WO2003056761A1

WO2003056761A1 - System for data transmission from a server to a mobile terminal

Info

Publication number: WO2003056761A1
Application number: PCT/FR2002/004456
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jérôme BRUNEL; Thibaut Feuillet; Jean-Luc Grimault
Original assignee: France Telecom
Priority date: 2001-12-27
Filing date: 2002-12-19
Publication date: 2003-07-10
Also published as: FR2834419A1; FR2834419B1; AU2002364470A1

Abstract

The invention concerns downloading data, such as information items, on a mobile terminal. It provides therefor a system comprising a server (1) delivering said data addressed ultimately to a mobile terminal (3). The invention is characterized in that the data are transmitted via a relay base (2), with a base identifier and a terminal identifier, the identified base transmitting in turn said data to the identified terminal. Advantageously, the relay base is equipped with a storage (MEM) with sufficient capacity for storing said data before they are transferred to the terminal.

Description

System for transmitting data from a server to a mobile terminal

The invention relates to a data transmission from a server to a mobile terminal.

Known systems for downloading data, such as information data, by radio-cellular transmission (of GSM type), offer transmission to a mobile terminal:

- by SMS messaging service (from the English "Short Message Service"), or - by voice messages.

For SMS message transmissions, the information data is sent automatically from the server to the user of the mobile terminal, without any action, specific to the latter ("PUSH" mode). For transmissions of voice messages, the user contacts a voice server which transmits, in return, the desired information data ("PULL" mode).

The first download systems, by SMS messaging service, have the disadvantage of sending the data at any time which does not necessarily correspond to a chosen time of user availability. Furthermore, SMS type messages, limited to a maximum number of characters, are not suitable for downloading large data such as information data. In addition, in applications where the mobile terminal includes a card SIM card type memory (for "Subscriber Identification Module"), the messages are stored in this memory, in a limited number (generally ten), which proves to be insufficient for voluminous information data. Above all, messages can be lost after several attempts to deliver them to the mobile terminal.

By voice mode or by WAP communication (for "Wireless Application Protocol"), data transmission can only take place when the mobile terminal is in a coverage area of the radio-cellular network. In addition, the information data is no longer searchable

_after_ _.. a connection and the user must establish a new connection to consult his data again, which increases the cost of using this data.

The present invention improves the situation.

To this end, it proposes a system for the transmission of data from a server to at least one mobile terminal, comprising at least one relay terminal receiving data from the server and comprising a capacity memory allowing the storage of this data. The data includes at least one relay terminal identifier and at least one mobile terminal identifier. The server then transmits, as a function of the identifier of a relay terminal, the data to this relay terminal, and the relay terminal in turn transmits, as a function of the identifier of a mobile terminal, the data to this mobile terminal when this mobile terminal is available. Thus, according to one of the advantages which the present invention provides, the user of a mobile terminal can receive the data at a chosen time of availability of the terminal.

The present invention also relates to a relay terminal of a system according to the invention, this relay terminal comprising: means for receiving data transmitted by a server, as a function of an identifier associated with the relay terminal,

- Means for transmitting this data to a mobile terminal, as a function of an identifier associated with the mobile terminal - and a capacity memory allowing the storage of data at least until the transmission of the data to the mobile terminal.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on examining the detailed description below, and the attached drawings in which:

- Figure 1 schematically shows a system for transmitting data from a server 1 to a mobile terminal 3, via a relay terminal 2, within the meaning of the present invention; - Figure 2 schematically shows a transmission system, in which the same relay terminal 2 transmits information data to a plurality of mobile terminals Tl, T2, T3;

- Figure 3 schematically shows the transmission of data to one of the relay terminals chosen by a user, in a first embodiment; - Figure 4 schematically shows the transmission of data to one of the relay terminals chosen by a user, in a second embodiment; and

- Figure 5 shows a system for the transmission of data between a server 1 and a plurality of mobile terminals, via a plurality of relay terminals.

Reference is first made to FIG. 1 to describe a system for transmitting information data from a server to a mobile terminal, within the meaning of the present invention.

LëT ^~ serveύr 1 formats, in a preferred embodiment, a signal comprising a set of data grouping information data D as well as a relay terminal identifier 2 and a mobile terminal identifier 3.

