Process and apparatus for downloading digital data on a terminal after measuring the data reception rate for the terminal

The present invention relates generally to the flow measuring available in reception for a client terminal connected to a network communication and able to download digital data from a data server.

The interest of such a measure is particular to select a rate of the most appropriate coding rate available in reception to the client terminal before sending data.

There are measurement software installed in the client terminal. Such software measures periodically the amount of data transmitted to a protocol given level on the network access to one or equipment the network. This software is independent of the equipment generate data traffic. It is therefore not suitable for measuring the flow rate in reception terminal. Indeed, it provides statistics about the network, for an operator and not to a data server.

On the other hand, there are measurement software installed on the server side. A Such software measures the amount of data transmitted at a level of given protocol on the network access to a client terminal.

For example, US Pat 2002044528, US2002165970 and EP 0622967 relate to measurements made on the server side.

This type of architecture has the following disadvantages. Measuring Speed ​​is performed by a given server for the specific needs of this server. It will therefore repeat the measurement for each server. In addition, the server should implement a traffic generator coupled to an application traffic absorption in the client terminal.

On the other hand, it is desired that the flow measurement be made very quickly.

The present invention aims to solve the drawbacks of the prior art by providing a method and a measuring device rate available at reception for a client terminal connected to a network communication and able to download digital data from a data server, which allow a measurement which is not linked to a specific server while being quick to perform.

To this end, the invention provides a method of measuring the available flow reception for a customer terminal adapted to be connected to a server data via a communication network, characterized in it comprises the steps of:<ul><li>client terminal connection to an application server hosting flow measurement,</li><li>downloading to the client terminal of a measurement application flow, from the server hosting flow measurement application,</li><li>triggering of the flow measurement application, this application comprising the steps of:<ul><li>the client terminal connected to a test server,</li><li>download from the client terminal to a test file to from the test server,</li><li>measuring a download speed test file.</li></ul></li></ul>

Thanks to the invention, the flow measurement available in reception for a client terminal is performed independently of receiving data Digital data server. The measure is not related to a server specific.

In a preferred embodiment, the test file comprises data packets, and the step of measuring a download speed of test file comprises<ul><li>measuring a download speed after receiving of each packet,</li><li>checking a stability test of the measured flow rates,</li><li>stop downloading the test file and measures when the stability test is satisfied.</li></ul>

Thus, the flow measurement is performed quickly.

According to a preferred characteristic, the measurement of a flow download after receiving each packet is carried out between a predetermined order of packet in the test file and the last received packet.

The measurement results quickly tend towards a stable value.

More specifically, the measurement of a download speed after the receiving each packet is carried out between the end of receipt of the first packet in the test file and the end of reception of the last received packet.

Alternatively, the measurement of a download speed after the receiving each packet is carried out on a predetermined number of last received packets.

In a preferred embodiment, the stability criterion is checked when the difference between the flow measurements for the receipt of two packets consecutive, over a predetermined interval of packets, is less than a threshold predetermined.

This criterion is simple to implement and monitor.

The invention also relates to a data download process Digital on a customer terminal adapted to be connected to a server by via a communication network, characterized in that it comprises the flow measurement method available, as previously stated, and it then comprises a client terminal step of connecting to the server data with dependent indication of the measured rate available.

The invention also provides a data download process Digital on a customer terminal adapted to be connected to a server by via a communication network, characterized in that it comprises the flow measurement method provided as previously discussed, and that it comprises a prior step download request for a specific set of data, and a subsequent step of the connection client terminal to the data server with an address determined as a function the measured rate available.

The invention relates to a flow measuring device which comprises means for implementing the method described above.

The downloading method and the flow measuring device advantages similar to those previously exposed.

The invention further relates to a computer program comprising implementation instructions previously presented methods.

Other features and advantages will appear on reading modes described preferred embodiment with reference to the figures in which:<ul><li>FIG 1 shows a device embodiment according the invention,</li><li>2 shows a first apparatus embodiment according the invention,</li><li>3 shows one embodiment of method of measuring flow according to the invention,</li><li>4 shows a second device embodiment according the invention,</li><li>5 illustrates the flow measurement.</li></ul>

According to one embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 1, the device comprises a client terminal 1 connected to a network that communication 2. A data server 3 is also connected to the communication network 2. The data server 3 is for example adapted to provide a set of data according to a range of different predetermined rates according to a streaming technique called "streaming".

The data set is provided to the client terminal 1 at a flow rate which must be adapted particularly at the maximum rate that can receive the terminal 1.

According to the invention, a server 4 of measurement application hosting flow rate and a test server 5 are connected to the communication network 2.

The measuring device of rate available at reception for the terminal client 1 adapted to be connected to the data server via a communication network, comprises:<ul><li>client terminal means for connecting the server 1 to 4 flow measurement application hosting,</li><li>download means on the client terminal an application flow measurement, from the server hosting the application of measurement rate,</li><li>triggering means of the flow measurement application, this application comprising the steps of:<ul><li>client terminal 1 connection to the test server 5,</li><li>download from the client terminal to a test file to from the test server,</li><li>measuring a download speed test file.</li></ul></li></ul>

The operation of the 4 and 5 servers is explained below. It is Note that the servers 4 and 5 may be physically combined in a single server. In addition, 4 and 5 servers can be combined with server 3 data.

