A method and a communication platform for packet communication between a service provider in a first network and a radio communication device in a second network

(54) Title: Method and communication platform to support communication between a service provider and a radio communication device (56) Publications cited: - (47) Summary:

The present invention relates to a communications communication packet platform between at least one service provider in a first network and a radio communication apparatus in a second network, the second network containing a first network node arranged to handle, at least in part, communication between the radio communication apparatus and a network bridge, which is located in the other network. The network bridge is arranged to handle communication between the other network and the communication platform, and the communication platform comprises an application programming interface which is arranged to handle bidirectional communication between the service provider and the radio communication apparatus.

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SUMMARY

The present invention relates to a communication platform for packet communication between at least one service provider in a first network and a radio communication apparatus in a second network, the second network containing a first network node arranged to, at least in part, handle communication between the radio communication apparatus and a network bridge, which is located in the other network. The network bridge is arranged to handle communication between the other network and the communication platform, and the communication platform includes an application programming interface, which is arranged to handle bidirectional communication between the service provider and the radio communication device.

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Technical area

The present invention relates to a communication platform B for supporting communication between a service provider and a radio communication apparatus using packet communication and a method for this. More particularly, the present invention relates to a communication platform which enables bidirectional communication between a service producer and a radio communication apparatus and a method thereof.

Background of the invention

In today's radio communication system, radios are becoming increasingly intelligent and are being introduced side by side with older radios, which still serve a large group of people.

The communication capability of these radio communication devices is constantly increasing, and data packet communication is nowadays with the use of GPRS (General Packet Radio system), for example. Data communication protocols used by radio communication devices, in particular cellular radio communication devices, include: WAP 1.0 (Wireless Application Application Protocol), WAP 1.1, WAP 2.0, HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol), HTTPS, TCP (Transport Control Protocol), IP (Internet Protocol) etc, where many cellular devices provide access to only one or some of the these protocols.

Parallel to the development of more intelligent radios is the development of increasingly intelligent and demanding services for these radios. Because there are so many different devices on the market, a service provider often needs to develop a specific service only for a specific subset of the available radios. Not always because other appliances are not capable of handling the service, although this is of course the case in many situations, but also because the development cost would

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- 2 shoot up when the services need to be adapted to the capabilities of the various radios.

It would thus be advantageous if a solution could be obtained which would reduce the development cost of service providers and increase the consumer base.

Another problem in modern radio packet communication networks is the service provider's lack of ability to initiate communication to a radio communication device. While this is well-founded for security reasons, many valuable services, such as instant messaging and speeding up of live content such as sports results, stock quotes, etc., cannot be developed without this ability. Another problem in this regard is that telecommunications operators usually arrange network bridges between the intranet and the extranet with NAT (Network Address Translation) to increase security. This system hides all address information of radio equipment from the service providers and thus increases the difficulty of establishing connections from the service providers to the radio communication devices.

Thus, it would be advantageous to provide a solution that gave the radio communication device the ability

2s to receive connections, which are initiated from a service provider.

Summary of the Invention

A principal object of the present invention is to provide such an apparatus and method which at least reduces the aforementioned problems.

According to a first aspect of the invention, these objects, as well as others, are achieved by a communications platform for the communication of packet comma between at least one service provider in a first network and a radio communication apparatus in a second network, the second network comprising a first network node arranged to, at least partially, manage communication 528 405 between the radio communication apparatus and a network bridge, which is located in the other network. The network bridge is provided for managing communication between the other network and the communication platform, and the communication platform thus includes an application programming interface, which exists for managing bidirectional communication between the service provider and the radio communication device.

