Procedure for automatically restoring functionality in a residential gateway

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for automatically restoring functionality in a residential gateway providing broadband access network services via fixed wireless access (FWA). STATE OF PRIOR ART

[0002] Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) technologies enable network operators to provide ultra-fast broadband network access without the need to deploy cable or fiber network structures, leveraging the latest generation of mobile network technologies (4G, 5G, etc.). This makes it possible to provide broadband network access services in suburban and rural geographic areas where fiber optic deployment can present high deployment and maintenance complexity.

[0003] Despite the benefits provided by these fixed wireless access technologies, the fact remains that certain malfunctions today require human intervention.

[0004] For example, if a residential gateway no longer communicates with an ACS (Auto Configuration Server) and the control plane link is broken, it is generally considered that this cannot be restored remotely if the failure comes from the broadband access part of the residential gateway. This situation generally requires manual and local intervention: restarting the residential gateway, restoring factory settings, etc. This requires a technician call with the end user, or even a technician to intervene at the end user's premises.

[0005] When manual repair attempts (reboot, factory reset, GUI configuration of the residential gateway accessible via a LAN (Local Area Network) interface) fail, if the failure is software and not hardware, it is potentially possible to restore the broadband access functionality of the residential gateway by injecting specific commands into it. Unfortunately, this type of operation is not possible remotely if the control plane link is broken.

[0006] Document US 2016 / 0285676 describes a method implementing the use of a third-party communication device to communicate diagnostic and configuration information regarding the broadband communication network to a management device of the broadband communication network, via an alternative communication path.

[0007] Document US 2012 / 0278654 describes the restoration of network (eg, Internet) access functionality of a wireless device (eg, modem, access point) within a local communication network using a management system without any human intervention.

[0008] It is desirable to provide a solution that can automatically handle this type of malfunction, without human intervention. EXPOSED

[0009] Provided herein is a method for restoring functionality of a broadband controller of a residential gateway, the residential gateway comprising electronic circuitry implementing a modem for connecting the residential gateway to a mobile network via which a broadband network is accessible, the electronic circuitry further implementing the broadband controller for connecting the residential gateway to the broadband network. To remedy a malfunction of the broadband controller, the method comprises: receiving, by the modem, via a user plane of the mobile network, an alert message instructing to apply a restoration strategy aimed at restoring the functionality of the broadband controller; and applying, by the modem, the restoration strategy with respect to the broadband controller.

[0010] Thus, the restoration of the functionality of a broadband controller of a residential gateway is carried out automatically, without the need for human intervention.

[0011] According to a particular embodiment, the method further comprises: transmitting, by the modem, via the user plane of the mobile network, a confirmation message confirming that the restoration strategy has been applied.

[0012] According to a particular embodiment, the confirmation message takes the form of a service SMS message intended for a dedicated telephone number.

[0013] According to a particular embodiment, the alert message takes the form of an SMS message.

[0014] According to a particular embodiment, the alert message contains information representative of the restoration strategy to be applied from a predefined set of restoration strategies.

[0015] According to a particular embodiment, the alert message contains a description of a command or a set of commands to be applied in the restoration strategy.

[0016] According to a particular embodiment, when the restoration strategy consists of rebooting the residential gateway, the modem records in non-volatile memory information indicating that the confirmation message must be transmitted after rebooting the residential gateway and reinstating the user plan of the mobile network.

[0017] Also provided is a computer program comprising program code instructions causing an implementation of the method set forth above in any of its embodiments, when said instructions are executed by a processor. Also provided herein is an information storage medium storing such program code instructions.