Terminal 2 comprises a module intended to be preferably connected to a broadband access (HD link), for example a cable, satellite link, or of the ADSL type (for "Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line"). In a variant, terminal 2 is connected to a gateway, itself connected to a broadband connection. In another variant, the terminal can be in the form of a computer equipped with a MODEM link. The three variants provide a memory of sufficient capacity to store, on the one hand, the information data emanating from the server 1 and, on the other hand, to store and execute software comprising instructions for:

- receive the signal sent by server 1, - identify in this signal the mobile terminal 3 for which the information data is intended;

- and implement an interface routine between terminal 2 and terminal 3.

In all the above-mentioned embodiments, the terminal 2 advantageously comprises such a memory MEM of storage capacity making it possible to keep the information data, while waiting for the transfer of this data to the mobile terminal 3.

Terminal 2 further comprises a connection member to the ^" mobile ^" terminal, preferably by radiocommunication. As a variant, the connection LL between terminal 2 and terminal 3 can be carried out by a wired connection. Advantageously, terminal 2 is designed to detect the presence of the mobile terminal 3, in an EN environment. To this end, the terminal 2 is equipped with a local radiocommunication module, for example by using an infrared link, a "Bluetooth" type link, a DECT link. , a WiFi connection, or other.

Preferably, the terminal 2 is permanently connectable to the server 1, for example by an Internet protocol HTTP or FTP (for the transfer of large information files), according to an "Always-On"("alwaysconnected") mode. As a variant, the terminal 2 communicates with the information server 1 with a view to testing the latter 1, at regular intervals, in order to check whether information is ready to be transmitted to the terminal 2 and, in the positive case, take the initiative of Download. The information server 1 addresses the terminal 2, by its identifier Bi (for example a URL address or an IP address).

The mobile terminal 3 may include a mobile telephone, and / or be in the form of a PDA-type personal assistant (for "Personal Digital Assistant"), or even a pocket computer.

The mobile terminal 3 has a memory for storing at least successive parts of the information data, as well as a member for connection to the terminal 2, of the type described above. The mobile terminal is addressed by terminal 2, by an identifier Tl which is specific to it. For example, the identifier T1 of the mobile terminal 3 can correspond to a mobile telephone number, in the application where the terminal includes a mobile telephone.

A particular application is described below in which the user of a mobile terminal of the aforementioned type subscribes for a regular service, for example to receive information originating from the writing of a daily, weekly or even monthly newspaper. , Or other.

To regularly receive this information data on his mobile terminal, the user initially provides two identifiers: an identifier designating a fixed installation of the user, such as the identifier of the relay terminal 2, - And an identifier designating his mobile terminal (for example his mobile phone number).

The server stores in memory a user profile (name, terminal identifier and terminal identifier, as well as the nature of the information provided by the subscription).

Regularly, the content server connects to the user's terminal 2, designated by the terminal identifier Bi (Figure 2) and downloads the content. The server also supplies the identifier of the mobile terminal to terminal 2, for the further transmission of the terminal to the terminal.

At regular intervals, the content provider therefore sends the data to the user from the server 1 and via the HD link using the terminal identifier. Terminal 2 receives the data and stores it in MEM memory. As soon as the user's mobile terminal, or advantageously the availability of this mobile terminal, is detected in the EN environment by terminal 2, the latter downloads, preferably by local radiocommunication, the data on the mobile terminal corresponding to the second identifier .

The information data, downloaded into the mobile terminal, can be consulted at a time chosen by the user. According to one of the advantages which the present invention provides, this consultation does not require any additional connection to any network. Thus, the user of the mobile terminal automatically receives from the server and advantageously without specific action on his part ("push" mode) the information data, when the mobile terminal is in a proximity zone EN of the terminal 2, which then addresses the mobile terminal designated by its identifier Tl.

Reference is now made to FIG. 2 to describe an advantageous embodiment of the invention, in which the same terminal Bi can transmit the same data, such as information data, to a plurality of terminals 31, 32, 33, in the same surrounding area. This embodiment finds an advantageous application in the context of a group subscription of users to receive the same information data from a server, via the same Bi-relay terminal. Terminal 2, in this embodiment, can for example be located in a workplace, in a home or in an urban area, in which a plurality of users are subscribed to the corresponding service.

Advantageously, the server 1 comprises a module 11 for shaping the signal intended to be transmitted to the terminal 2. The SIG signal (D, Bi, Tl, T2, T3) comprises a set of data grouping together:

- information data D,

- an identifier Bi of the relay terminal 2,

- And a plurality of identifiers of mobile terminals Tl, T2, T3. The server sends this signal to the relay terminal 2, according to its identifier Bi. Terminal 2 stores the information data in memory, at least until all the terminals 31, 32, 33, identified in the transmitted signal, have recovered the information data.

