Method and an associated device for setting up a transfer of data between two communications devices

• US 20050074008A1
• Filed: 09/21/2004
• Published: 04/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Orange S.A.
• Original Assignee: Orange S.A.
• Inventors: Provost, Herve, Herledan, Frederic
• Granted Patent: US 7,643,470 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/392
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2088 Call or conference reconnect, e.g. resulting from isdn terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42

Abstract

A technique of setting up a transfer of data between two communications devices. The devices are connected to an IP network via respective subscriber lines each conveying a voice and signaling channel and a data channel. The IP address of one of the devices is sent to the other device on the voice and signaling channel using a signaling mode of that channel. The transfer of data is effected after setting up a session on the data channel.

Claims

1. A method of setting up a transfer of data between a first communications device and a second communications device connected to each other via a telecommunications network comprising an IP network and an analog network, the first device being equipped with software for sending/receiving data transmitted by the network, a first analog network interface connected to a subscriber line of the telecommunications network conveying a voice and signaling channel and a second network interface connected to a subscriber line of the telecommunications network conveying a data channel, wherein the method comprises the following step:

the first device sends its IP address to the second device via the voice and signaling channel using a specific signaling mode.

2. A method according to claim 1 for setting up a transfer of data between a first communications device and a second communications device, wherein the method further comprises the following preliminary steps:

the first device is connected to an IP network via the data channel and via a service provider, and

the first device stores a dynamic IP address assigned by the service provider to which it is connected.

3. A method according to claim 1 for setting up a transfer of data between a first communications device and a second communications device, further comprising the following preliminary step:

the first device waits for a call from the second device sent on the data channel using the IP address of the first device known to the second device.

4. A method according to claim 1 for setting up a transfer of data between a first communications device and a second communications device, wherein, the subscriber line, connected to the first analog network interface, forming part of an analog network, the IP address is sent in DTMF mode using voice frequencies on the voice and signaling channel.

5. A method according to claim 4 for setting up a transfer of data between a first communications device and a second communications device, wherein the IP address consists of a series of digits and is sent in DTMF mode in the form of a sequence of dual tones resulting from the translation of each digit into dual frequencies.

6. A method according to claim 1 for setting up a transfer of data between a first communications device and a second communications device, wherein, the subscriber line, connected to the first analog network interface, forming part of an analog network having a number and name offering function, the IP address is sent using an analog number and name offering signaling mode.

9. A method according to claim 1 for setting up a transfer of data between a first communications device and a second communications device, wherein, the transfer of data being set up between the two devices, the method further comprises the following step:

detection by the data sending/receiving software of a break in the transfer of data triggered by relaunching previous steps of the method.

7. A method of setting up a transfer of data between a first communications device and a second communications device connected to each other via a telecommunications network comprising an IP network and an analog network, each of the two devices being equipped with software for sending/receiving data, a first analog network interface connected to a subscriber line of the telecommunications network conveying a voice and signaling channel, and a second network interface connected to a subscriber line of the telecommunications network conveying a data channel, wherein the method comprises the following steps:

the first device is connected to an IP network via its data channel and via a service provider,

the first device stores a dynamic address assigned by the service provider to which it is connected,

the first device sends its IP address to the second device via its voice and signaling channel using a specific signaling mode and, in response to the sending of the IP address from the first device to the second device;

the second device is connected to an IP network via its data channel and via a service provider,

the second device stores a dynamic address supplied by the service provider to which it is connected,

the second device sends its IP address to the first device via its voice and signaling channel using a specific signaling mode, and

when prompted by its data sending/receiving software, the first device sends a call to the second device on its data channel using the IP address of the latter device.

8. A method of setting up a transfer of data between a first communications device and a second communications device connected to each other via a telecommunications network comprising an IP network and an analog network, each of the two devices being equipped with software for sending/receiving data, a first analog network interface connected to a subscriber line of the telecommunications network conveying a voice and signaling channel, and a second network interface connected to a subscriber line of the telecommunications network conveying a data channel, wherein the method comprises the following steps:

each of the two devices is connected to an IP network via its data channel and via a service provider,

each of the two devices stores a dynamic address supplied by the service provider to which it is connected,

each of the two devices sends its IP address to the other device via its voice and signaling channel using a specific signaling mode, and

when prompted by its data sending/software, the first device sends a call to the second device on its data channel using the IP address of the latter device.

10. A communications device for setting up a transfer of data with another communications device, equipped with data sending/receiving software, a first analog network interface and a second network interface, each of the two network interfaces being connected to the same subscriber line conveying a voice and signaling channel and a data channel separated by a filter and sent to the first analog network interface and to the second network interface, respectively, which device includes software for executing the following step:

the device sends its IP address to the other device via the voice and signaling channel in a specific signaling mode.

11. A communications device for setting up a transfer of data with another communications device, equipped with data sending/receiving software, a first analog network interface and a second network interface, the first analog network interface being connected to a first subscriber line conveying a voice and signaling channel, and the second network interface being connected to a second subscriber line conveying a data channel, which device includes software for executing the following step:

the device sends its IP address to the other device via the voice and signaling channel in a specific signaling mode.

12. A computer data signal for use with a first communications device to set up a transfer of data between the first communications device and a second communications device coupled to each other via a telecommunications network comprising an IP network and an analog network, the first communications device being equipped with software for sending/receiving data transmitted via the telecommunications network, a first analog network interface connected to a subscriber line of the telecommunications network conveying a voice-and-signaling channel and a second network interface connected to a subscriber line of the telecommunications network conveying a data channel, wherein the computer data signal comprises:

a code segment for causing the first communications device to send its IP address to the second communications device via the voice-and-signaling channel using a specific signaling mode.

13. An article of manufacture, including a computer usable medium, for use in a first communications device to set up a transfer of data between the first communications device and a second communications device coupled to each other via a telecommunications network comprising an IP network and an analog network, the first communications device having a first analog network interface connected to a subscriber line of the telecommunications network conveying a voice-and-signaling channel and a second network interface connected to a subscriber line of the telecommunications network conveying a data channel, wherein the computer usable medium comprises a computer readable code means for causing:

the first communications device to send its IP address to the second device via the voice-and-signaling channel using a specific signaling mode.