[0018] Also provided is a residential gateway having electronic circuitry configured to implement a modem for connecting the residential gateway to a mobile network through which a broadband network is accessible, and a broadband controller for connecting the residential gateway to the broadband network.To remedy a malfunction of the broadband controller, the electronic circuitry is configured to: receive, by the modem, via a user plane of the mobile network, an alert message instructing to apply a restoration strategy aimed at restoring the functionality of the broadband controller; apply, by the modem, the restoration strategy with respect to the broadband controller; and transmit, by the modem, via the user plane of the mobile network, a confirmation message confirming that the restoration strategy has been applied. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The above-mentioned features of the invention, as well as others, will appear more clearly on reading the following description of at least one exemplary embodiment, said description being made in relation to the attached drawings, among which: [ Fig. 1 ] schematically illustrates a communication system; [ Fig. 2 ] schematically illustrates an internal interconnection of a residential gateway of the communication system; [ Fig. 3 ] schematically illustrates a hardware arrangement usable in the residential gateway; [ Fig. 4 ] schematically illustrates logical communication paths in the communication system; [ Fig. 5 ] schematically illustrates an algorithm for automatic restoration of functionality of the residential gateway, in one embodiment; and [ Fig. 6 ] schematically illustrates exchanges occurring in the communication system within the framework of an automatic restoration of functionality of the residential gateway, in one embodiment. DETAILED PRESENTATION OF IMPLEMENTATION METHODS

[0020] There Fig. 1 thus schematically illustrates a communication system comprising an RGW 110 residential gateway.

[0021] The RGW 110 residential gateway implements Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) technology. The RGW 110 residential gateway is considered a Customer-Premises Equipment (CPE) in FWA technologies.

[0022] The residential gateway RGW 110 is capable of providing a set of services to an end user, including a broadband network access service, also referred to as a high-speed network or fixed access network, BBNET 130 via a mobile network MNET 120. The terms “broadband network”, “high-speed network”, “fixed access network” are used equivalently.

[0023] The RGW 110 residential gateway comprises an FWAM modem 151 for connecting the RGW 110 residential gateway to the MNET 120 mobile network and a BBC 150 broadband controller (or broadband access controller) for connecting the RGW 110 residential gateway to the BBNET 130 broadband network. By the term "broadband controller" is also meant a broadband network access controller, or equivalently, a high-speed network access controller.

[0024] The residential gateway RGW 110 preferably includes a LAN interface manager, such as an access point AP 152 making it possible to set up a WLAN type network (“Wireless LAN” in English), such as for example a Wi-Fi network. The user can thus benefit from the services offered by the broadband network BBNET 130 via a terminal or user device UDEV 141 (such as a computer, an electronic tablet, a smartphone, a TV decoder, etc.).

[0025] There Fig. 2 schematically illustrates an internal interconnection of the RGW 110 residential gateway.

[0026] The FWAM 151 modem is interconnected with the BBC 150 controller.

[0027] The FWAM modem 151 is interconnected with a SIM card reader (Subscriber Identity Module) SCR 220 in which a SIM card (SIM card) 230 can be placed. Alternatively, the FWAM modem 151 can be interconnected with an eSIM type chip soldered onto an electronic card of the residential gateway RGW 110 or integrated in software and / or hardware in the residential gateway RGW 110. The FWAM modem 151 implements a user equipment (UE) function with respect to the mobile network MNET 120, according to the terminology used in mobile telephone network standards.

[0028] The FWAM 151 modem is interconnected with an ANT 210 antenna system allowing the FWAM 151 modem to communicate with equipment on the MNET 120 mobile network.

[0029] Interconnections within the RGW 110 residential gateway can be achieved using communication buses, for example PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) or USB (Universal Serial bus).

[0030] To enable the residential gateway RGW 110 to benefit from the services of the MNET 120 mobile network, the FWAM modem 151 authenticates the SIM card 230, or the eSIM chip, with the MNET 120 mobile network, for example by exchanging with an authentication center AuC (“Authentication Center” in English) of the MNET 120 mobile network. Following this prior authentication of the SIM card 230, or the eSIM chip, the FWAM modem 151 holds an encryption key allowing communications to be carried out by and with the residential gateway RGW 110 in the MNET 120 mobile network. The residential gateway RGW 110 can thus benefit from the services of the MNET 120 mobile network.An operational communication link is then established between the residential gateway RGW 110 and the core of the mobile network MNET 120, and another authentication can then be carried out through this communication link to allow the residential gateway RGW 110 to carry out another authentication with the broadband network BBNET 130 in order to be able to benefit from the services of the broadband network BBNET 130.

[0031] The FWAM modem 151 and the BBC controller 150 operate independently of each other. Each has its own processing / computational and memory resources. The FWAM modem 151 and the BBC controller 150 may be implemented in software on a single processor and be interconnected by a software bus. Alternatively, the FWAM modem 151 and the BBC controller 150 may be implemented on separate processors and be interconnected by a hardware bus.