The <b>2</b> represents the interactions of Figure 1 elements according a first embodiment of the invention.

The <b>3</b> shows a process flow measurement corresponding in the form of an algorithm comprising steps E1 to E15.

Step E1 is displaying an HTML page on the client terminal. This page has to perform an effective flow measurement for the reception client terminal 1. Assume that the user application flow measurement.

The following step E2 is the sending of a request to download a flow measurement application, from the client terminal 1 to the server 4 hosting this application. This application is available as an HTML page.

Step E3 is the installation of the HTML page containing the application flow measurement in the dedicated server 4. This step further Pending the receipt of a request to download the application flow measurement.

The following step E4 is the receipt by the server 4, the application of downloading the flow measurement application from the terminal 1.

The next step E5 is sending the HTML page that contains the application flow measurement, from the server 4 to the client terminal 1.

The E6 step is the receipt of this page the client terminal 1.

The next step E7 is sending a request for test file from the client terminal to the test server 5.

The E8 step is receiving the file request by the test server Test 5, which was in a wait state.

The next step E9 is sending from the server file to the test 5 client terminal 1. The test file contains data which are transmitted the form of data packets. For example, the transmission is performed in the form of 50 packets of 4000 bytes each.

The step E10 is gradually receiving the test file by the terminal customer and the simultaneous flow measurement available in reception.

The measurement is performed as follows, illustrated in <b>5.</b>Consider the moments of receiving end of packets. The receiving end the first packet P₀ is an initialization of the account and received bytes boot t₀ the moments of reception. This means that the contents of the first packet is not taken into account.

Then, at the end of reception of each packet P_notThe one accumulates number of bytes received from the initial instant t₀. The rate is the ratio of the cumulation with the difference of the current time t_not with the initial time t₀.

Alternatively, the flow rate calculation is performed on a predetermined number last of packets received.

The reception of the test file packets and flow measurement are performed until the measurement result is not stabilized. The criterion stability is verified when the absolute value of the difference between the measurements flow to receiving two consecutive packets, over an interval predetermined packets, is less than a predetermined threshold. The threshold is for example equal to 2%.

When the stability criterion is satisfied, the flow measurement is complete. The last measured value is the rate available in reception for the terminal 1 customer.

The step E10 is then followed by step E11, which is the end of the measurements and stop downloading the test file.

In the next step E12, the client terminal 1 to the application server 3 data in a PHP page with the parameter measured flow.

In a particular embodiment, PHP page of the application is made to an intermediate server.

Alternatively, it is not the measured flow rate, which is integrated in the demand, but a debit step value consistent with the measured flow. In this case, the possible rate values ​​have been previously downloaded, for example with the flow measurement application.

The data server 3 comprises a set of data, example audiovisual content, available at different rates under the form of several files each corresponding to a flow rate.

At step E13, the server 3, or the intermediate server, receives PHP Application page, with flow available for reception customer terminal, or the flow rate increment value. The server 3, or the server intermediate, creates an HTML page indicating a preferential rate of sending data. The preferential rate depends on the measured flow rate.

The next step E14 is sending the HTML page created in step Previous data from the server 3 or the intermediate server to the client terminal 1.

For example, if the measured flow rate is between 0 and 48 kbit / s, the server sends an HTML page indicating that the requested data can not be supplied with this flow.

If the measured flow rate is between 48 and 120 kbit / s, the server sends an HTML page indicating that the most suitable speed for sending data required is a rate of 40 kbit / s.

If the measured flow rate is between 120 and 360 kbit / s, the server sends an HTML page indicating that the most suitable speed for sending data required is a rate of 100 kbit / s.

If the measured flow rate is between 360 and 840 kbit / s, the server sends an HTML page indicating that the most suitable speed for sending data required is a rate of 300 kbit / s.

If the measured flow rate is greater than 840 kbit / s, the server sends a page HTML indicating that the most suitable speed for sending data required is a rate of 700 kbit / s.

At step E15, the client terminal 1 receives and displays the HTML page sent by the data server 3 or the intermediate server.

The client terminal may then request the data server 3 the download the data set. For this, the user has at his disposal the most suitable speed.

A second embodiment is shown in <b>4.</b> In this embodiment, flow measurement application is made simultaneously with a request to download a set of data. The flow measurement application may even be such transparent for the user.

The operation of this embodiment is analogous to that of preceding, except for the following differences.

When the flow measurement application is downloaded to the terminal client, it is accompanied by a set of addresses. Each address corresponds to the data set at a particular rate.

When the flow rate available has been measured, the client terminal application directly the data set available to flow through his address.

Of course, alternative embodiments are possible. In particular, when the flow rate available has been measured, it is possible to propose to the client terminal user multiple download rate values, determined based on the measured flow rate and compatible therewith. The user then selects a rate value, which then replaces the measured flow rate value. In particular, this is the selected value which is taken into account for the download of the data.