Failure-safe messaging system

Abstract

In a communication method for a messenger system, the messenger system comprises a server (1) and a plurality of terminal devices (2). The terminal devices (2) have an application (3) for connecting to the server (1) or to other terminal devices (2). The application (3) comprises a broadband mode for communication in a broadband network (4). The application (3) has a narrowband mode for communication in a narrowband network (5). The application (3) of a terminal device (2) can automatically detect the absence of a broadband network (4) at the location of a terminal device (2) and then use the narrowband mode.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a communication method for a messenger system, wherein the messenger system comprises a server and a plurality of terminals, wherein the terminals have an application for connecting to the server or to other terminals, wherein the application comprises a broadband mode for communication in a broadband network. The invention further relates to a messenger system.

[0002] Messenger systems, especially instant messenger systems, are well known in practice and are used for convenient, predominantly text-based communication with end devices. These messenger systems offer extensive communication options, often used to send documents, image files, or videos. Messenger systems also frequently offer options for telephone calls or conferences, as well as video calls or conferences. Communication protocols from the TCP / IP protocol family are often used for this purpose.

[0003] The data volume of a single message in these messaging systems can be quite large, which is why they are often designed for communication over broadband networks. One example of an uncompromisingly secure messaging system is stashcat, which, despite its numerous features such as chat, file storage, video conferencing, and much more, impresses with its ease of use. This is made possible, among other things, by a proprietary communication protocol for broadband communication. The result is a noticeable increase in communication efficiency for particularly security-critical companies and government agencies.

[0004] The Starlink system, which offers broadband communication via satellite connection, has gained a certain level of popularity in recent years. This is achieved primarily through installed antennas aligned with electric motors and electronically tracked, which enable an ideal connection to the satellites and thus broadband communication. The installed Starlink antenna is connected to a Starlink router, which provides Wi-Fi. This allows mobile devices in the immediate vicinity to connect to the Starlink router via Wi-Fi, enabling familiar broadband communication via the Starlink antenna even without a cellular network.

[0005] However, this also means that mobile devices located farther away from the Starlink router cannot participate in this form of communication. In practice, staff units or command vehicles, for example, benefit from this type of communication, but not individual emergency personnel operating further out in the field, who ultimately only have their mobile phones with them. Therefore, broadband communication is particularly unavailable to emergency personnel in the field if there is no mobile network available locally. In these cases, the messenger systems cannot be used, and the emergency personnel in the field are cut off from the information flow within their respective organizations.

[0006] The invention is therefore based on the object of creating a communication method by means of which broadband communication systems and in particular messenger systems can be used by emergency personnel in the field without a mobile radio connection or broadband network.

[0007] This object is achieved by a communication method of a messenger system, wherein the messenger system comprises a plurality of terminals, wherein the terminals have an application for connecting to other terminals, wherein the application comprises a broadband mode for communication in a broadband network, characterized in that the application has a narrowband mode for communication in a narrowband network, wherein the application of a terminal can automatically detect a lack of the broadband network at the location of the one terminal and then uses or can use the narrowband mode.

[0008] The invention is based on the realization that there is a great need for broadband communications, especially among organizations with field-based emergency personnel. This applies to organizations such as police authorities and rescue services, but also to companies with field staff. In the absence of a mobile network, communication channels are significantly weakened or even completely interrupted, which in some cases can lead to dangerous operational situations or unnecessary field deployments.

[0009] It has been recognized that messenger systems have become so relevant within various organizations that the spatial and temporal reliability of the messenger system must be further increased. Numerous authorities and organizations have long since become accustomed to a specific messenger system to a greater extent. In particular, this also involves mitigating the temporary outage of individual cell towers, which can occur from time to time. Likewise, the present invention aims to offer emergency personnel or field staff in the field communication via the familiar messenger system even in so-called dead zones.

[0010] The invention is based on the assumption that electronic devices, and in particular smartphones, will one day be widely capable of communicating with satellites in an emergency. However, it has been found that – in the case of devices without antenna connections, such as the Starlink system – satellite communication will only be possible in a narrowband network. Thus, the radio performance of the devices is likely to be nowhere near as high as that of the Starlink antennas, for example. It will therefore not be possible to use conventional messenger systems designed for broadband networks for satellite communication.

[0011] The invention is based, in particular, on the recognition that the messenger system according to the invention must be capable of using a narrowband network. This will enable the messenger system—assuming a terminal device with appropriate hardware and operating system—to offer at least some of its functions using narrowband satellite communication, even in the event of a missing or failed terrestrial mobile network.

[0012] In particular, it was found that the move to narrowband communication, preferably satellite communication, will likely be accompanied by a reduced functionality of the messenger system for some time to come. Ultimately, the invention is based on the finding that the creation of a redundant, albeit narrowband, communication channel justifies a temporarily restricted functionality for the duration of the necessary satellite communication. As a result, the problem stated above has been solved.