By providing a platform for the service provider to develop service provider applications, which form a uniform and consistent application programming interface, which is independent of the capabilities of the individual radio device, one can save development time and thus money. Furthermore, since the communication platform provides bidirectional communication, ie it is possible for the service provider application to establish connections with the radio, more elaborate services can be developed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, these objects, as well as others, are achieved by a method of packet communication between a service provider located in a first network and a radio communication apparatus located in a second network, the second network comprising a first network node for communication. between the radio communication apparatus and a network bridge, and the network bridge is arranged for communication between the first network node and the first network. The method comprises the steps:

a) sending a request for a communication channel from the radio communication apparatus to a communication platform located in the first network and communicating with the network bridge;

b) generate a unique key in the communication platform;

c) storing the key in the communication platform in connection with a session context and at least a first data information identifying the radio communication apparatus;

d) transmit the key to the radio communication apparatus;

(e) storing the key in the radio communication apparatus; and

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f) use the at least first data information to establish a communication channel between the service provider and the radio communication apparatus.

s According to the above method, the radio is registered to the communication platform and receives an identification key. Because the platform stores the details associated with the radio device, it is possible for the service provider application to look up the identity of the radio device or its users, the first data information, and request a data channel from the communication platform. Thus, it is possible to communicate between the service provider platform and the radio.

In accordance with a variant of the invention, the communication platform is arranged to establish a control channel between the communication platform and the radio communication apparatus.

The general control channel is a means for requesting the establishment of a transparent data channel between a service provider application and the radio. The control channel is constantly present and is restored if the connection to the radio is temporarily interrupted. Thereby, the communication platform can always request a connection to the radio for a service provider application.

According to a variant of the invention, the radio communication apparatus comprises a radio apparatus platform which is a means for the radio apparatus application to communicate with a service provider application or a radio communication apparatus using the radio apparatus platform and the communication platform.

The radio device platform is a small application in the radio device that supports the functionality of the communication platform. Among other things, the radio device platform supports different ownership protocols and, for example, returns the unique key, when the radio connection has been broken, to restore

528 405 communication channels including the control channel. For example, the radio device platform is used by a service provider's radio device application portion for communication with the service provider application portion, which resides centrally.

According to a variant of the invention, a service provider application is provided for communicating with the radio communication apparatus, through the communication platform, using an application protocol supported by the communication platform and a radio communication device application.

The communication platform supports communication between service provider applications and radios by providing an API and communication protocol stacks for all existing radios, eg using C ++, Java, Symbian, Windows, Linlux etc.

According to a variant of the invention, the radio communication apparatus is arranged to connect to the communication platform and receive and store first data information generated at the communication platform, and the communication platform is arranged to store the first data information in connection with second data information which identifies the radio communication apparatus and a session communication device. .

For example, the first data information may be a unique key that identifies the radio device for the communication platform. The key is stored in a lookup register such as, for example, a Remote Method Invocation (RMI) register, Corba register or owner register object along with information associated with the radio device, such as ID, telephone number, IMSI, IMEI etc and session / connection / socket context.

According to a variant of the invention, the communication platform is arranged to generate a unique key upon reception 528 405

- establishing a connection from the radio communication apparatus which uniquely identifies the radio communication apparatus and transmitting the key to the radio communication apparatus.

According to a variant of the invention, the radio communication apparatus is arranged to transmit the received key to the communication platform whenever the connection is resumed after a temporary interruption.

w The radio platform is arranged to transmit the key to the communication platform if the communication channel is broken. The key identifies the session in the communication platform, and the session / connection can be restored. Thus, the platform provides a means of establishing an ice-resistant connection to the radio, and the individual service provider applications need not worry about this complication with respect to the radio interface.

According to a variant of the invention, the service provider is arranged to use the second data information in the communication platform to initiate communication to the radio communication apparatus.

The other data information may be, for example, a SIP address, which can be used by the service provider application to establish a connection to a radio device. The SIP address is looked up in the lookup register and a session context is identified. This session context can then be used to establish a data channel for the radio.

According to a variant of the invention, the communication platform is arranged to establish a data channel with the radio communication apparatus using the control channel.

The control channel is used to establish a data channel between the radio communication device and a session in the communication platform. This session is then related to another session, which is connected to a service provider's 528,405 application or another radio device, and a communication channel is thereby established.

According to another variant of the invention, the system comprises at least one second radio communication apparatus having a control channel established to the communication platform, the first radio communication apparatus being arranged to establish a data channel, through the communication platform, to the second radio communication apparatus with the use of the control channel.

As mentioned elsewhere in this text, the communication platform has the opportunity to connect two radio communication devices.

