Method and network node for managing device-related data to be distributed to a communication device in a communication network

• US 9,699,651 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2013
• Issued: 07/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Ljung, Magnus
• Primary Examiner(s): Qureshi, Afsar M
• Application Number:
  US14/783,919
• Publication Number:
  US 20160057616A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,539 Days
• Field of Search: 370254
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0886 Fully automatic configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/222 using geographical location information, e.g. messages transmitted or received in proximity of a certain spot or area
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a method performed by a network node (110) for managing device-related data to be distributed to a communication device (101, 102, 103, 104) in a communication network. The method comprises receiving (304) location information of the communication device from a presence protocol server (120), wherein the location information is received over a presence protocol, and receiving (306) a device identification for identifying the communication device, wherein the device identification is received over the presence protocol. The method further comprises selecting (308) device-related data for the communication device based on the received device location information, and transmitting (310) the selected device-related data to the communication device according to the received device identification. The present disclosure also relates to a corresponding network node. The present disclosure also relates to a method in a communication device communicating with the network node and to a corresponding communication device.

Claims

1. A method performed by a network node for managing device-related data to be distributed to a communication device in a communication network, the method comprising:

receiving location information of the communication device from a presence protocol server, wherein the location information is received over a presence protocol;

receiving a device identification for identifying the communication device, wherein the device identification is received over the presence protocol, and wherein the received device identification is a presence-protocol device identification;

determining a network node device identification based on the received presence-protocol device identification;

selecting device-related data for the communication device based on the received device location information; and

transmitting the selected device-related data to the communication device according to the received device identification, wherein the transmitting of the selected device-related data to the communication device is performed according to the determined network node device identification.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the selected device-related data is transmitted to the communication device over a device management protocol.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the presence protocol server is an Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol, XMPP, server, and the presence protocol is XMPP.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising defining a number of location groups, wherein each location group is connected with geographical information defining a certain geographical area, and wherein the device-related data is connected to each location group, and wherein the selecting of the device-related data for the communication device based on the received device location information comprises:

comparing the received device location information with the geographical information connected with each location group;

selecting a location group or groups of the number of location groups for which the geographical information matches the received device location information; and

selecting the device-related data for the selected location group or groups.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a subscription message to the presence protocol server for subscribing to the location information for the communication device.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the location information of the communication device received from the presence-protocol server originates from the communication device.

7. A network node configured for managing device-related data to be distributed to a communication device in a communication network, the network node comprising:

a receiving unit configured to receive location information of the communication device from a presence protocol server, wherein the location information is received over a presence protocol, the receiving unit further being configured to receive a device identification for identifying the communication device, wherein the device identification is received over the presence protocol, and wherein the received device identification is a presence-protocol device identification;

a determining unit configured to determine a network node device identification based on the received presence-protocol device identification;

a selecting unit configured to select device-related data for the communication device based on the received location information of the communication device; and

a transmitting unit configured to transmit the selected device-related data to the communication device according to the received device identification, wherein the transmitting unit is further configured to transmit the selected device-related data to the communication device according to the determined network node device identification.

8. The network node according to claim 7, wherein the transmitting unit is configured to transmit the selected device-related data to the communication device over a device management protocol.

9. The network node according to claim 7, wherein the presence protocol server is an Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol, XMPP, server, and the presence protocol is XMPP.

10. The network node according to claim 7, wherein a number of location groups are defined, each location group being connected with geographical information defining a certain geographical area, wherein the device-related data is connected to each location group, and wherein the selecting unit is configured to:

select the device-related data for the communication device based on the received device location information implying the selecting unit is arranged to compare the received device location information with the geographical information connected with each location group;

select a location group or groups of the number of location groups for which the geographical information matches the received device location information; and

select the device-related data for the selected location group or groups.

11. The network node according to claim 7, wherein the transmitting unit is further configured to transmit a subscription message to the presence protocol server for subscribing to the location information for the communication device.

12. The network node according to claim 7, wherein the location information of the communication device received by the receiving unit from the presence-protocol server originates from the communication device.

13. A method performed by a communication device for communicating with a network node in a communication network, the method comprising:

transmitting a device identification to a presence protocol server for identifying the communication device, for further delivery to the network node, wherein the communication device is equipped with a presence protocol client, and wherein the device identification is a presence protocol device identification;

configuring the presence protocol client with the transmitted presence protocol device identification, wherein the transmitted presence protocol device identification corresponds to a network node device identification used at the network node;

transmitting location information of the communication device to the presence protocol server over a presence protocol, for further delivery to the network node; and

receiving device-related data of the communication device from the network node according to the transmitted presence protocol device identification, wherein the device-related data has been selected for the communication device based on the transmitted device location information.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the device-related data is received over a device management protocol.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the presence protocol server is an Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol, XMPP, server, and the presence protocol is XMPP.

16. A communication device configured for communicating with a network node in a communication network, the communication device comprising:

a transmitting unit configured to transmit a device identification to a presence protocol server for identifying the communication device, for further delivery to the network node, and the transmitting unit further configured to transmit location information of the device to the presence protocol server over a presence protocol, for further delivery to the network node, wherein the device identification is a presence protocol device identification;

a presence protocol client;

a configuring unit for configuring the presence protocol client with the transmitted presence protocol device identification, wherein the transmitted presence protocol device identification corresponds to a network node device identification used at the network node; and

a receiving unit configured to receive device-related data of the communication device from the network node according to the transmitted presence protocol device identification, wherein the device-related data has been selected for the communication device based on the transmitted device location information.

17. The communication device according to claim 16, wherein the receiving unit is configured to receive the device-related data over a device management protocol.

18. The communication device according to claim 16, wherein the presence protocol server is an Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol, XMPP, server, and the presence protocol is XMPP.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a computer program comprising program instructions that when run in a network node configures the network node to:

receive location information of a communication device from a presence protocol server, wherein the location information is received over a presence protocol;

receive a device identification for identifying the communication device, wherein the device identification is received over the presence protocol, and wherein the received device identification is a presence-protocol device identification;

determine a network node device identification based on the received presence-protocol device identification;

select device-related data for the communication device based on the received device location information; and

transmit the selected device-related data to the communication device according to the received device identification, wherein the transmitting of the selected device-related data to the communication device is performed according to the determined network node device identification.