HK1163978A - Communication device, communication network and method for changing the configuration of communication network - Google Patents

Description

Communication device, communication network and method for changing communication network configuration

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a communication device, a network device comprising the communication device and a method of changing a network configuration.

Background

It is known to provide data communication between two or more multimedia devices, which may be located in, for example, residential or commercial buildings, over a communication network. These multimedia devices may include, for example, Network Attached Storage (NAS), Home Gateway (HGW), Personal Computer (PC), and Set Top Box (STB). Communication between these two and more multimedia devices is through media interface circuitry at each multimedia device (or node) for transferring data from one node to another over an appropriate medium. The media interface circuit may be the media interface circuit described in WO 2008/142449 (prior application) for transmitting and receiving data over at least one of power line, telephone line and coaxial cable.

Wireless fidelity (WiFi) communications are widely used in residential and commercial environments. For example, a WiFi communication link may be established between the multimedia network and the laptop. Some form of security mechanism is always established in the WiFi link. For example, in the 802.11WiFi standard, a particular wireless Local Area Network (LAN) is identified by a unique Service Set Identifier (SSID), which is used for packet communications between two or more LAN nodes. In addition, each LAN node sharing the same SSID may be configured to require a password for encryption to ensure integrity and confidentiality of data from unauthenticated access points. It will be appreciated that the greater access to other parts that WiFi is able to provide makes the security of the WiFi link more important than copper or optical fibre links which are inherently more secure.

When configuring WiFi access points or routers in a network, a common approach is to connect a computer to a WiFi access point or router through an ethernet cable and configure the WiFi access point or router through a web interface or wizard running on the computer. Alternatively, when wireless communication with a WiFi access point or router is turned on, a wireless connection may be established between the computer and the WiFi access point or router without relying on an ethernet cable connection. The same configuration may be done for other wireless-capable nodes in the network, respectively. Alternatively, the other network nodes may be configured separately by downloading configuration data from the USB device. Another method used in a suitably configured network is for the user to activate a pairing button (pairing push button) separately for each already configured node, which is configured to start passing configuration data to the node to be configured, and this process will be repeated at each other node.

The inventors believe that the above described wireless network configuration methods require time and effort and are therefore prone to being overlooked or improperly used.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved communication device configured to provide configuration of at least one WiFi-enabled node in a communication network.

It is another object of the invention to provide a method of changing the configuration of at least one WiFi-enabled node in a communication network.

Disclosure of Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication apparatus for forming a communication network, the communication apparatus comprising:

a first 802.11 compliant media interface circuit configured to communicate data over a wireless medium and over a powerline medium;

a second 802.11 compliant media interface circuit configured to communicate data over a wireless medium and over the powerline medium;

the first and second media interface circuits are configured to transfer configuration data from the first media interface circuit to the second media interface circuit over the powerline medium in accordance with the changed configuration of the first media interface circuit, the second media interface circuit changing its configuration in accordance with the received configuration data such that the first and second media interface circuits have the same configuration.

In use, the configuration of the first media interface circuit changes, for example with respect to an SSID or a password. For example, the user may change the configuration by any of the known methods described above, such as a wizard or web page running on a computer connected to the first media interface circuit by an ethernet cable. When the configuration changes, configuration data is passed to the second media interface circuit over the powerline medium, and the second media interface circuit adjusts its configuration to that of the first media interface circuit. Thus, the user is no longer required to take repetitive actions to ensure that the changed configuration data is replicated over the network. Additionally, the use of the power line medium for transferring configuration data from the first media interface circuit to the second media interface circuit avoids the need to use WiFi (i.e., based on an 802.11 compliant approach), which would make it difficult to have a matching SSID before communication can occur between the media interface circuits or between a WiFi enabled computer and the second media interface circuit.