According to a variant of the invention, the radio communication apparatus is arranged to connect to the communication platform using the HTTP protocol, and the communication platform is arranged to delay an HTTP response to each HTTP request from the radio communication apparatus, and the radio communication apparatus is arranged to transmit an HTTP the request upon receiving an HTTP response, thereby establishing a communication channel.

Some radios do not support native TCP / IP but only HTTP. In order to establish a permanent control channel between such a radio device and the communication platform, an HTTP request needs to be continuously active. Therefore, the radio device platform is arranged to send a new HTTP30 request to the communication platform whenever an HTTP response is received from the communication platform. To reduce the signaling number over the HTTP protocol, the communication platform is arranged to delay the HTTP response to HTTP requests received from the radio. The HTTP35 response can then be used by the communication platform to transmit control signals or data signals to the radio.

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According to a variant of the invention, the communication platform receives and stores information about the state of the radio communication apparatus and each service provider application.

The communication platform can store the state of the radio device and service provider applications, thereby providing opportunities for the service provider application to be unlicensed. In other words, the service provider's applications do not need to monitor state changes of the radio.

According to one variant of the invention, the service provider application is an application in a second radio communication apparatus.

The service provider application may also be an application in a radio communication device, such as a cellular telephone or a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), which is connected to a radio network. Thus, it is possible for two radio communication devices to communicate using packet communication.

According to a variant of the invention, the second radio communication apparatus is located in said second network.

According to a variant of the second aspect of the invention, a control channel is established between the radio communication apparatus and the communication platform using steps a) to e) of the method.

According to a variant of the second aspect of the invention, a data channel request is transmitted from the service provider to the communication platform with a request for a data channel from the service provider to the radio communication apparatus, whereby the control channel of the radio communication apparatus is identified, a data channel is established between the use of the radio communication apparatus and the platform communication apparatus.

- the 9 channel, and data is transmitted between the service provider and the radio communication device using the data channel.

According to a variant of the second aspect of the invention, a data packet is received from the service provider to the communication platform, the data packet is stored at the communication platform, data packets are sent to the radio communication apparatus, a confirmation packet is sent from the radio communication apparatus indicating approved reception of the data packet. and the data packet is again sent to the radio communication device if the confirmation packet is not received within a specified time period or if the confirmation packet indicates an error in the reception of the data packet at the radio communication apparatus.

According to a variant of the second aspect of the invention, the communication platform comprises a plurality of communication platform units, wherein a first communication platform unit of the communication platform units includes a database of the key with the identity of the communication platform unit handling the session. The method comprises the additional steps:

- receiving a key at a second unit of the communication platform units,

- send an identity request including the key to the first communication platform unit,

- receiving a communication platform unit identity from the first communication platform unit at the second platform unit, which identifies a managing communication platform unit,

- send the key to the managing platform device, and

- correspond to the radio communication apparatus of the managing platform unit.

Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description below of embodiments of the invention.

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- 10 Brief description of the drawings

The present invention is better understood by the detailed description below of embodiments of the invention with reference to the drawings, which are given only in the accompanying drawings.

B is for illustrative purposes and thus not limiting the invention.

Fig. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a variant of the communication platform according to the invention.

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Figure 2 is a schematic connection diagram between a service provider application and a radio communication apparatus according to a variant of the invention.

1B Fig. 3 is a schematic signaling diagram illustrating how a control channel is created between a radio communication apparatus and a variant of the communication platform according to the invention.

Fig. 4 is a schematic signaling diagram illustrating how a communication channel is restored between a radio communication apparatus and a variant of the communication platform according to the invention.

2S Fig. 5 is a schematic signaling diagram illustrating how a communication channel is established between a radio communication apparatus and a variant of the communication platform according to the invention.

Figure 6 is a schematic block diagram showing the platform and a radio apparatus as well as various protocol stacks according to a variant of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a schematic block diagram showing two proto3S ball stacks according to a variant of the invention.

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- 11 Preferred Embodiment Fonts

In the description below, which is intended to explain and not to limit, specific details such as special techniques and applications are provided to provide a thorough knowledge ε of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be applied in other embodiments which differ from these specific details. In other examples, detailed descriptions of well-known methods and apparatus are omitted so as not to burden the description of the present invention with unnecessary details.

