MACHINE TYPE COMMUNICATION DEVICE, AND THE SERVICE METHODS THEREFOR

• US 20140086214A1
• Filed: 08/28/2013
• Published: 03/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Inventors: HONG, Yong Geun, KIM, Hyoung Jun
• Application Number:
  US14/012,439
• Publication Number:
  US 20140086214A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/332
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]

Abstract

The present invention relates to a machine type communication (MTC), and more particularly, to an MTC device and a method of providing an MTC service that may determine the entry of an MTC device with respect to a service area of each of a plurality of wireless communication networks and thereby selectively connect to a wireless communication system in an MTC system configured to connect the MTC device and an MTC server over the plurality of wireless communication networks.

Claims

1. A machine type communication (MTC) device in an MTC system for providing a service by providing a first network having a wide coverage and a low bandwidth and a second network having a local coverage and a high bandwidth and by connecting an MTC device 100 and an MTC server 400, the MTC device 100 comprising:

a first network communication unit 110 configured to communicate with the first network having the wide coverage and the low bandwidth; and

a second network communication unit 120 configured to communicate with the second network having the local coverage and the high bandwidth,

wherein a first signal strength detector 115 configured to detect strength of a communication signal of the first network is provided to the first network communication unit 110 to thereby provide the strength of the communication signal of the first network to a controller 140,

a second signal strength detector 125 configured to detect strength of a communication signal of the second network is provided to the second network communication unit 120 to thereby provide the strength of the communication signal of the second network to the controller 140,

the first network communication unit 110 and the second network communication unit 120 are selected through a transmission/reception switch 130 to transmit data provided from the controller 140 as a selected communication unit or to provide received service data,

the controller 140 is connected with an MTC server identifier (ID) storage 170 configured to store an ID of each of at least one MTC server, and a device ID storage 160 configured to store an ID of the MTC device 100, and

external service devices configured to be provided with an MTC service are connected to the controller 140 of the MTC device 100 through a service devices interface 180 to thereby be provided with a service.

2. The MTC device of claim 1, wherein

the MTC server ID storage 170 stores the ID of the MTC server 400 connected by an operator domain 600 and an MTC gateway device 200 through the Internet, and

the ID of the MTC server 400 stores, as an ID, a universal resource locator (URL), a universal resource identifier (URI), or an Internet protocol (IP) of the MTC server 400.

3. The MTC device of claim 1, wherein the device ID storage 160 stores, as a device ID, an IP of Internet protocol version 6 (IPv6) assigned to the MTC device 100.

4. The MTC device of claim 1, wherein

the device ID storage 160 stores a device ID assigned to the MTC device 100, and

an IP of IPv6 and a unique identifier corresponding thereto are registered in advance to the MTC server 400 and the unique identifier is used as the device ID.

5. The MTC device of claim 4, wherein a code and a number capable of identifying the MTC device 100 is assigned in advance as the unique identifier, and the MTC server 400 is configured to extract an IP of the MTC device 100 corresponding to the unique identifier and to provide a service.

6. A method of providing a machine type communication (MTC) service in a case in which, in an MTC system for providing a service by providing a first network having a wide coverage and a low bandwidth and a second network having a local coverage and a high bandwidth and by connecting an MTC device 100 and an MTC server 400, the MTC device 100 enters service areas of the first network of an operator domain 600 and the second network configured as an MTC gateway device 200 configured to manage an MTC capillary network 500 and a request for the MTC service occurs, the method comprising:

operation S100 of transmitting, by the MTC device 100, an ID of the MTC server 400 and a connection request to the MTC gateway device 200 configured to manage an adjacent second network, in response to the request for the MTC service;

operation S110 of, when the MTC gateway device 200 transmits an ID of the MTC device 100 and an IP of the MTC gateway device 200 to the MTC server 400 in response to the connection request, recording, by the MTC server 400, that the MTC device 100 is under management of the MTC gateway device 200 corresponding to the transmitted IP and receiving, by the MTC device 100, a reply from the MTC gateway device 200 configured to manage the second network;

operations S120 and S130 of performing, by the MTC device 100, a session connection to the MTC server 400 through the MTC gateway device 200 from which the response is transmitted, that is, through the second network;

operation S140 of providing, by the MTC server 400, the MTC service through the MTC gateway device 200; and

operation S150 of performing, by the MTC device 100, service uploading and downloading through the MTC gateway device 200.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein, in operation S100, as the connection request transmitted from the MTC device 100 to the MTC gateway device 200 configured to manage the adjacent second network together with the ID of the MTC gateway device 200, the MTC device 100 is configured to transmit the ID of the MTC server 400 desired to be connected and the ID of the MTC device 100 as a packet Internet grouper (PING).