Alternatively or in addition, the communication device may include at least a third media interface circuit that is 802.11 compliant and configured to communicate data over a wireless medium and over the powerline medium. The first media interface circuit and the at least third media interface circuit are configured to transfer configuration data from the first media interface circuit or the second media interface circuit to the third media interface circuit over the powerline medium in accordance with the changed configuration of the first media interface circuit, the third media interface circuit changing its configuration in accordance with the received configuration data such that the first and third media interface circuits have the same configuration. Thus, a change in the configuration of the first media interface circuit may be replicated to a plurality of other media interface circuits in the network.

Alternatively or in addition, the communications device may include a configuration software agent in use for determining whether the configuration of the first media interface circuit has changed, for example, whether the SSID has changed. The configuration software agent is further operable to complete the transfer of the configuration data from the first media interface circuit to the second media interface circuit. Wherein the communication device includes other media interface circuitry to which the configuration software agent may be used to complete the transfer of the configuration data.

More specifically, the configuration software agent is operable to periodically determine whether the configuration of the first media interface circuit has changed. For example, the configuration software agent may be used to automatically determine whether the configuration data has changed once a day.

Alternatively or in addition, the execution of the configuration software agent is started according to a user operation. The user operation changes a configuration of the first media interface circuit. Thus, the configuration software agent may be generated from the changed configuration of the first media interface circuit and may be used to replicate the change in configuration over the network. Alternatively or additionally, the user operation may be an operation other than changing a configuration of the first media interface circuit. Thus, the user operation includes activating a switch (e.g., a key switch) on only one media interface circuit (e.g., the first media interface circuit). Thus, in contrast to known methods, copying of changed configuration data over a network may be accomplished without the need to activate a key on each media interface circuit.

Alternatively or additionally, the configuration data comprises at least one of: SSID, password data, identification data, channel selection data, media selection data (e.g., power line or wireless), encryption format data, power saving configuration data, VLAN configuration data, and quality of service control data.

Alternatively or in addition, the configuration data is used to change or reset a network key of at least one of a WiFi communication circuit and a power line communication circuit of the network when communicated over the network.

Alternatively or in addition, the media interface node may be configured to provide the changed configuration data over the network according to at least one known method described above. For example, each media interface circuit may include a key switch, and configuration data may be copied from one media interface circuit to another by depressing their respective keys.

Alternatively or in addition, the communication device includes a third media interface circuit that is at least one of: configured for communication over a powerline medium; is compliant with 802.11 and is configured for communication over a wireless medium. When the third media interface circuit is configured for communication over a powerline medium, the communication device is configured to communicate configuration data from the first or second media interface circuit to the third media interface circuit over the powerline medium.

Alternatively or in addition, the first media interface circuit is for receiving configuration data, such as a changed SSID or password, in accordance with a user operation. Thus, according to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communications network comprising user operated means for generating configuration data in accordance with user operation and communicating the configuration data to a first media interface circuit over a wireless medium, and communications apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention. The user operation device may be, for example, a Personal Computer (PC) having a WiFi function, such as a laptop computer. The user operated device may be used to configure the first media interface circuit according to known methods, for example any of those described above (e.g. via a web page).

The communication network is a multimedia network, for example located in a residential or commercial building. The communication network may comprise at least one operating means, for example such that there is one operating means per node. The operating means may be different means. These devices may be different due to considerations of their configuration for different applications, for example one operating device may be a media player and another operating device may be a storage device. Alternatively or in addition, the operating means may be for substantially the same application, such as media playing, but differ due to their different hardware or firmware configuration, such as a general purpose device (e.g. a PC) configured to play video and a dedicated video player. The operating means may include at least one multimedia device, such as a Network Attached Storage (NAS), a Home Gateway (HGW), a Personal Computer (PC) and a Set Top Box (STB).

Other embodiments of the second aspect of the invention may include one or more features of the second aspect of the invention.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of changing a configuration of at least a second media interface circuit of a plurality of media interface circuits in a communication network, each of the plurality of media interface circuits being 802.11 compliant and configured for transmitting data over a wireless medium and over a powerline medium, the method comprising:

changing a configuration of the first media interface circuit;

transferring configuration data from the first media interface circuit to a second media interface circuit over the powerline medium according to the changed configuration of the first media interface circuit; and

changing the configuration of the second media interface circuit in accordance with the received configuration data such that the first and second media interface circuits have the same configuration.