Fig. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a preferred embodiment of the invention illustrating a first

1B is data packet network 101 and a second data packet network 102. In the first network 101 there is a communication platform 103, which is described in more detail below, which contains first, second and third service provider applications, designated 104, 105 and 106, respectively. Each service provider application may be developed by independent service providers and provide various services for radio communication devices located in the second network 102, such as fast messaging service and acceleration of live content such as sports results and stock quotes. Such a radio communication device is shown in Figure 1 and is designated 107.

The radio communication device 107 is in radio communication with a BTS / BSC 108, which is in turn connected to a SGSN 109 (Serving Gprs Support Node) to provide GPRS support to the radio communication device 107. The SGSN 109 is connected to a GGSN {Gateway Gprs Support Node). The GGSN serves as a network bridge between the second network 102 and other foreign networks, such as the first network 101. Thus, the GGSN 110 serves as a connection point for the communication platform 103 to the second network 102. A NAT (Network Ådress Translation) and firewall functionality are also present between the first and second networks in accordance with common technology to increase security in the second network. 102nd

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- 12 Session object 111, which is discussed in more detail below, provides an interface for the first service provider application 104 to the radio communication apparatus 107 for bi-directional communication between them. As shown in Fig. 1, the communication platform 103 hides in greater detail regarding the radio communication apparatus 107, and provides additional services to the service provider application 104, such as QoS (Quality of Service), flow control / transaction security, abstraction of device-specific communication capabilities, scaling, load balancing, etc. further below. This means that when designing the service provider application 104, the service provider need not consider such complications as broken connections, support for various protocols, flow control, etc.

Fig. 2 is a schematic connection diagram of a communication platform 103 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 3 is a schematic signaling diagram for establishing a control channel in a communication platform 103 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figures 2 and 3 show communication between a first service provider application 201 and a radio communication device 203, also referred to as MT_Å.

The radio communication apparatus 203, designated MT_Å in Fig. 3, a connection request 301 transmits to a first communication platform unit 204 (CPU in Fig. 3). The communication platform 103 also includes a second communication platform unit 205. The communication platform units may, for example, be ordinary computers.

CPU 204, which receives connection request 301 from the radioes communication device MT_Å, with a signal 302, creates a super session object 206, designated SSA, for MT_A-n. Signal 302 includes special connection details that allow CPU 204 to transmit messages to radio 528 405

- 13 communication device MT_Å. The SSA generates a unique key, which represents MT_A-n, and stores this key along with a reference to a session control object 207, SCA. SSA-n 206 registers its process identity in a lookup register, for example, an RMI register, Corba register or an owner register object together with the unique key generated and address information, which identifies the radio communication device and / or its users, eg a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) address ). Finally, the key is sent to MT_Å-in an acceptance message 304.

Thus, a control channel 208 has been established between the communication platform and the radio communication apparatus 203.

Figure 4 is a signaling diagram showing signaling when the connection to the radio communication apparatus has been broken and then reset. It is not uncommon for the transmission between the radio apparatus 203 and the communication platform to be interrupted depending, for example, on radio shadow etc. However, the communication platform can handle this situation without interruption of service to the service provider application 201.

When the radio apparatus 203 detects that a channel has been broken, for example, the control channel 208 described in connection with Fig. 3, it sends a request containing the previously received key to the communication platform. This request can be received by any CPU in the communication platform 103, such as CPU n 205. CPU n 205 then sends a query to the lookup register including the received key. The lookup register looks up the key and finds the process identity of the super session 206 associated with this key, and thereby to the radio 203 which transmits this request. The CPU 205 sends the request to the CPU 204, which sends an acceptance message to the radio apparatus 203, thereby restoring the control channel. If data channels (described below) were established, they would have been similarly restored if broken.

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Fig. 5 is a signaling diagram showing the establishment of a data channel between the service provider application 201 and the radio communication apparatus 203, which is initiated by the service provider 201.

First, the radio device 203 needs to establish a server connection. In other words, a connection that others can connect to. This is accomplished by sending a Create_Server_Socket message 501 from the radio device 203 to the communication platform. The message includes the key that identifies SSA-n 206, and thus a Server Connection or server socket can be registered in SSA-n 206 with message register 502. Registration is confirmed in message 503. However, the physical connection or session has not been established yet. Now the radio device 203 is ready to receive connections on the server connection, and the applications can thus connect to the radio device 203.

