Allocation of services across a set of heterogeneous radio communication data links

Abstract

A method for assigning a set of services to a set of data links between a mobile device and at least one station, comprising a selection step (S1) of a subset of data links, including a substep (S11) of determining performance parameters for each data link, a substep (S12) of converting these performance parameters into objective values, and a substep (S13) of selecting said data links based on said objective values; a scheduling step (S2) of the data links based on at least one scheduling criterion; and an assignment step (S3) comprising assigning the services based on a service schedule and the data link schedule. Figure for the abstract: Fig. 2

Description

Title of the invention: Assignment of services on a set of heterogeneous radiocommunication data links FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to the assignment of service flows on a set of data links established between a device and at least one remote station.

[0002] The invention relates in particular to vehicles, in particular aerial vehicles. It can in particular be applied to unmanned aerial vehicles, commonly called drones or UAS (for “Unmanned Aircraft System” in English).

[0003] Typically, such a device has several data links, in particular radiocommunication links, which may be heterogeneous, i.e. use several technologies, in order to maximize the connectivity of the device, in particular in the case where it is a vehicle whose mobility may cause the connectivity and performance to vary over time for each technology.

[0004] This raises the problem of determining which data link to use depending on the evolution of their performance.

[0005] In particular, the device may implement a plurality of service flows with one or more remote stations. It is therefore necessary to assign each service flow to the available radio links according to the requirements of these service flows and the performance of these radio links.

[0006] Various mechanisms have been proposed to enable the classification of the different data links available. For example, within the EUROCAE consortium, the WG105 SG2 working group is developing specifications and solutions to establish standards for radio data links and their management, usable for civil drone systems.

[0007] There is therefore a need to provide solutions to the recommendations of this working group, and more generally, to supplement the current proposals of the state of the art aimed at optimizing the allocation of a set of service flows to a set of data links. Summary of the invention

[0008] For these purposes, according to a first aspect, the present invention can be implemented by a method of assigning a set of services to a set of data links between a mobile device and at least one station, said method comprising: - a step of selecting a subset of data links itself comprising: - a sub-step of determining performance parameters for each data link of said set of data links, - a sub-step of converting said performance parameters into objective values ​​not depending on the type of said data link, and - a sub-step of selecting said data links according to said objective values; - a step of ordering the data links of said subset according to at least one ordering criterion; - an assignment step comprising an assignment of said services based on an ordering of said services and said ordering of the data links.

[0009] According to preferred embodiments, the invention comprises one or more of the following features which can be used separately or in partial combination with each other or in total combination with each other: - said set of data links is provided by a set of equipment embedded on said mobile device and allowing radio communication with said at least one station; - said scheduling is carried out by considering each scheduling criterion according to a predefined order; - said at least one scheduling criterion comprises a flow rate, a quality of service, and a latency; - said scheduling step comprises a phase of measuring high-level parameters chosen according to said at least one scheduling criterion, and said scheduling being carried out on the basis of said high-level parameters; - said objective values ​​are determined by comparing said performance parameters on a predetermined scale depending on the type of performance parameter; - said selection sub-step comprises the determination of a representative value for each data link, from an aggregation rule of said objective values.

[0010] Another aspect of the invention relates to a computer program comprising instructions for implementing such as previously described when said program is deployed on an information processing platform.

[0011] Another aspect of the invention relates to storage means characterized in that they store a computer program comprising instructions for implementing, by a device, the method as previously described, when said program is executed by a processor of said device.

[0012] Another aspect of the invention relates to a mobile device comprising an assembly of on-board equipment each associated with at least one data link from a set of data links, and a first module adapted to select a subset of data links from said set, said first module comprising: - a first sub-module adapted to determine parameters of per forms for each data link of said set of data links, - a second sub-module for converting said performance parameters into objective values ​​not dependent on the type of said data link, and - a third sub-module for selecting said subset based on said objective values; - said mobile device further comprising a second module adapted to schedule the data links of said subset according to at least one scheduling criterion; and a third module adapted to assign services according to a scheduling of said services and said scheduling of the data links

[0013] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, given by way of example and with reference to the appended drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0014] The attached drawings illustrate the invention: [Fig.l] schematically illustrates a deployment context of a method according to one embodiment.

[0015] [Fig.2] represents a simplified flowchart of a process according to a mode of realization lization.

[0016] [Fig. 3] schematically represents an example of functional architecture of a mobile device according to another embodiment.

