fig.</b> shown 1, but in which the traffic information from the data source CN itself generated and transmitted to the router R1, which then in turn, a function of the traffic information Splitting the data stream to the terminal performs. The router R1 causes while the other data source in the form of SP Streaming provider for generating z. B. a terrestrial Downstream intervention to the terminal MN. Between the terminal MN and the Router R1 can only upstream data stream alone but in addition, a partial data stream to the terminal downstream done.

In <b>Fig.</b> 3 is again a similar network as in <b>Fig.</b> 1 and 2 taken as a basis, in which the traffic information of a Home unit HA of the terminal MN is generated with the CN data source is connectable, wherein the connection via the done router R2 of the data network N. The router R2 is in Depending on the traffic information splitting of Da tenstromes between the terminal MN and the router R2 be acts, the router R2 another data source in SP causes the form of a streaming provider to downstream z. B. a terrestrial data stream to the terminal MN to ü transferred. The connection between the terminal and the MN Router R2 can best only one upstream data stream hen, but also a part of the data stream downstream toward Terminal included.

The terrestrial data stream between the streaming provider SP and the terminal MN, for example, from radio / TV channels or a LAN (local area network) exist. In addition to terrestrial data streams, for example, is also the Use of satellite TV channels as possible.

The MobileIP for IPv4 and IPv6 provides with its structure the ability to up- and downstream to different behan spindles an ideal base for a completely flexible and the Service, the technology, the seller so totally independent Realization. Through small extensions of messages in Mo bileIP, for example, by so-called binding updates, in Form of an additional transfer of downstream Traffic information can be locally available units for this traffic information is determined, flexible be caused to a splitting (splitting) in Da data traffic make. Thus, the customer is no longer special providers bound, has the free Technologieaus alternatively, the solution is compatible with mobile devices and the not limited to this but also on Da tennetze applicable without really mobile subscriber.

It should be noted that among of a compound both a physical and a virtual connection to ver is available.

The invention and its embodiments described above, can both in software and in hardware, beispielswei se by using a specific electric circuit, will be realized.

Furthermore, an implementation of the invention or is the above Described embodiments are possible by a computer -readable storage medium on which a computer program ge is stored, which the invention or the dedicated From performs development of the invention.

The invention and / or any to the one described above NEN embodiments by a computer program product be realized, which has a storage medium on which a computer program is stored, which he the making and / or the formation of the inventions described above performs training.