[0032] There Fig. 3 schematically illustrates a hardware arrangement usable in the RGW 110 residential gateway, more particularly for implementing the BBC 150 controller and / or the FWAM 151 modem.

[0033] The hardware arrangement presented comprises, connected by a communication bus 310: a processor or CPU (Central Processing Unit) 301; a RAM (Random-Access Memory) 302; a non-volatile memory, for example of the ROM (Read Only Memory) type 303 or EEPROM (Electrically-Erasable Programmable ROM), or of the Flash type; a storage unit, such as a storage medium SM 304, for example a hard disk HDD, or a storage medium reader, such as an SD (Secure Digital) card reader; and a COM interface manager 305.

[0034] The COM 305 interface manager allows the presented hardware arrangement to interact with other elements of the RGW 110 residential gateway, such as the SCR 220 SIM card reader or the ANT 210 antenna system or the AP 152 access point.

[0035] The processor or CPU 301 is capable of executing instructions loaded into the RAM 302, in particular from the non-volatile memory 303 or the storage medium SM (such as an SD card) 304. When the hardware arrangement presented is powered up, the processor or CPU 301 is thus capable of reading instructions from the RAM 302 and executing them. These instructions form a computer program causing in particular the implementation, by the processor or CPU 301, of the steps and behaviors described here in relation to the FWAM modem 151 and with the BBC controller 150, or more generally of the residential gateway RGW 110.

[0036] All or part of the steps and behaviors described herein may thus be implemented in software form by executing a set of instructions by a programmable machine, for example a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) type processor or a microcontroller, or be implemented in hardware form by a machine or a dedicated electronic component (chip) or a dedicated set of electronic components (chipset), for example an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) component or ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit). Generally speaking, the FWAM 151 modem and the BBC 150 controller, and more generally the RGW 110 residential gateway, comprise electronic circuitry adapted and configured to implement the steps and behaviors described herein.

[0037] There Fig. 4 schematically illustrates logical communication paths in the communication system.

[0038] For example, the MNET 120 mobile network complies with 5G mobile telephony standards.

[0039] The mobile network MNET 120 comprises, in addition to a radio access network part RAN (“Radio Access Network” in English), and a core network part which includes various equipment and / or functions including an SMF (“Session Management Function” in English) entity 410, an AMF (“Access and Mobility management Function” in English) entity 420 and a UPF (“User plane Function” in English) entity 430.

[0040] As its name suggests, the UPF entity manages the user plane, also called the data plane, i.e. the transport of user traffic. A user plane link thus connects the residential gateway RGW 110 and the UPF entity 430. This user plane link is supported by an interface typically denoted NG-u between the radio access network part and the core network part.

[0041] Thus, with regard to the residential gateway RGW 110, the exchanges carried out between the residential gateway RGW 110 and the broadband network BBNET 130 pass through the UPF entity 430 in the mobile network MNET 120. In other words, the exchanges via the mobile network MNET 120 which involve the controller BBC 150 pass through the user plane link with the UPF entity 430, whether for exchanges of control plane messages or exchanges of user plane data.

[0042] Thus, the BBC 150 controller is in communication with the BBNET 130 broadband network. To exchange with an ACS 450 automatic configuration server involved in the control plane of the BBNET 130 broadband network, the BBC 150 controller typically implements a daimôn (“daemon” in English) according to the TR-069 protocol (“CPE WAN Management Protocol”, published by the Broadband Forum).

[0043] User data exchanges involving the FWAM modem 151, such as SMS (Short Message Service) message exchanges, pass through the user plane link with the UPF entity 430.

[0044] To enable the implementation of user plane links in the mobile network MNET 120, the SMF entity 410 and the AMF entity 420 cooperate in the implementation of the control plane of the mobile network MNET 120. A control plane link thus connects the residential gateway RGW 110 and the AMF entity 420. This control plane link is supported by an interface typically denoted NG-c between the radio access network part and the core network part.

[0045] There Fig. 5 schematically illustrates an algorithm for automatically restoring functionality of the residential gateway RGW 110, in one embodiment. The algorithm of the Fig. 5 aims to make the RGW 110 residential gateway fully operational following a failure noted in the BBC 150 controller. As detailed below in relation to the Fig. 6 , the failure of the BBC 150 controller is detected from the BBNET 130 broadband network, for example by the ACS 450 automatic configuration server.