[0017] [Fig.4a] and [Fig.4b] schematically represent two embodiments with two different types of modem, according to implementations of the invention.

[0018] [Fig.5] illustrates an example of scheduling according to one embodiment.

[0019] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0020] A method is proposed for assigning a set of service flows to (or on) a set of data links between a mobile device and at least one station.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the mobile device may be an aerial vehicle. It may for example be an unmanned vehicle, or drone (or UAV for “Unmaned aircraft vehicle” in English).

[0022] For a drone, it is essential that it is always connected to a station so that a pilot can always have control.

[0023] But there are also other situations where it can be important or interesting that a mobile device is in communication by one or more data links with a station.

[0024] The station is typically a ground station. Since the device is mobile, the data links are typically radiocommunication links.

[0025] [Fig. 1] illustrates an example of such a deployment context of a mobile device 10 connected to a station 11 by several data links, DL1, DL2, DL3.

[0026] These data links can be of various types and correspond to different technologies.

[0027] For example, a DL2 link may be a direct link between the mobile device 10 and the station 11 which may be of the “line of sight” (LOS) type. This type of data link is based on direct transmission of data without the intermediary of a telecommunications network.

[0028] Another DL1 link may be based on a satellite network comprising one (or a fleet of) satellites 12 and a ground station 13. A telecommunications satellite, or "satcom", is an artificial satellite placed in space for telecommunications purposes. Depending on the need, it circulates in a geostationary orbit, a low Earth orbit or a Molnia orbit from where it relays the signal transmitted by transmitting stations to receiving stations 13.

[0029] Another DL3 link can be based on a cellular network of the 4G, 5G type, etc. This DL3 link allows the mobile device 10 to communicate with the station 11 via the infrastructure 14 of the cellular telecommunications network.

[0030] Thus, a single mobile device 10 can carry a set of equipment (or “modems”) making it possible to establish and use these data links according to these different technologies. It can, for example, comprise a first piece of equipment for the satcom data link, a second piece of equipment for the LOS data link, DL2, and a third piece of equipment for the cellular data link, DL3. Obviously, other types of data links are also conceivable.

[0031] The performance of the different data links may vary over time, in particular due to changes in weather conditions but also due to the movement of the mobile device. For example, this performance may be impacted by obstacles obstructing the LOS, DL2 or DL3 link with the infrastructures 14 of a cellular telecommunications network.

[0032] Also, the communication capabilities on each link may vary over time.

[0033] Furthermore, the mobile device 10 must ensure the transmission of different data streams linked to services. Among these services, we can cite: - the control and command services of the mobile device. These may, for example, be the C2 services currently being specified by the Eurocae organization in its working group WG 105, SG2. - UTM (Unmanned Traffic Management) air traffic services, - visual piloting services, FPV (for “First Pilot View” in English), - telemetry services, - “payload” type services, for example downloading videos captured by the mobile device, etc.

[0034] Each service involves different constraints in terms of upstream and / or downstream flow, latency (or “jitter” in English), quality of service (for example a packet loss rate) ...

[0035] As will also be seen later, these services can be associated with different priority levels and a scheduling can thus be defined among the services. It is understood that, in the case of a drone, the control / command service has greater priority than downloading videos, for example.

[0036] A challenge is therefore to allocate services to the available data links, so as to ensure continuity of service at least for the highest priority services.

[0037] In other words, it is a matter of routing the flows of these services on these data links. As will be seen later, according to one embodiment, it may be possible to perform advanced routing between several data links by switching them or by redundant transmission packets.

[0038] [Fig.2] illustrates a simplified flowchart of a proposed method.

[0039] It is assumed in a preliminary step not shown that the various on-board equipment (modems, etc.) are correctly initialized and configured.

[0040] In a step SI, a step of selecting a subset of data links from among the available data links is implemented.

[0041] This step is based on radio performance measurements provided by the on-board equipment, these performance measurements being relative to the lower layers of the OSI model.

[0042] Being linked to the underlying radio technology, performance measurements can vary depending on the technologies (cellular, LOS, satcom, etc.).

[0043] To manage these issues, this IS step may include - a sub-step S11 of determining performance parameters for each data link of the set of data links to be considered, - a sub-step S12 for converting these performance parameters into objective values ​​not dependent on the type of data link, and - a sub-step S13 of selecting the data links according to these objective values;

[0044] Objective values ​​allow us to abstract from the type of technology and thus have elements of comparison between data links of different types, for example between a Satcom link and a cellular or LOS link.