8. A method of providing a machine type communication (MTC) service in a case in which, in an MTC system for providing a service by providing a first network having a wide coverage and a low bandwidth and a second network having a local coverage and a high bandwidth and by connecting an MTC device 100 and an MTC server 400, the MTC device 100 enters service areas of the first network of an operator domain 600 and the second network configured as an MTC gateway device 200 configured to manage an MTC capillary network 500 and a request for the MTC service occurs, the method comprising:

operation S100 of transmitting, by the MTC device 100, an ID of the MTC server 400 and a connection request to the MTC gateway device 200 configured to manage a network;

operation S160 of not receiving, by the MTC device 100, a reply from the MTC gateway device 200 within a predetermined period of time in response to the connection request;

operations S180 and S190 of selecting, by the MTC device 100, the first network and performing a session connection to the MTC server 400 through a base station 300 configured to manage the first station;

operation S200 of providing, by the MTC server 400, the MTC service through the base station 300 configured to manage the first network; and

operation S210 of performing, by the MTC device 100, service uploading and downloading through the base station 300.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein, in operation S100, as the connection request transmitted from the MTC device 100 to the MTC gateway device 200 configured to manage the adjacent second network together with the ID of the MTC gateway device 200, the MTC device 100 is configured to transmit the ID of the MTC server 400 desired to be connected and the ID of the MTC device 100 as a packet Internet grouper (PING).

10. A method of providing a machine type communication (MTC) service in a case in which, in an MTC system for providing a service by providing a first network having a wide coverage and a low bandwidth and a second network having a local coverage and a high bandwidth and by connecting an MTC device 100 and an MTC server 400, the MTC device 100 enters service areas of the first network of an operator domain 600 and the second network configured as an MTC gateway device 200 configured to manage an MTC capillary network 500 and a request for the MTC service occurs, the method comprising:

operation S110 of transmitting, by the MTC device 100, an ID of the MTC server 400 and a connection request to the MTC gateway device 200 configured to manage an adjacent second network in response to the request for the MTC service;

operation S160 of not receiving, by the MTC device 100, a reply from the MTC gateway device 200 within a predetermined period of time in response to the connection request;

operation S170 of selecting, by the MTC device 100, the first network and determining whether strength of a signal of the base station 300 configured to manage the first network is greater than or equal to a tolerance value using a first signal strength detector 115 included in the MTC device 100;

operations S180 and S190 of, when the strength of the signal of the base station 300 configured to manage the first network is determined to be greater than or equal to the tolerance value in operation S170, performing, by the MTC device 100, a session connection to the MTC server 400 through the base station 300 configured to manage the first station;

operation S200 of providing, by the MTC server 400, the MTC service through the base station 300 configured to manage the first network; and

operation S210 of performing, by the MTC device 100, service uploading and downloading through the base station 300.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein, in operation S100, as the connection request transmitted from the MTC device 100 to the MTC gateway device 200 configured to manage the adjacent second network together with the ID of the MTC gateway device 200, the MTC device 100 is configured to transmit the ID of the MTC server 400 desired to be connected and the ID of the MTC device 100 as a packet Internet grouper (PING).

12. The method of claim 10, wherein when the strength of the signal of the base station 300 configured to manage the first network is determined to be less than the tolerance value in operation S170, the MTC device 100 is configured to perform operation S220 of reporting blockage of a network connection to a user and to terminate a service after operation S220.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein when the strength of the signal of the base station 300 configured to manage the first network is determined to be less than the tolerance value in operation S170, the MTC device 100 is configured to perform operation S220 of reporting blockage of a network connection to a user and to repeat a process starting from operation S100.

14. A method of providing a machine type communication (MTC) service in a case in which, in an MTC system for providing a service by providing a first network having a wide coverage and a low bandwidth and a second network having a local coverage and a high bandwidth and by connecting an MTC device 100 and an MTC server 400, the MTC device 100 hands off a service area of the second network while receiving the MTC service from the MTC server 400 in the service area of the second network, the method comprising:

operations S300 and S310 of receiving, by the MTC device 100, a service from the MTC server 400 through the MTC gateway device 200;

operation S320 of receiving, by the MTC device 100, strength of a communication signal from a second signal strength detector 125 through a controller 140, and determining whether a connection state of an MTC capillary network corresponding to the second network is available;

operations S300 and S310 being continuously performed by the MTC device 100 when the strength of the communication signal of the MTC capillary network is greater than or equal to a tolerance value and the connection state is determined to be available in operation S320;

operation S330 of, when the strength of the communication signal of the MTC capillary network is less than the tolerance value and the connection state is determined to be unavailable in operation S320, transmitting, by the MTC device 100, a hand off request to the MTC gateway device 200 of the second network in a current connection state;

operation S340 of transmitting, by the MTC gateway device 200, a hand off report indicating that the MTC device 100 hands off a service area of the MTC gateway device 200 of the second network together with the ID of the MTC device 100 in response to the hand off request of operation S330;

operation S350 of temporarily holding, by the MTC server 400, a service;

operation S360 of providing, by the MTC server 400, a tunnel between the MTC gateway device 200 of the second network being currently serviced and a base station 300 of the first network; and

operations S370 and S380 of continuing, by the MTC server 400, the service temporarily held in operation S350 using the ID of the MTC device 100 through the base station 300 of the first network.