[0046] In a step 501, the FWAM modem 151 receives an alert message via the user plane of the MNET mobile network 120. The alert message is representative of a failure observed in the BBC controller 150.

[0047] In a particular embodiment, this alert message takes the form of an SMS message. Since this SMS message is not intended to be read by the user, the residential gateway RGW 110 erases it without storing it in the SIM card or in the memory of the FWAM modem 151. In another example, this message is received and processed by a secure element of the FWAM modem 151, an element to which the end user does not have access. This is referred to as a service SMS message or a silent SMS message.

[0048] Preferably, the alert message contains information representative of a restoration strategy to be applied by the FWAM modem 151 with respect to the BBC controller 150 (from a predefined set of restoration strategies).

[0049] In a particular embodiment, the alert message contains a description of a command or set of commands to be applied by the FWAM modem 151 with respect to the BBC controller 150 in the restoration strategy.

[0050] In a step 502, the FWAM modem 151 determines a restoration strategy to be applied to deal with the observed failure of the BBC controller 150. The restoration strategy to be applied can be deduced from the alert message received. The restoration strategy to be applied can also be deduced by carrying out some reaction tests of the BBC controller 150 to stimuli generated by the FWAM modem 151. This can make it possible to determine to what extent the BBC controller 150 is inoperative, or which functionality of the BBC controller 150 is to be restored, and to decide accordingly on the restoration strategy to be applied.

[0051] The restoration strategy may consist of rebooting the residential gateway RGW 110, for example upon request in the alert message or because the FWAM modem 151 has found that the BBC 150 controller is completely inoperative. In this case, the FWAM modem 151 stores in non-volatile memory information indicating that the algorithm of the Fig. 5 at a step 504 when the residential gateway RGW 110 has restarted and the communication link with the mobile network MNET 120 is operational again (reestablishment of the user plan of the mobile network MNET 120).

[0052] The recovery strategy may be to restart only the BBC 150 controller, for example upon request in the alert message or because the FWAM modem 151 has found that the BBC 150 controller is inoperative on part of a set of unit tests.

[0053] The recovery strategy may be to restore the BBC 150 controller to factory settings, for example upon request in the alert message.

[0054] The recovery strategy may consist of executing a command or set of commands as predefined in the alert message.

[0055] The objective of the restoration strategy is to restore functionality of the BBC 150 controller, and thus make the BBC 150 controller operational again and able to communicate with the BBNET 130 broadband network, so as to enable the RGW 110 residential gateway to benefit from the services of the BBNET 130 broadband network.

[0056] Then, in step 504, the FWAM modem 151 transmits, in response to the alert message received in step 501, a message confirming application of the restoration strategy. In a particular embodiment, the FWAM modem 151 verifies what result the application of the restoration strategy has given, and includes information representative of said result in the response message.

[0057] In a particular embodiment, this alert message takes the form of a service SMS message intended for a dedicated telephone number. Since this service SMS message is not intended to be read by the user, the residential gateway RGW 110 erases it without storing it in the SIM card or in the memory of the FWAM modem 151.

[0058] There Fig. 6 schematically illustrates exchanges occurring in the communication system within the framework of an automatic restoration of functionality of the residential gateway RGW 110, in one embodiment.

[0059] Prior to the exchanges of the Fig. 6 , a device of the BBNET 130 broadband network detects a malfunction of the BBC 150 controller of the RGW 110 residential gateway. For example, in the control plane of the BBNET 130 broadband network, the ACS 450 automatic configuration server detects a loss of connection with the BBC 150 controller. For example, in application of the TR-069 protocol, the BBC 150 controller is supposed to periodically contact the ACS 450 automatic configuration server. If this is not the case, the ACS 450 automatic configuration server detects the loss of connection with the BBC 150 controller. A loss of connection with the BBC 150 controller can also be detected following a predefined number of unsuccessful attempts to contact the BBC 150 controller.