[0045] This subset may include the data links that are actually functional, because at any time some may no longer be so: for example, the drone is no longer in visual view and the LOS data link is no longer operational, or the drone has left the coverage of the cellular network, etc.

[0046] The subset may also include only a portion of the functional data links, chosen in order of performance.

[0047] The method then comprises a step S2 of scheduling the subset data links according to at least one scheduling criterion, then a step S3 of assignment comprising the assignment of the services according to a scheduling of these services, for example on the basis of the priorities indicated previously, and the scheduling of the data links carried out in the previous step S2.

[0048] [Fig. 3] is a schematic view of an example of functional architecture of a mobile device 10.

[0049] This mobile device 10 incorporates a plurality of “modem” type devices 20a, 20b, 20c, each associated with a radiocommunication technology.

[0050] The module device 10 can also include a low-level test module 22. This module aims to collect performance measurements 21 of the modems 20a, 20b, 20c.

[0051] Tests and measurement collections 21 can be carried out by the sub-module 22a. This functional module allows the management of the data links of the different modems (cellular, LOS, satcom, etc.), to configure them and to collect their operating states and radio performance measurements. This gives a set of performance parameters which can be transmitted to the following sub-modules in the processing chain.

[0052] An optional sub-module 22b then allows its parameters to be filtered, for example temporally.

[0053] A sub-module 22c then makes it possible to convert the performance parameters thus collected and possibly filtered into objective values ​​which do not depend on the type of data link (and therefore of the modem 20a, 20b, 20c).

[0054] A sub-module 22d then makes it possible to select data links based on these objective values.

[0055] These selected data links can then be transmitted to a module 23 for scheduling the data links according to at least one scheduling criterion.

[0056] Thus, the module 23 only has to process the data links selected by the module low-level test 22.

[0057] According to one embodiment, this module 23 can access the modems 20a, 20b, 20c in order to conduct higher level tests, that is to say in order to obtain higher level parameters than the low level parameters obtained by the module 22. The terms “low” and “high” must here be understood in accordance with a protocol stack, for example according to the OSI model or the TCP / IP model.

[0058] For example, the module 23 can carry out tests in order to determine high-level parameters chosen according to scheduling criteria such as a flow rate, a quality of service and / or a latency.

[0059] The throughput tests on each of the modems can take into account their maximum throughput limitations on the uplink and downlink links (defined in the configuration file or during an initial test phase).

[0060] When calculating the available flow rates on each of the modems, the flows already mounted on each of the modems can be taken into account in the calculations so as not to saturate them and lose packets unnecessarily.

[0061] This module 23 can therefore carry out tests at the level of IP packets, and / or TCP and UDP protocols. These protocols in fact make it possible to transport the data flows associated with the services considered; the performance for these protocols directly impacts the quality of the transmissions of the different service flows (control-command, telemetry, UTM, FPV, etc.)

[0062] For example, it can generate IP packets at different rates and thus obtain parameters making it possible to determine throughput performance, quality of service and / or latency.

[0063] According to one embodiment, these high-level performance parameters 24 can also be transmitted to an allocation module 26.

[0064] This assignment module 26 is adapted for the assignment of services according to a scheduling 27 of these services, and the scheduling of the data links 25 provided by the data link scheduling module 23. The scheduling of the services 27 can be provided by a service scheduling module 28.

[0065] Figures 4a and 4b illustrate two embodiments of the low-level test module 22 with two different types of modem.

[0066] The example of [Fig.4a] relates to a cellular type modem 20a.

[0067] A sub-module 22a collects Cell_ID, RSRP, RSRQ, SINR, SNR data, RSCP, RSSI, and EC / IO of the 20a modem. These performance parameters are given for illustrative purposes only, as other modems may provide other types of parameters.