[0013] The messenger system is preferably an instant messenger system. Examples of instant messenger systems include WhatsApp, Signal, ICQ, or Stashcat. The end device can be, for example, a smartphone, a tablet, or a PC. The end device is preferably a mobile device, in particular a smartphone, a smartwatch, or a tablet. The term "application" refers in particular to an app for a mobile device and / or a computer program for a PC.

[0014] It is highly preferred that the messenger system includes a server. The messenger system is advantageously designed according to a client-server model. The application on the end devices expediently forms a client or clients. Preferably, the end devices of the messenger system communicate with each other generally or exclusively via the server. It is possible for the server to buffer a message from a second end device to the first end device if a first end device is unavailable—for example, because it is switched off.

[0015] It is possible for the narrowband network to include one or more broadband components. For example, a server may be connected to a powerful terrestrial satellite antenna, which provides the capability for broadband communication between the server and a satellite. However, due to a weak connection between the terminal device and this or other satellites, communication between the server and this terminal device is limited to narrowband communication. Preferably, the weakest link within a network or the connection between terminal device, intermediary device and server defines, in terms of its data transmission rate, whether it is a narrowband network or a narrowband connection or a broadband network or a broadband connection. The intermediary device can be, for example, a stationary mobile radio antenna or a satellite.

[0016] It is particularly preferred that the narrowband network is a satellite network or comprises at least one satellite as an intermediary. This enables data-rich and particularly wide-area coverage, further reducing the number of failures of the messenger system or individual clients of the messenger system. The broadband network expediently comprises a mobile radio network or at least one terrestrial, stationary mobile radio antenna. According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the messenger system or the server or the terminal devices are configured to communicate bidirectionally with a satellite.

[0017] According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the data transmission rate of the terminal in narrowband mode in the uplink and / or downlink is at most 100, 80, 64, 40, 20, or 10 kbit / s. The term "narrowband" preferably means a maximum possible data transmission rate of at most 100, 80, 64, 40, 20, or 10 kbit / s. It is preferred that the term "broadband" be complementary to the term "narrowband" with regard to the data transmission rate.

[0018] It is preferred that the application in the broadband network uses a proprietary communication protocol. This enables data-rich and particularly secure messenger communication. The communication protocol expediently defines the type of data packets sent between the end devices or the server. It is preferred that the data packets be sent encrypted. The maximum permitted size of the data packets (Maximum Transmission Unit, MTU) in the broadband network or in broadband mode is advantageously at least 200, 300, 500, 700, 1000, or 1280 bytes.

[0019] The term "data packet" preferably refers to a block of information configured according to a communications protocol. The data packet can preferably be sent separately or independently of other data packets. The data packet advantageously comprises payload data and control data. The control data preferably includes data for addressing, transmission sequence, data flow control, and / or error correction. An example of a data packet in a broadband network is a TCP data packet.

[0020] It is particularly preferred that the application has a narrowband interface, wherein the narrowband interface preferably establishes a connection with a radio app of the terminal device. This allows for particularly clever use of an existing, narrowband radio channel of the terminal device. It is possible for the narrowband interface to establish a connection with a narrowband interface of the terminal device's operating system.

[0021] It is possible for the application to have an emergency mode, whereby the emergency mode can be triggered by the end device and / or switched on by a user of the end device. The emergency mode can comprise at least one additional function compared to the narrowband mode. This gives the emergency mode priority to increase security. Data packets sent from the emergency mode are preferably given priority over data packets in the narrowband mode and / or over data packets in the broadband mode. The application can have a compression function for compressing files at least in the emergency mode. It is possible for the compression function to automatically compress a file to a specific value when a file is attached to a text message or when a file is sent.

[0022] Preferably, if the broadband network is unavailable, the application will display or output a message on the device regarding the lack of a broadband network. This ensures that the user is immediately aware that from now on they can only use the application in narrowband mode. It is advisable to display one or more functions of the application as unusable and, in particular, grayed out in narrowband mode. The unusable or grayed out functions are, in particular, data-intensive functions, which primarily include video calls or sending videos. It is advantageous if the application displays an icon symbolizing the narrowband network or narrowband mode at the same time as the message regarding the lack of a broadband network. The icon can, for example, be a satellite icon.