Embodiments of the third aspect of the present invention may include one or more features of the first or second aspects of the present invention.

Drawings

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly illustrated by the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, which are given by way of illustration only and in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication network according to the present invention;

fig. 2 is a flow chart of steps for configuring the communication network shown in fig. 1.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a multimedia communication network 10 located in a residential building. The network 10 includes a first communication device 12, a second communication device 14, a third communication device 16, and a fourth communication device 18. Each of the first through fourth communication devices 12, 14, 16, 18 includes a powerline media interface circuit 20, respectively, the powerline media interface circuit 20 for providing communication of media and associated control and configuration data over a powerline medium 22. The power line media interface circuit 20 is of known form and function, for example the form and function of a GGL541 home network integrated circuit provided by Gigle networks Ltd of Capital House, 2 Festival Square, Edinburgh, EH 39 SU, UK. Thus, powerline medium 22 provides communication between two or more communication devices. Each of the first, second and fourth communication devices 12, 14, 18, respectively, includes a WiFi media interface circuit 24. The WiFi media interface circuit 24 has a known form and functionality based on one of a number of WiFi standards, such as described in http:// standards. ie.org/getieee 802/download/802.11-2007. pdf. The WiFi media interface circuit 24 provides WiFi communication between the first, second and fourth communication devices 12, 14, 18. The network 10 shown in fig. 1 also includes a WiFi enabled laptop computer 26, the laptop computer 26 being configured to provide WiFi communication between the laptop and the first, second and fourth communication devices 12, 14, 18. As can be seen in fig. 1, a communication link 28 exists between the power line media interface circuit 20 and the WiFi media interface circuit 24 of each of the first, second and fourth communication devices 12, 14, 18. The communication link 28 represents a means of transferring data between the WiFi and power line circuits of each communication device. The way data is transferred between WiFi and power line circuits is known, and the software design for doing this is within the ordinary design capabilities of those skilled in the art.

A change in the configuration of the network shown in fig. 1 will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in fig. 2. The first step 42 includes changing the configuration of the WiFi media interface circuit 24 of the first communication device 12 via the laptop 26. This step is based on the above-described known method for establishing a WiFi link between the laptop 26 and the first communication device 12, wherein the WiFi link is opened or the laptop 26 is connected to the first communication device 12 by means of a direct ethernet cable 30, and the configuration change is done by means of a wizard or web interface. One example of a configuration change is with respect to the SSID. Other configuration changes may relate to operational characteristics of the first communication device 12 as a whole and not just the WiFi media interface circuitry, such as WiFi channel selection data, encryption format data, power saving data, VLAN configuration data, quality of service data, passwords, and the like. VLAN is a standard field in ethernet packets used according to IEEE 802.1Q. Details of IEEE 802.1Q may be found in http:// standards. ieee.org/getieee802/download/802.1Q-2005. pdf.

A next step 44 includes detecting a configuration change of the first communication device 12. In one form, a configuration software agent located in at least one of the communication devices periodically checks the configuration data of the first communication device and, if a change is detected, the software agent suitably initiates copying of the changed data from the first communication device to other communication devices in the network in accordance with the type of changed configuration data. In another form, step 46 is: the configuration software agent is generated by the user gaining access to the first communication device 12 and is used to detect changes in the configuration data and to initiate copying of the changed data from the first communication device to other communication devices in the network. In yet another form, step 46 is: the operation of configuring the software agent is initiated by actuating a key on the first communication device 12 or any other one of the communication devices 14, 16, 18. Likewise, the configuration software agent is used to detect changes in the configuration data and to initiate copying of the changed data from the first communication device to other communication devices in the network. In all forms, the configuration data is automatically copied over the powerline medium 22 to each of the other communication devices. Thus, no known, repeated operations need to be undertaken to copy changed configuration data from one communication device to other communication devices in the network. Identification of the communication means receiving and acting on the changed data may be made dependent on the nature of the changed configuration data. For example, in the present example, if the SSID changes, the changed SSID will be copied to and acted upon by the second and fourth communication devices 14, 18, and there is no need to change the SSID of the third communication device since the third communication device is only configured for powerline communication. Another example is changing quality of service (QoS) rules for power lines and/or WiFi communications in the network. In this example, since all communication devices are configured for communication over the powerline medium 22, the change in QoS rules is replicated to the second, third and fourth communication devices 14, 16, 18.