[0068] These performance parameters represent: - “Cell_id” is the identifier of the cell to which the device is connected mobile 10. - RS RP for "Reference signal Receive Power". This is the most basic measurement performed by the UE's physical layer, allowing an average value of the received power of the reference signal (RS) transmitted by the base station per RE ("Resource Element") to be obtained. The measurement is expressed in Watts or dBm. The value ranges from -140 dBm to -44 dBm in IdB steps. - RSSI stands for "Reference Signal Strength Indicator". This is a power measurement across the entire frequency band, not just one RE as is the case with RSRP. - RSRQ stands for "Reference Signal Receive Quality". This indicator is defined as the ratio between the RSRP and the RSSI. The RSSI represents the total power of the received signal, this includes the transmitted signal, noise and interference: RSRQ=10*log(N*RSRP / RSSI), N being the number of resource blocks. - SINR for “Signal to Interference plus Noise Ratio” in English (Signal to Interference plus Noise Ratio). - SNR for “Signal to Noise Ratio” in English (Signal to Noise Ratio) - RSCP for “Received Signal Code Power” in English (Power of the code of signal received) - EC / IO provides a report of energy to interference

[0069] The acquisition sub-module 22a can then transmit the acquired data 21 to a filtering sub-module 22b.

[0070] This filtering sub-module can perform temporal filtering. This filtering can be a sliding average over N measurements.

[0071] In the example illustrated, the performance parameters thus filtered are:

[0072] [Math.l] RSRP, RSRQ, SINR, SNR, RSCP, RSSI, EC / IO

[0073] The highlighted bar over the parameter names represents the averaging function.

[0074] The following sub-modules 22ci and 22c2 take these filtered performance parameters as input to transform them into objective values ​​that do not depend on the type of data link.

[0075] In the illustrated embodiment, this step is done in two steps.

[0076] A first step implemented by a first sub-module 22c i consists of convert each performance parameter individually, and a second step implemented by a second sub-module 22c2 consists of converting all of the objective values ​​obtained in an aggregated objective value, representative of the data link considered.

[0077] According to one embodiment, these objective values ​​can be determined by comparing the performance parameters to a predetermined scale depending on the type of performance parameter.

[0078] In other words, these objective values ​​can be a score in a scale common to all the performance parameters of all the data links. For example, the objective values ​​can take 5 values ​​between 0 and 4, 0 meaning the lowest score and 4 the highest score.

[0079] The correspondence between the values ​​of the performance parameters and the objective values ​​can be established according to the technology of each data link, and according to each performance parameter.

[0080] As an example, for a 4G LTE or 5G modem (cellular data link), the following correspondences between performance parameter values ​​and objective values ​​can be defined:

[0081] For the RSSI: - -70 dBm: objective value = 4 (excellent) - Between -70 dBm and -85 dBm: objective value = 3 (good) - Between -85 dBm and -100 dBm: objective value = 2 (correct) - Between -100 dBm and -110 dBm: objective value = 1 (insufficient) - <-110 dBm: objective value = 0 (no signal)

[0082] For RSRP: - £ -80 dBm: objective value = 4 (excellent) - Between -80 dBm and -90 dBm: objective value = 3 (good) - Between -90 dBm and -100 dBm: objective value = 2 (correct) - < -100 dBm: objective value = 1 (no signal)

[0083] For RSRQ: - £ -10 dB: objective value = 4 (excellent) - Between -10 dB and -15 dB: objective value = 3 (good) - Between -15 dB and -20 dB: objective value = 2 (correct to insufficient) - -20 dB: objective value = 1 (no signal)

[0084] For SINR: - 20 dB: objective value = 4 (excellent) - Between 13 dB and 20 dB: objective value = 3 (good) - Between 0 dBm and 13 dB: objective value = 2 (correct to insufficient) - 0 dB: objective value = 1 (no signal)

[0085] These values ​​are given for information purposes, but it is understood that other values ​​can be chosen, and that similarly ranges can be defined for

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[0097] other objective values. In [Fig.4a], these objective values ​​are noted: [Math.2] s(ÆW), s(RSRQ), s(SINR), s(SNR), s(RSCP), s(RSSI), s(EC / 10) These objective values ​​are then transmitted to the aggregation sub-module 22c2 which can be provided to determine an aggregated objective value for each data link, or "representative value" of the data link. In other words, the set of sub-modules 22cb 22c2 makes it possible to convert all the performance parameters of a data link into as many objective values ​​and then into an aggregated objective value, representative of the data link considered. This objective value can be representative of whether or not the data link can be selected. In the embodiment illustrated in the figure, this objective value has two components: - A binary component, “valid”, which indicates whether the data link considered is sufficiently operational to allow it to be selected; - A continuous component, “Radio”, representative of the worst value of a performance parameter. The binary component can be determined by an aggregation rule. This aggregation rule defines how the different objective values ​​contribute to an overall score that determines whether the data link can be selected or not. This rule can be a logical equation, that is, a combination of conditions, each of which involves comparing an objective value with a threshold. An example of a rule for determining a representative value V can be: [Math.3] Isi^ i, p.>If 0 otherwise Otherwise, if, for the representative value V to be equal to 1, it is necessary that for all the performance parameters, the objective value p; be greater than or equal to a threshold S;. For example, in the example of a cellular modem, we can define an aggregation rule: [Math.4] 11 if s(RSSI) > 1A s(ÆSÆP) > 2 A s(RSRQ) > 2 A .v(SZW) > 2 y — 0 otherwise The second component can be a value representative of a quality level low-level data link. Its value can for example be determined by the worst value among the performance parameters.