Thus, according to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the transfer of data from the relay terminal 2 to a terminal 3 is subject to a right of access from the terminal to this data. This right of access is conferred by the characteristics of the subscription from which the user of the terminal benefits. In addition, the identifier of the relay terminal is assigned to this relay terminal according to the access right which allows the terminal to recover the data by this same relay terminal. Thus, it will be understood that if the user of a terminal is subscribed to a service of the aforementioned type, the characteristics of his subscription will include information on an identifier of the terminal and on an identifier of a relay terminal, which allows the user to transfer the data to his identified terminal and via this identified relay terminal.

The server 1 addresses the data to this relay terminal 2, as a function of the identifier Bi of the terminal 2. If the mobile terminal is available, this relay terminal 2 retransmits the data to the mobile terminal 3, according to the identifier T associated with this mobile terminal. If the terminal is unavailable, terminal 2 stores this data until the terminal becomes available in the future. A description is given below, with reference to FIG. 3, of an application in which the user has temporarily or permanently changed his address and must, consequently, use a relay terminal different from that used previously.

Advantageously, rather than the user subscribing to a new subscription with the server, the formatting module 11 of the server adds to a list of terminal identifiers Bi, the terminal identifier B _j which corresponds to the relay terminal current from which the user's mobile terminal, at its new address, can retrieve the information data. Advantageously, the server 1 also comprises a module 14 for selecting the current terminal B _j identified for this user.

The module 11 formats a signal SIG (D, B _j , T) comprising a set of data grouping together: - the information data D, - the identifier Bj of the current relay terminal, and the identifier T of the user's mobile terminal 3.

The user of the mobile terminal 3 then retrieves the information data by the current terminal 2 of identifier Bj, at the last address of the user entered by the server 1.

Reference is now made to FIG. 4 to describe a more sophisticated embodiment, suitable for subscribers capable of using several relay terminals, by example a terminal 21 of main residence, a terminal 22 of secondary residence and a terminal 23 of workplace. Advantageously, these relay terminals are arranged to pass from one to the other the information data initially transmitted by the server 1.

The signal formatted SIG (D, Bi, T) comprises a set of data grouping together: - the information data D, - the identifier Bi of the relay terminal 21 of the main residence, and the identifier T of the user's mobile terminal 3.

Thus, the server 1 always transmits the data to the relay terminal 21, considered as the main terminal. If he wishes to recover the information data at his second home, the user configures the main terminal 21 remotely or locally to indicate to him that all the data which he receives must now be directed to another terminal 22, with identifier B _j . Advantageously, the subscriber's terminal 3 displays for this purpose a menu allowing the selection of the identifier B _j of the terminal 22 of secondary residence. The selected identifier B _j is transmitted to the main terminal 21

(arrow (B _j )), for example by GSM link or by a local radio link. Upon receipt of the identifier

B _j , the main terminal 21 redirects the information data to the secondary terminal 22, which transmits this data to the terminal 3 (arrow (T)). Thus, only the main terminal 21 has the possibility to retransmit data ^'it receives to another secondary terminal.

If the user then moves from his second home to his workplace, he configures the main terminal 21 again, from his terminal 3. The main terminal now redirects all the data it receives to the terminal 23 at the place instead of directing them again towards terminal 22 of the second home.

Reference is now made to FIG. 5 to describe an embodiment in which the server 1 transmits the same information data D to a plurality of mobile terminals 311,312; 321,322, via a plurality of relay terminals 21; 22. The module 11 formats a signal SIG (D, Bi, Tu, T ₂ i, ..., Bj, Ti _j , T ₂ j) comprising a set of data grouping together: - the common information data D ,

- Bi identifiers; B _j of relay terminals 21; 22, and

- the identifiers Tιi, T ₂ i; Tij, T ₂ j mobile terminals 311,312; 321,322.

Advantageously, these identifiers are prioritized according to a list in which each relay terminal identifier B (B _j ) is followed by one or more identifiers of mobile terminals Tϋ, T ₂ i (Tιj, T _2j ). The relay terminal 21 (22) with which a relay relay identifier Bi (Bj) is associated transmits the information data to one or more mobile terminals 311,312 (321, 322) whose respective identifiers Tϋ, T _2i (Tχ _j , T _2j ) follow the identifier Bi (B _j ) of the relay terminal 21 (22) in the aforementioned list.