When the changed configuration data is received at each suitable communication apparatus, the communication apparatus as the receiving side is configured to change its own configuration data so as to be identical to the changed configuration data of the first communication apparatus. For example, according to the change in the SSID example described above, each of the second and fourth communication devices 14, 18 is configured to change its own SSID to an SSID received from the first communication device 12 over the powerline medium, respectively. For example, each of the second, third and fourth communication devices 14, 16, 18, respectively, is configured to change its own QoS rules to the changed QoS rules received from the first communication device 12 over the powerline medium, in accordance with the changes in the QoS rules example described above. Each communication device comprises a key and is configured to copy the configuration data according to the known key method described above, but not by the method described above with reference to fig. 2.

A change in the configuration of the first communication device 12, or indeed any other communication device 14, 16, 18, is then detected in accordance with the method described above. The design of software agents and other software needed to implement the above-described methods is within the general design capabilities of one skilled in the art.

Claims (10)

1. A communication apparatus for forming a communication network, the communication apparatus comprising:

a first 802.11 compliant media interface circuit configured to communicate data over a wireless medium and over a powerline medium;

a second 802.11 compliant media interface circuit configured to communicate data over a wireless medium and over the powerline medium;

the first and second media interface circuits are configured to transfer configuration data from the first media interface circuit to the second media interface circuit over the powerline medium in accordance with the changed configuration of the first media interface circuit, the second media interface circuit changing its configuration in accordance with the received configuration data such that the first and second media interface circuits have the same configuration.

2. The communication device of claim 1, comprising at least a third media interface circuit, said third media interface circuit conforming to 802.11 and configured for transmitting data over a wireless medium and over said powerline medium.

3. The communication device of claim 2, wherein the first and third media interface circuits are configured to transfer configuration data from the first media interface circuit or the second media interface circuit to the third media interface circuit over the powerline medium according to the changed configuration of the first media interface circuit, and wherein the third media interface circuit changes its configuration according to the received configuration data such that the first and third media interface circuits have the same configuration.

4. A communication device according to any of claims 1-3, comprising a configuration software agent for determining whether the configuration of the first media interface circuit has changed.

5. The communications device of claim 4, wherein the configuration software agent is configured to complete the transfer of the configuration data from the first media interface circuit to the second media interface circuit.

6. The communications device of claim 5, wherein the configuration software agent is configured to periodically determine whether the configuration of the first media interface circuit has changed.

7. The communications device of claim 6, wherein the execution of the configuration software agent is initiated in response to a user action.

8. The communication device of claim 7, wherein the user operation changes a configuration of the first media interface circuit.

9. A communications network comprising user operated means for generating configuration data in response to user operation and for communicating the configuration data to a first media interface circuit via a wireless medium and a communications device according to any preceding claim.

10. A method of changing a configuration of at least a second media interface circuit of a plurality of media interface circuits in a communication network, each of the plurality of media interface circuits being 802.11 compliant and configured for communicating data over a wireless medium and over a powerline medium, the method comprising:

changing a configuration of the first media interface circuit;

transferring configuration data from the first media interface circuit to a second media interface circuit over the powerline medium according to the changed configuration of the first media interface circuit; and

changing the configuration of the second media interface circuit in accordance with the received configuration data such that the first and second media interface circuits have the same configuration.