[0098] [Fig.4b] illustrates another embodiment of the low-level test module 22 for a LOS or Satcom type data link.

[0099] The example will not be described completely because it is very similar to the example in [Fig.4a]. The differences are based on the performance parameters which are partly different.

[0100] Thus, the acquisition sub-module 22a transmits three parameters, SNR, RSSI and BER to the filtering sub-module 22b.

[0101] The BER performance parameter indicates the bit error rate.

[0102] The filtering sub-module 22b performs filtering (for example a sliding average on N parameter values, as previously explained) and provides filtered values ​​SNR, RSSI, BËR to the sub-module 22cide for conversion into objective values.

[0103] This sub-module 22ci can proceed as previously described and provides objective values ​​5( SNR), .y( RSSI s( BËR ) for each performance parameter.

[0104] These objective values ​​are then transmitted to the sub-module 22c2 in charge of establishing a representative value (Valid / Radio) for the data link considered. This representative value can be determined from an aggregation rule of the objective values.

[0105] Thus, for each data link, a representative value can be determined.

[0106] This representative value may have a single component (for example the “valid” component of the examples described), or several components.

[0107] Depending on this representative value, a data link can be selected or not.

[0108] In the examples described, this decision is directly deduced from the binary value of the representative value: a data link is selected if its valid representative value is equal to 1.

[0109] It is therefore understood that the mechanism described is based on the correct choice of performance parameters and a good conversion to objective values ​​in order to be able to compare data links of different natures.

[0110] The choice of each threshold delimiting the levels in the scale of objective values ​​depends on the technology and must be carried out in such a way as to allow these various technologies to be compared.

[0111] In addition, the aggregation rule must also provide good heuristics to select the relevant data links, in order to be able to then, in a step S2, carry out a scheduling which will ultimately allow a good allocation of services on the data links.

[0112] According to this embodiment, the effectiveness of the proposed method therefore relies on this sequence of adjustments.

[0113] Once a subset of data links has been selected, step S2 of scheduling the data links of this subset according to at least one scheduling criterion is implemented, as previously described.

[0114] [Fig.5] illustrates an example of scheduling according to one embodiment.

[0115] According to this embodiment, the scheduling is carried out by considering each scheduling criterion according to a predefined order.

[0116] In other words, a first ordering is carried out according to a first criterion, then according to a second criterion, then according to a third criterion, etc.

[0117] According to one embodiment, the ordering is based on an insertion sort method.

[0118] Other implementations are also possible, for example other sorting algorithms or different techniques such as those based on machine learning (neural networks, etc.).

[0119] According to one embodiment, the scheduling criteria are throughput, quality of service (for example a packet loss rate), and latency.

[0120] In the illustrated example, we consider three data links a, b, c, and these three scheduling criteria in this order of priority. We note - d, the flow rate (upstream or downstream) - q, the most unfavorable quality of service between the upstream link and the downstream link, - L, the cumulative latency of the uplink and downlink.

[0121] [Fig.5] illustrates the ordering process in the form of a tree representing all possible situations, starting from any initial situation represented by the root node at the top of the tree.

[0122] Each node is represented by 3 boxes indicating a possible ordering of the three data links, a, b, c.

[0123] The ordering criteria indices refer to the order in the ordering.