[0060] In a step 610, following detection of the malfunction of the BBC controller 150 of the residential gateway RGW 110, a device of the BBNET broadband network 130 sends to a device of the MNET mobile network 120 an alert message to be addressed to the FWA modem 151 of the residential gateway RGW 110. The device of the BBNET broadband network 130 informs the device of the MNET mobile network 120 in question of the identity of the residential gateway RGW 110, for example by its MAC address (Medium Access Control) or its IMEI identity (International Mobile Equipment Identity). The device of the BBNET broadband network 130 which sends the alert message to the device of the MNET mobile network 120 is generally part of an operational support system OSS (Operational Support System) of the BBNET broadband network 130.This message can be sent via an event notification such as an "event log" or "web socket", or can be transported via an MQTT ("Message Queuing Telemetry Transport") or http(s) ("HyperText Transfer Protocol (Secure)") protocol, etc.

[0061] In a step 620, the equipment of the mobile network MNET 120 transmits the alert message to the FWA modem 151 of the residential gateway RGW 110. As already indicated, in a particular embodiment, this alert message takes the form of a service SMS message. The equipment of the mobile network MNET 120 in question is then an SMSC (“Short Message Service Center” in English).

[0062] In a step 630, the FWA modem 151 applies a restoration strategy, as already explained in relation to the Fig. 5 .

[0063] Once the restoration strategy has been applied, in a step 640, the FWA modem 151 sends, in response to the alert message, a message confirming application of the restoration strategy. As already indicated, in a particular embodiment, this message takes the form of a service SMS message.

[0064] And in a step 650, the equipment of the mobile network MNET 120 having received the message confirming application of the restoration strategy informs an equipment of the broadband network BBNET 130, typically the automatic configuration server ACS 450. It is thus possible to automatically reestablish communication between the broadband network BBNET 130 and the controller BBC 150 of the residential gateway RGW 110, without therefore having to resort to human intervention.

[0065] In a particular embodiment, within the BBNET 130 broadband network, the alert message and the confirmation message can pass through an intermediary server, called a PNM (“Pro-active Network Management” server in English).

[0066] In a particular embodiment, the FWA modem 110 communicates directly with the BBNET broadband network 130 as part of the application of the restoration strategy.

Claims

1. Method for restoring a functionality of a broadband controller (150) of a residential gateway (110), the residential gateway (110) comprising electronic circuitry implementing a modem (151) for connecting the residential gateway (110) to a mobile network (120) via which a broadband network (130) is accessible, the electronic circuitry furthermore implementing the broadband controller (150) to connect the residential gateway (110) to the broadband network (130), method according to which, to remedy a malfunctioning of the broadband controller (150), the method comprises: - receiving (501), by the modem (151), by means of a user plane of the mobile network (120), an alert message instructing applying a restoration strategy aimed at restoring the functionality of the broadband controller (150); - applying (503), by the modem (151), the restoration strategy with regard to the broadband controller (150).

2. Method according to claim 1, furthermore comprising: - transmitting (504), by the modem (151), by means of the user plane of the mobile network (120), a confirmation message confirming that the restoration strategy has been applied.

3. Method according to claim 2, wherein the confirmation message takes the form of a service SMS message intended for a dedicated telephone number.

4. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the alert message takes the form of an SMS message.

5. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the alert message contains information representing the restoration strategy to be applied from a predefined set of restoration strategies.

6. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the alert message contains a description of a command or of a set of commands to be applied in the restoration strategy.

7. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein, when the restoration strategy consists of rebooting the residential gateway (110), the modem (151) records in non-volatile memory information indicating that the confirmation message has to be transmitted (504) after the residential gateway (110) is rebooted and the user plane of the mobile network (120) is re-established.

8. Residential gateway (110) comprising electronic circuitry configured to implement a modem (151) for connecting the residential gateway (110) to a mobile network (120) via which a broadband network (130) is accessible, and a broadband controller (150) for connecting the residential gateway (110) to the broadband network (130), the electronic circuitry, to remedy a malfunctioning of the broadband controller (150), being configured for: - receiving (501), by the modem (151), by means of a user plane of the mobile network (120), an alert message instructing applying a restoration strategy aimed at restoring the functionality of the broadband controller (150); - applying (503), by the modem (151), the restoration strategy with regard to the broadband controller (150).

9. Computer program product comprising program code instructions causing the implementation of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, when said instructions are executed by a processor.

10. Information storage medium storing program code instructions causing an implementation of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, when said instructions are read and executed by a processor.