[0023] Preferably, in narrowband mode, the terminal device sends data packets with a maximum of 1000, 700, or 500 bytes. This allows particularly efficient use of the narrowband network. It is advantageous if the application in narrowband mode includes a compression function for compressing files. It is preferred that the compression function automatically compresses a file below a limit when a file is attached to a message / text message or when a file is sent. The limit is, for example, a maximum of 100, 70, 50, 20, or 10 kBytes. Preferably, the application or messenger system divides the message / text message with the attached file into multiple data packets to be sent. The application or messenger system advantageously sends the multiple data packets to one recipient.It is preferred that a recipient's application and / or the messenger system combine the multiple data packets into one message. An example of a data packet in a narrowband network is a Short Message Service (SMS) data packet.

[0024] The messenger system or application advantageously includes end-to-end encryption and / or a video conferencing module and / or georeferencing and / or user-specific file storage. Georeferencing preferably includes displaying the current location of the terminal device. The aforementioned functions expand the range of applications of the messenger system. It is preferred that at least georeferencing and / or sending text messages is / are possible in emergency mode and / or narrowband mode.

[0025] According to a preferred embodiment, the messenger system comprises a user directory. The messenger system is preferably configured so that a user—preferably depending on access authorization—can send a contact request to the messenger system for contact with another user. This is particularly advantageous in organizations where the users already know each other personally and, in particular, are connected through a professional trust basis. The user directory preferably comprises a Lightweight Directory Access (LDA) protocol, and in particular LDAPv3.

[0026] The object mentioned at the outset is achieved by a messenger system comprising a plurality of terminals, wherein the terminals have an application for connecting to other terminals, wherein the application comprises a broadband mode for communication in a broadband network, characterized in that the application has a narrowband mode for communication in a narrowband network, wherein the application is designed such that it can automatically detect a lack of the broadband network at the location of a terminal and then uses or can use the narrowband mode.

[0027] The invention is explained below using an exemplary embodiment in a figure. It shows a schematic representation of the only Figure is a symbol diagram of a messenger system according to the invention.

[0028] The figure depicts a messenger system comprising a server 1 and a plurality of terminals 2, wherein the terminals 2 have an application 3. The server 1 and the terminals 2 are expediently connected to one another as a server-client system via the application 3. Typically, the server 1 and a terminal 2 communicate using the application 3 in a broadband network 4. The broadband network 4 can, for example, have a mobile radio antenna 6. The terminal 2 is located in a mobile radio cell spanned by the mobile radio antenna 6, so that the terminal 2 and the mobile radio antenna 6 are connected to one another via a terminal-broadband network connection 8 in the form of a conventional mobile radio connection.

[0029] In this exemplary embodiment, the server 1 is directly or indirectly connected to the mobile radio antenna 6 via a server broadband network connection 9. In this exemplary embodiment, the broadband network 4 is therefore formed by the server 1, the terminal 2, the mobile radio antenna 6, the terminal broadband network connection 8, and the server broadband network connection 9. When the broadband network 4 is present, the application 3 is expediently in a broadband mode, in which at least a very large proportion of the application's functions are available to the user. In broadband mode, the messenger system preferably uses a proprietary communication protocol that encrypts the data packets sent between the terminal 2 and the server 1. A maximum size of the data packets specified in the communication protocol is advantageously at least 700 bytes in broadband mode.

[0030] The messenger system offers the user of a terminal device 2 a variety of messenger functions via the application 3. Messenger functions include, among other things, sending text messages, file storage, providing functions for telephone calls or video conferences, and / or mapping a communication policy within an organization such as a government agency or a company.

[0031] The representation of an organization's communication policy can be expressed, for example, in workgroup or department chats or in privileged accounts for users with higher hierarchical positions. Furthermore, the respective communication policy can include the need-to-know principle, which can be reflected in the messenger system or application 3 through restrictive measures. Restrictive measures can, for example, be file access permissions that require approval by third parties within the organization. Furthermore, depending on the role of the requesting user, the people and files in the messenger system may not even be visible to them.

[0032] One component of the communication policy consists of a user directory of the authority / company / organization, whereby different roles and contact circles are assigned or permitted to the various users. It is advantageous if a user can contact other users of the authority / company / organization. Preferably, a user of the messenger system and employee of an organization can send a contact request to the messenger system concerning another employee of the organization. For example, by simply entering the name of the other employee in application 3, the user can contact the other employee and initiate a joint chat. The messenger system expediently includes a user directory. It is preferred that the user directory has a Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP), in particular LDAPv3.

[0033] If there is no broadband network 4 at the location of the terminal device 2, for example due to a dead zone or a temporary outage of the local mobile radio cell, the application 3 automatically detects the absence of the broadband network 4 at the location of the terminal device 2. The broadband network 4 may not be available at the location of the terminal device 2, in particular due to a missing terminal-broadband network connection 8 or a missing server-broadband network connection 9, which is indicated in the figure with curved lines.

