Method of machine-to-machine communication

• US 20110252235A1
• Filed: 04/09/2010
• Published: 10/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thales DIS France SAS (Thales SA)
• Original Assignee: Gemalto SA (Thales SA)
• Inventors: Lemke, Michael, Dolan, Michael, Kanugovi, Satish, Bryson, Sidney
• Granted Patent: US 9,729,516 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/168
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/604 Address structures or formats
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0893 Assignment of logical groups to network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5038 for local use, e.g. in LAN or USB networks, or in a controller area network [CAN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5069 for group communication, multicast communication or broadcast communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

In one embodiment, the method includes encrypting, at a device, data with a first key, and forming a message that includes a device identifier and the encrypted data. The device identifier identifies the device. A signaling message is formed that includes a class identifier, the message and an action code. The class identifier identifies a group of devices to which one or more devices belong. The action code indicates the type of data, and may be part of the message. The signaling message is sent to a network, for example, a wireless network. The wireless network identifies and routes the message portion of the signaling message based on the class identifier. And, using the class identifier and perhaps a device identifier, the wireless network may signal the device to change an operating parameter.

Claims

1. A method of machine-to-machine communication, comprising:

encrypting, at a device, data with a first key;

forming a message that includes a device identifier and the encrypted data, the device identifier identifying the device;

forming a signaling message that includes a class identifier, the message and an action code, the class identifier identifying a group of devices to which the device belongs, and the action code indicating the type of data; and

sending the signaling message to a network.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

waking up from a sleep mode; and

determining at least one measured value as the data.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the action code indicates one of data for transfer and operating parameters of the device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the operating parameters are one of a sleep period, access class, and access parameters.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the class identifier identifies the group of devices to which the device belongs and identifies at least one sub-group of devices in the group to which the device belongs.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the class identifier further uniquely identifies the device within the group.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the sending step sends the signaling message wirelessly.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying, at the device, a control signaling message as intended for the device based on the class identifier being included in the control signaling message; and

adjusting at least one operating parameter at the device based on the control signaling message.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the operating parameter is a sleep period.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the sending step sends the signal message using a second key common to the group of devices.

11. A method of machine-to-machine communication, comprising:

determining if a received signaling message includes a class identifier identifying the signaling message as a machine-to machine communication;

routing at least a message portion of the signaling message to a particular application server based on the class identifier without setting up a communication session if the determining step determines the received signaling message includes the class identifier, the message portion including a device identifier and data, the device identifier identifying a device within a group of devices identified by the class identifier.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the signaling message includes an action code, and the action code indicates the type of data.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the action code indicates one of data for transfer and operating parameters of the device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the operating parameters are one of a sleep period, access class, and access parameters.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the message portion includes the action code.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein

the class identifier identifies the group of devices to which the device belongs and identifies at least one sub-group of devices in the group to which the device belongs;

and

the routing step routes the message portion based on the group and the sub-group.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the class identifier further uniquely identifies the device within the group.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

wirelessly receiving the signaling message.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the routing step

encapsulates the message portion in an IP packet addressed to the particular application server.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the signaling message is encrypted based on an encryption key known to the group of devices and a network, and at least the data is encrypted based on an encryption key known to the device and the particular application server.

21. A method of machine-to-machine communication, comprising:

sending, by a wireless network, a control signaling message, the control signaling message including a class identifier, the class identifier identifying a group of devices to which one or more devices belong, and the control signaling message indicating at least one operating parameter for the group of devices.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the operating parameter is a sleep period.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the control signaling message further includes a device identifier identifying at least one device in the group of devices.