Systems and methods for machine to machine device control and triggering

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9497102-B2
Application number	US-201213691347-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 30, 2012
Priority date	Dec 6, 2011
Publication date	Nov 15, 2016
Grant date	Nov 15, 2016

Abstract

Systems and methods for control and triggering of machine to machine (M2M) devices (e.g., smart meters). More specifically how to allow an M2M service provider (e.g., utility company) to use an operator's network to communicate with the M2M device connected with a UE/GW associated with the operator's network. The M2M service provider may receive identification of the UE/GW, but not for the M2M device. By transmitting an identifier for the M2M device along with an identifier for the UE/GW, the network operator may define establish and maintain a communication path specific to M2M devices. Similar techniques may be incorporated to allow the M2M service provider to locate and trigger the M2M device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of binding a plurality of devices to a user equipment, the method comprising:
receiving, at the user equipment via a local communication protocol, a message from at least one of the plurality of devices, the message including information identifying the device connected with the user equipment;
assigning, at the user equipment via the local communication protocol, a device connection identifier to the device, the device connection identifier including a connection identifier associated with the device and at least a portion of a user equipment identifier associated with the user equipment; and
transmitting, from the user equipment via a wide area network, information indicative of the assignment of the device connection identifier to a network operator, such that data communication to the device from the network operator is based at least in part on the device connection identifier.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the message further includes a device class for the device.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising determining a quality of service for the device based at least in part on one or more of the device connection identifier and the device class of the device.

4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising generating accounting information for the device based at least in part on one or more of the device connection identifier of the device, the device class of the device, quantity of network resources accessed, type of network resources accessed, and time of network access.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the information identifying the device comprises a media access control identifier.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the connection identifier is a port number, and wherein assigning a device connection identifier comprises assigning the port number to the device connection identifier, the method further comprising translating data communication associated with the device based at least in part on the assigned port number.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein assigning a device connection identifier comprises assigning an interface identity identifier to the device.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising encrypting the information indicative of the assignment of the device connection identifier and the information identifying the device prior to transmission.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the information indicative of the assignment comprises transmitting the information according to at least one of PPP or RSVP.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein data communication to the device comprises a packet data communication, the packet data communication including the device connection identifier for the device, the packet data communication operable to transmit a control signal to the device.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data communication comprises machine-to-machine communication.

12. An apparatus for locally hosting a plurality of communication devices, the apparatus comprising:
a receiver configured to receive, via a local communication protocol, a message from at least one of the plurality of communication devices, the message including information identifying the communication device connected with the apparatus;
an assignment circuit configured to assign, via the local communication protocol, a device connection identifier to the communication device, the device connection identifier including a connection identifier associated with the device and at least a portion of a user equipment identifier associated with the apparatus; and
a transmitter configured to transmit, via a wide area network, information indicative of the assignment of the device connection identifier to a network operator, such that data communication to the communication device from the network operator is based at least in part on the device connection identifier.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the message includes a device class for the communication device.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising a quality of service circuit configured to determine a quality of service the communication device based at least in part on one or more of the device connection identifier and the device class associated with the communication device.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising an accounting circuit configured to generate accounting information for the communication device based at least in part on one or more of the device connection identifier of the communication device, the device class of the communication device, quantity of network resources accessed, type of network resources accessed, and time of network access.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the user equipment identifier comprises a media access control identifier.

17. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the information identifying the communication device comprises a media access control identifier.

18. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the device connection identifier comprises at least one of an interface identity identifier and a port.

19. The apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising an encryption circuit configured to encrypt the information indicative of the assignment of the device connection identifier and the device identifier prior to transmission.

20. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the information according to least one of PPP or RSVP.

21. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the data communication comprises a machine-to-machine communication.

22. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the assignment circuit comprises:
a network address translation module configured to assign a port number for the communication device; and
an IP address assignment module configured to assign an IP address for the communication device.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 , wherein the network address translation module is further configured to translate data communication associated with the communication device based at least in part on the assigned port number.

24. An apparatus for locally hosting a plurality of communication devices, the apparatus comprising:
means for receiving, via a local communication protocol, a message from at least one of the plurality of communication devices, the message including information identifying the communication device connected with the apparatus;
means for assigning, via the local communication protocol, a device connection identifier to the communication devices, the device connection identifier including a connection identifier associated with the device and at least a portion of a user equipment identifier associated with the apparatus; and
means for transmitting, via a wide area network, information indicative of the assignment of the device connection identifier to a network operator, such that data communication to the communication device from the network operator is based at least in part on the device connection identifier.

25. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions executable by a processor of an apparatus for locally hosting a plurality of communication devices, the instructions causing the apparatus to:
receive, via a local communication protocol, a message from at least one of the plurality of communication devices, the message including information identifying the communication device connected with the apparatus;
assign, via the local communicat

Assignees

• Qualcomm Inc

Inventors

• Cherian George
• Wang Jun
• Palanigounder Anand
• Nasielski John Wallace

Classifications

• H04L45/00 Primary

  Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks (routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00) · CPC title

• H04W4/005

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H04W76/021

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H04W76/11

  Allocation or use of connection identifiers · CPC title

• H04W4/70 Primary

  Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC] · CPC title