To connect to the radio 203, SPA 201 {Service Provider Application} sends a connection message 509 to the communication platform using the control channel, and the communication platform responds with a message 510 which includes a selected CPU to be used for establishing the channel, in this case the CPU -n 204. The SPA 201 sends a connection message 504 which includes an address to the radio device 203 or its users, preferably but not necessarily a SIP address, to the CPU n 204. CPU n 204 creates a session object SB designated 209, and records the 506 session SB in the SSB using the supplied key.

The session object SB 209 now sends a question 507 to the lookup register (LUR) which delivers the MT of the radio_A address. The lookup register responds 508 with the process identification and CPU ID which handles the super session for the specified address, i.e. the radio 203. The session 209 then sends a connection message 511 to the

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- identified the super session SSA 206. The SSA 206 then stores the process reference to the session SB 209.

The super session SSA sends a message 512 requesting connection to the radio 203 including a specific

CPU IP address using the established control channel. The radio unit 203 is assumed to accept the connection in a message 513 and a dedicated socket / session to the specific CPU in the platform is created for this connection.

w A session object SA 210 is then created 514 and registered in SSA-n 206. SSA-n 206 finally sends an acceptance message 515 to session SB that identifies the newly created session SA 210, thus establishing a data channel 211 between the service provider application 201 and the radio device using of the two sessions SA 210 and SB 209.

Data is transmitted from the service provider application 201 to the radio by transmitting data from SPA 201 to session SB 209, from session SB 209 to session SA

210, and finally from the session SA 210 to the radio 203. Since the communication platform has control over the data flow, it is possible to introduce, for example, flow control.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to a server connecting to a radio apparatus, the reverse may also be the case, i.e. the present invention may of course be used by a radio apparatus to connect to a service provider application. In addition, the present invention can be used for connection between two radio communication devices. In general terms and when using the present invention, there is no difference between a radio communication device and a service provider application when it is the question of creating connections between such units.

Figure 6 is a schematic block diagram of platform 601 and radio apparatus 602 showing a protocol stack. As

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It is clear from Figure 6 that the present invention provides abstraction for a service provider by providing an application programming interface to the service provider for communication with the radio device 602. A service provider application SPA 603 uses an API (not shown) and a protocol stack 604 for conveying data to and from radio apparatus 602. Similarly, an application 605 in the radio, which may be a specific service provider application or a generic radio device application, utilizes an application programming interface API (not shown) and a protocol stack 606 in the radio for communication with the service provider application. Thus, it is obvious that the invention consists of two separate parts, one being implemented in the communication platform, which may be a conventional computer, and the other in the radio apparatus. These parts can use an owner protocol stack for communication with each other, which is the means for a service provider to reach different radios.

Fig. 7 is a schematic block diagram of two protocol stacks according to the invention. As the top protocol, both protocol stacks 701 and 702 contain an E2E (End-to-End) protocol for communication between two clients. The E2E protocol supports confirmed data transfer and flow control between clients. Under the E2E protocol, there is a CS protocol, or client-server protocol, that supports client-server communication. The first protocol stack 701 ends with a TCP / IP stack portion, which is all known in the art. However, the second protocol stack additionally includes a multiplexing protocol, which supports multiple 2-way soft or emulated sockets that support multiple connections or channels over a single HTTP connection.

Fig. 8 is a schematic block diagram of the protocol stack in Fig. 7 in more detail showing communication between a first client / server 803 providing access only to HTTP528 405 protocol 801, and a second client / server 804 providing access to the TCP / UDP protocol. 802. The devices communicate using the E2E protocol, which hides the increased complexity of the service provider application. In other words, the service provider application does not have to worry about which protocol the device is capable of handling, but can use the transparent E2E protocol. A platform 805 contains two protocol stacks 806 and 807 and handles the translation between the different protocols. Although this embodiment shows communication between two radios, it is also applicable when one of said client / server is the service provider application that is located in a computer.

It is obvious that the invention can be varied in a number of ways. Such variations are to be considered within the scope of the invention. All such modifications as would be apparent to one skilled in the art are intended to fall within the scope of the patent claims.

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