15. A method of providing a machine type communication (MTC) service in a case in which, in an MTC system for providing a service by providing a first network having a wide coverage and a low bandwidth and a second network having a local coverage and a high bandwidth and by connecting an MTC device 100 and an MTC server 400, the MTC device 100 hands off a service area of the second network while receiving the MTC service from the MTC server 400 in the service area of the second network, the method comprising:

operations S300 and S310 of receiving, by the MTC device 100, a service from the MTC server 400 through the MTC gateway device 200;

operation S320 of receiving, by the MTC device 100, strength of a communication signal from a second signal strength detector 125 through a controller 140, and determining whether a connection state of an MTC capillary network corresponding to the second network is available;

operations S300 and S310 being continuously performed by the MTC device 100 when the strength of the communication signal of the MTC capillary network is greater than or equal to a tolerance value and the connection state is determined to be available in operation S320;

operation S330 of, when the strength of the communication signal of the MTC capillary network is less than the tolerance value and the connection state is determined to be unavailable in operation S320, transmitting, by the MTC device 100, a hand off request to the MTC gateway device 200 of the second network in a current connection state;

operation S400 of transmitting, by the MTC gateway device 200, a hand off report indicating that the MTC device 100 hands off a service area of the MTC gateway device 200 of the second network together with the ID of the MTC device 100 in response to the hand off request of operation S330;

operation S410 of temporarily holding, by the MTC server 400, the MTC service with respect to the ID of the MTC device 100;

operations S420 and S430 of switching, by the MTC device 100, a connection network to a base station 300 of the first network, and transmitting the ID of the MTC device 100 and MTC service information to the MTC server 400 through the first network, thereby performing a session connection; and

operations S440 and 450 of continuing, by the MTC server 400, the MTC service temporarily held in operation S410 using the ID of the MTC device 100 through the base station 300 of the first network.

16. A method of providing a machine type communication (MTC) service in a case in which, in an MTC system for providing a service by providing a first network having a wide coverage and a low bandwidth and a second network having a local coverage and a high bandwidth and by connecting an MTC device 100 and an MTC server 400, the MTC device 100 hands off a service area of the second network while receiving an MTC service from the MTC server 400 in the service area of the second network, the method comprising:

operations S300 and S310 of receiving, by the MTC device, a service from the MTC server 400 through the MTC gateway device 200 in the service area of the second network;

operation S320 of receiving, by the MTC device 100, strength of a communication signal from a second signal strength detector 125 through a controller 140, and determining whether a connection state of an MTC capillary network corresponding to the second network is available;

operations S300 and S310 being continuously performed by the MTC device 100 when the strength of the communication signal of the MTC capillary network is greater than or equal to the tolerance value and the connection state is determined to be available in operation S320;

operation S330 of, when the strength of the communication signal of the MTC capillary network is less than the tolerance value and the connection state is determined to be unavailable in operation S320, transmitting, by the MTC device 100, a hand off request to the MTC gateway device 200 of the second network in a current connection state;

operation S400 of transmitting, by the MTC gateway device, a hand off report indicating that the MTC device 100 hands off a service area of the MTC gateway device 200 of the second network together with the ID of the MTC device 100 in response to the hand off request of operation S330,

operation S410 of temporarily holding, by the MTC server 400, the MTC service with respect to the ID of the MTC device 100;

operation S500 of selecting, by the MTC device 100, the first network and determining whether strength of a signal of a base station 300 configured to manage the first network is greater than or equal to the tolerance value using a first signal strength detector 115 included in the MTC device 100;

operations S510 and S520 of, when the strength of the signal of the base station 300 configured to manage the first network is determined to be greater than or equal to the tolerance value in operation S500, transmitting, by the MTC device 100, the ID of the MTC device 100 and MTC service information to the MTC server 400 through the first network, thereby performing a session connection; and

operations S530 and S540 of continuing, by the MTC server 400, the MTC service temporarily held in operation S410 using the ID of the MTC device 100 through the base station 300 of the first network.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein when the strength of the signal of the base station 300 configured to manage the first network is determined to be less than the tolerance value in operation S500, the MTC device 100 is configured to perform operation S560 of reporting blockage of a network connection to a user and to terminate a service after operation S560.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein when the strength of the signal of the base station 300 configured to manage the first network is determined to be less than the tolerance value in operation S500, the MTC device 100 is configured to perform operation S560 of reporting blockage of a network connection to a user and to repeat a process starting from operation S500.