[0034] The user of the terminal 2 of this exemplary embodiment then receives a message that the broadband network 4 is currently unavailable to them. At the same time, the application 3 has expediently switched from broadband mode to narrowband mode, so that the functions of the application 3 are only available to the user to a limited extent. Advantageously, the particularly data-intensive functions are grayed out. In particular, however, according to this exemplary embodiment, the receipt and sending of text messages are still possible. However, telephone calls and video calls, as well as the attachment of documents and in particular images to text messages, are not possible in the narrowband mode of this exemplary embodiment. The application 3 preferably indicates to the user that it has been able to establish a connection to the narrowband network 5 and preferably to a satellite 7.

[0035] In this exemplary embodiment, the narrowband network 5 comprises at least one satellite 7, the terminal 2, the server 1, as well as a terminal-narrowband network connection 10 and a server-narrowband network connection 11. Preferably, the server 1 is connected to a high-performance terrestrial satellite antenna (not shown), which ensures a correspondingly high-performance server-narrowband network connection 11.

[0036] It is preferred that the terminal 2 comprises an operating system that supports satellite communication. Particularly preferably, the terminal 2 comprises a radio app that provides a radio channel for communication with the narrowband network 5 or the satellite 7. It is highly preferred that the application 3 comprises an interface for connecting to the radio app and / or the operating system in order to send and / or receive text messages via the narrowband network 5.

[0037] In this embodiment, narrowband mode allows not only the sending of text messages, but also of files attached to text messages, and in particular, photos attached to text messages. Consequently, the function for attaching image files is advantageously not grayed out in narrowband mode. Preferably, application 3 automatically compresses the size of attached photos to a size below, for example, 50 kB. This allows the user to send important information about the event even in the absence of broadband network 4, without having to laboriously type text messages.

[0038] Application 3 can be configured to detect a suspected emergency. A suspected emergency can be determined, for example, via an acceleration sensor of terminal device 2 or via a connection to a heart rate monitor of the user of terminal device 2. In this exemplary embodiment, the user is then asked via text message whether they are in an emergency situation. If the user answers in the affirmative, application 3 expediently switches either from broadband mode to emergency mode or from narrowband mode to emergency mode. In this exemplary embodiment, the user also has the option of manually switching to emergency mode, for example by pressing an emergency button of application 3 on terminal device 2. This function is intended in particular for security and rescue personnel who find themselves in an emergency situation and want to help themselves or third parties.The emergency mode preferably enjoys a privileged position compared to both the broadband mode and the narrowband mode. Reference symbol 1 server 2 end devices 3 Application 4 Broadband network 5 Narrowband network 6 mobile phone antenna 7 Satellite antenna 8 Terminal broadband network connection 9 Server broadband network connection 10 Terminal narrowband network connection 11 Server narrowband network connection

Claims

[1] Communication method for a messenger system, wherein the messenger system comprises a plurality of terminals (2), wherein the terminals (2) have an application (3) for connecting to other terminals (2), wherein the application (3) comprises a broadband mode for communication in a broadband network (4), characterized by that the application (3) has a narrowband mode for communication in a narrowband network (5), wherein the application (3) automatically detects or can detect a lack of the broadband network (4) at the location of a terminal (2) and then uses or can use the narrowband mode. [2] Communication method according to claim 1, wherein the messenger system comprises a server (1), wherein the messenger system is preferably designed according to a client-server model, wherein the application (3) on the terminals (2) expediently forms a client or clients. [3] Communication method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the narrowband network (5) comprises at least one satellite. [4] Communication method according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the data transmission rate of the terminal in narrowband mode in the uplink and / or in the downlink is at most 64, 40 or 20 kbit / s. [5] Communication method according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the application (3) has a narrowband interface, wherein the narrowband interface preferably establishes a connection with a radio app of the terminal (2). [6] Communication method according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the application (3) in narrowband mode comprises a compression function for compressing files, wherein it is preferred that the compression function automatically compresses this file to a certain value below a limit value when attaching a file to a message or when sending a file. [7] Communication method according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by that in the absence of the broadband network (4) the application (3) displays or outputs a message concerning the absence of the broadband network (4) on the terminal device (2). [8] Communication method according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein in narrowband mode the terminal (2) sends data packets with a maximum of 700, 500 or 300 bytes. [9] Communication method according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the messenger system or the application (3) comprises end-to-end encryption and / or a video conference module and / or georeferencing and / or cross-user file storage. [10] Messenger system comprising a plurality of terminals (2), wherein the terminals (2) have an application (3) for connecting to other terminals (2), wherein the application (3) comprises a broadband mode for communication in a broadband network (4), characterized by that the application (3) has a narrowband mode for communication in a narrowband network (5), wherein the application (3) is designed such that it can automatically detect a lack of the broadband network (4) at the location of a terminal (2) and can then use the narrowband mode.

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