In the example shown in FIG. 5, all the relay terminals 21, 22 receive this signal from the server 1 and then transmit it directly to the mobile terminals in their surrounding area. Alternatively, there may be provided a relay (of the type shown in Figure 4) between a main terminal and secondary terminals which ^• finally serving the intended users.

According to one of the advantages afforded by the present invention, the same relay terminal can transmit information data for a plurality of mobile terminals, located in the same EN zone surrounding this terminal.

According to another advantage which the present invention provides, the memories of each relay terminal are of sufficient capacity to store all of the information data and thus wait for the availability of all the mobile terminals sought.

According to another advantage that the present invention provides, the user can consult the information data without connecting to the cellular radio network. On the one hand, the mobile terminal can receive information data from the relay terminal without necessarily being located in a coverage area of the cellular network, since the terminal itself is not necessarily installed in a coverage area. On the other hand, the cost of loading information data is reduced because the connection between the server and the terminal is fast.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above by way of example; it extends to other variants.

In the foregoing, a relay terminal equipped with means for detecting the availability of a mobile terminal has been described. In a less sophisticated variant, the user himself defines the moment when he makes his mobile terminal available for data transmission, this transmission then being able to be carried out by a wired link.

Claims

claims

1. System for data transmission from a server

(1) to at least one mobile terminal (3), characterized in that it comprises at least one relay terminal

(2) arranged to receive data (D, Bi, • T) from the server and comprising a memory (MEM) of capacity allowing the storage of said data, and in that the data includes at least one relay terminal identifier (Bi ) and at least one mobile terminal identifier (T), the server being arranged to transmit, as a function of the identifier of a relay terminal, _. the ... data at this relay terminal, and the relay terminal being arranged to transmit, as a function of the identifier of a mobile terminal, the data to this mobile terminal when said mobile terminal is available.

2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that said data comprise a plurality of mobile terminal identifiers (T1, T2, T3), each identifier being associated with a mobile terminal.

3. System according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said data comprise a plurality of relay terminal identifiers (Bi, ..., Bj), each identifier being associated with a relay terminal.

4. System according to claim 3, taken in combination with claim 2, characterized in that said data comprise a list (Bi, Tu, T ₂ i, ..., B _j , Ti _j , T _2j ) of relay terminal identifiers (Bi; Bj) each followed by mobile terminal identifiers (Ta, T ₂ i; Tχj, T ₂ j), and in that each relay terminal (21; 22) is arranged for transmit the same information data (D) to one or more mobile terminals (311, 322; 321, 322) whose identifiers (Ta, T ₂ i; Tij, ₂ j) follow the identifier of the relay terminal ( Bi; B _j ) in said list.

5. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a main relay terminal (21) and at least one secondary relay terminal (22; 23), in that the mobile terminal (3) is . arranged to send the identifier (Bj; B _k ) of a secondary relay terminal (22; 23) to the main relay terminal (21), and in that the main relay terminal (21) is arranged to transmit , after receiving the identifier of the secondary relay terminal, the data at said secondary relay terminal (22; 23), so that the mobile terminal (3) receives the data (D) from said secondary relay terminal ( 22; 23).

6. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said data comprise information data (D).

7. System according to claim 6, characterized in that the server (1,11) is arranged to format a signal intended to be transmitted to at least one relay terminal and comprising information data (D) as well as 'at at least one relay terminal identifier (Bi) and at least one mobile terminal identifier (T).

8. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the server (1) and the relay terminal

(2) are connected by a high speed (HD) link.

9. A system according to preceding claims, characterized in that the bridge terminal (2) is arranged to transmit data ^at the mobile terminal by a radio link (LL), and in that said relay terminal is arranged to detect an availability status of the • mobile terminal in an ^" environment zone (EN) of the relay terminal.

10. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transfer of data from the relay terminal to the terminal is subject to an access right of. terminal to said data, and in that the identifier of the relay terminal is assigned to this relay terminal according to said access right allowing the terminal to recover the data by this relay terminal.

11. Relay terminal of a system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises:

means for receiving (HD) data transmitted by a server (1), as a function of an identifier (Bi) associated with the relay terminal, means for transmitting (LL) said data to a mobile terminal (3), as a function of an identifier (T) associated with the mobile terminal, and

- a memory (MEM) of capacity allowing the storage of the data at least until the transmission of the data to the mobile terminal (3).