[0124] The scheduling method may follow a set of rules. These rules may be ordered according to the order of the scheduling criteria. For example, the RI-R 12 rules may be: - RI: If dl>d2 or d2>d3, we swap the order and test the other couplet - R2: If dl S d2 or d2 d3, we keep the order of the verse, - R3: If dl <d2 ou d2<d3, on garde l’ordre du couplet, - R4: If dl=d2 or d2=d3, we keep the order of the couplet, - R5: If ql>q2 or q2>q3, we keep the order of the couplet - R6: If ql S q2 or q2 S q3, we keep the order of the couplet, - R7: ql <q2 ou q2<q3, on permute l’ordre et on teste l’autre couplet, - R8: If ql=q2 or q2=q3, we keep the order of the couplet, - R9: If Ll> L2 or L2> L3, we keep the order of the verse - RIO: If L1 S L2 or L2 S L3, we keep the order of the verse, - RI 1: If Ll< L2 or L2< L3, we swap the order and test the other couplet - R12: If Ll= L2 or L2= L3, we keep the order of the verse,

[0125] From a first ordering a, b, c (root of the tree), we consider the first ordering criterion, the flow rate d, and the first two elements of the ordering (1 and 2). We therefore compare the flow rates di and d2 (i.e. the flow rates of links a and b).

[0126] If dl d2, we keep the order of the couplet a,b (rule R2). If on the other hand dl>d2, we permute the couplet a,b, and we obtain an ordering b,a,c.

[0127] At the next level, we consider the left ordering, a,b,c, and we consider the second couplet, b,c.

[0128] If d2^d3, we keep the order of the couplet b,c (rule R2). If on the other hand d2>d3, we permute the couplet b,c (rule RI) and we obtain an ordering a,c,b.

[0129] At the next level, we consider the left ordering, a,b,c, and we consider the second couplet, b,c.

[0130] If d2=d3, we keep the order of the couplet b,c (rule R4).

[0131] If d2 <d3, on garde également l’ordre du couplet b,c (règle R3). Mais dans cette situation, we are sure that we have a strict flow scheduling. It is therefore useless to consider the other scheduling criteria.

[0132] At the next level, for this branch of the tree, we only consider the left ordering, a,b,c. Indeed, since the flow rates of links b and c are identical, we must use the second ordering criterion to separate them.

[0133] We therefore consider this same couplet and the criterion on quality, q.

[0134] If q2 q3, we keep the order of couplet b,c (rule R6). If q2>q3, we also keep the order of couplet b, c (rule 5), but we know that this order is optimal, link a being better than the other two according to the priority criterion of flow rate, and links b, c being equal according to the criterion of flow rate but link b being better than link c according to the second criterion of quality.

[0135] The rest of the tree will not be described further, the principle being the same at each level and for each branch of the tree.

[0136] It is just to note that when links cannot be ordered (for example because they have the same levels of flow, quality and latency), an arbitrary order can to be given.

[0137] Under each leaf of the tree, the order of the links obtained is indicated, possibly after having forced an arbitrary order in the event of equality on the sorting criteria.

[0138] According to one embodiment, an additional test can be implemented after sorting on the upstream rates of each modem in order to verify that these support the minimum rate required to establish the essential services such as the IP level tests and the flow of the control-command service (C2). If this condition is not met, the modem can be downgraded to third position (in the example relating to 3 data links).

[0139] The minimum flow rates to be supported on the uplinks for each modem can be defined in the modem configuration file; flow rate measurements on the uplinks make it possible to verify that this condition is met.

[0140] This scheduling can then be used for the assignment step S3, which includes the assignment of services on the available data links.

[0141] This assignment also uses a 27 service scheduling.

[0142] This scheduling can be carried out beforehand, by a service scheduling module 28, and can remain constant during a mission of the mobile device.

[0143] In particular, the proposed method can be iterated during the duration of a mission in order to be able to adapt the assignments to the data links whose characteristics evolve over time (due in particular to the mobile nature of the mobile device), but the scheduling of the services can remain constant during the duration of this mission.

[0144] As mentioned previously, different services can be deployed on a mobile device. A priority can be assigned to each service, thus establishing an ordering of services from the highest priority to the lowest priority.

[0145] Also, each service may be associated with constraints affecting the data links, for example a flow rate (for example an average flow rate or a maximum flow rate, etc.).

[0146] An example of such an ordering can be:

[0147] In the upward direction: [Tables 1] Priority Upstream Useful rate 1 Control-command (C2) 20 kbps 2 UTM 20 kbps 3 FPV 100 kpbs 4 Payload 100 kbps 5 Telemetry 15 kbps-100 kbps

[0148] In the descending direction: [Tables2] Priority Downstream Useful flow 1 C2 20 kbps 2 UTM 20 kbps 3 FPV 180 kbps - 1.5 Mbps 4 Payload 1.5 Mbps - 10 Mbps 5 Telemetry 1 kbps - 1 Mbps

[0149] Other scheduling choices are of course possible, this one being given solely as an illustrative example.

[0150] Based on these priorities, which constitute an ordering of the different services (control command, UTM, FPV, payload, telemetry, etc.), these services can be assigned to the data links.

[0151] To do this, the assignment can be started in the order of the services, that is, starting with the highest priority and ending with the lowest priority.

[0152] Thus, the services are assigned, in order, to the data flow best ranked in the previously established ordering. Obviously, therefore, several services can be assigned to this same data link, up to these capacities, in terms of flow rate.

[0153] In other words, services are aggregated on a data link, adding the services in order of their priority.

[0154] When a data link can no longer accept new service (due to the limit of its throughput capacities), another data link can be used, according to the previously carried out scheduling.

[0155] When all the previously selected data links do not allow one or more services to be assigned, these are not assigned and the associated flows are not transmitted.

[0156] According to one embodiment, the process is implemented periodically over time in order to take into account the dynamic nature of the characteristics of the different data links. Also, the services can also be reassigned periodically.

[0157] However, it is possible to maximize the probability that the most essential services are not only assigned to an operational data link, but also to the best-ranked data link, i.e., the one with the best characteristics (e.g., in terms of throughput, quality of service, and latency).

[0158] According to one embodiment, services involving video streams may be subject to special processing.

[0159] Indeed, a compression rate can be applied to the video streams depending on the availability of the selected data links.

[0160] Thus, for compressed digital video type services, depending on the capacities of the selected data links and the priorities of its services, the parameters of the video encoder / compressor can be automatically and dynamically adjusted.

[0161] The difference between all the streams associated with the other services and the total capacities of the selected data links gives an available capacity for the video stream(s).

[0162] We can then search, among the video compression profiles, for the one closest to, and lower than, this difference. These profiles can be determined beforehand.

[0163] These video streams can correspond to the “payload” or “visual piloting” (FPV) services for example.

[0164] Of course, the present invention is not limited to the examples and the embodiment described and shown, but is defined by the claims. It is in particular susceptible of numerous variants accessible to those skilled in the art.

Claims

Claims

1. Method for assigning a set of services to a set of data links between a mobile device and at least one station, said method comprising - a step of selecting (S1) a subset of data links comprising - a substep of determining (S1 1) performance parameters for each data link of said set of data links, - a substep of converting (S12) said performance parameters into objective values not depending on the type of said data link, and - a substep of selecting (S13) said data links as a function of said objective values; - a step of scheduling (S2) the data links of said subset as a function of at least one scheduling criterion; - an assignment step (S3) comprising an assignment of said services as a function of a scheduling of said services (27) and said scheduling of the data links (25).

2. Method according to the preceding claim, in which said set of data links is provided by a set of equipment on board said mobile device and allowing radio communication with said at least one station.

3. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said ordering of said data links is carried out by considering each ordering criterion according to a predefined order.

4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one scheduling criterion comprises a throughput, a quality of service, and a latency.

5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which said scheduling step (S2) comprises a phase of measuring high-level parameters (24) chosen according to said at least one scheduling criterion, and said scheduling of the data links being carried out on the basis of said high-level parameters.

6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said objective values are determined by comparing said performance parameters on a predetermined scale depending on the type of performance parameter.

7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which said selection sub-step (S 13) comprises determining a representative value for each data link, from an aggregation rule of said objective values.

8. Computer program comprising instructions for implementing a method according to one of the preceding claims, when said program is executed on an information processing platform.

9. Storage means characterized in that they store a computer program comprising instructions for implementing, by a device, the method according to one of claims 1 to 7, when said program is executed by a processor of said device.

10. Mobile device (10) comprising a set of on-board equipment (20a, 20b, 20c) each associated with at least one data link from a set of data links, and a first module (22) adapted to select a subset of data links from said set, said first module comprising - a first sub-module (22a) adapted to determine performance parameters for each data link of said set of data links, - a second sub-module (22c) for converting said performance parameters into objective values not dependent on the type of said data link, and - a third sub-module (22d) for selecting said sub-set as a function of said objective values; said mobile device further comprising a second module (23) adapted to schedule the data links of said sub-set as a function of at least one scheduling criterion;and a third module (26) adapted to assign services according to an ordering of said services (27) and said ordering of the data links (25).;

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