Management of a wireless device in a wi-fi network

Abstract

The invention relates to a wireless device (EQ1, EQ2, IAD) comprising a first communication interface configured to access a first network (R1) and a wireless control module (MCIAD, MC1, MC2) comprising a second communication interface configured to access a second network (R2) different from the first network (R1), wherein the first communication interface is powered independently from the second communication interface, the communication module being configured to: - cut off the power supply to the first communication interface and thus cut off access to the first network, the wireless device being in standby mode; while maintaining access to the second network; and - restore the power supply to the first communication interface and thus restore access to the first network, the wireless device being woken up.

Description

[0001] Managing Wireless Equipment in a Wi-Fi Network

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The invention relates to the field of wireless networks connected to the Internet. It relates more particularly to a control module for wireless equipment in such a network, wireless equipment comprising such a module, and a network comprising several wireless equipment items.

[0004] STATE OF THE ART

[0005] In a Wi-Fi wireless network, several wireless devices are connected to an Internet access device (IAD, Integrated Access Device or box) which is then connected to the Internet. Such devices include, for example, routers, repeaters, TV decoders (STB, Set Top Box) or smart TVs.

[0006] To limit network energy consumption, it is advisable to manually turn off the equipment and the IAD or, to a lesser extent, cut off Wi-Fi access on the IAD.

[0007] However, this has only a limited impact on energy consumption because users do not necessarily think to turn them all off or only do so at night or during periods of absence. Furthermore, once turned off, it is not possible to automatically turn the equipment back on.

[0008] Equipment management therefore needs to be improved.

[0009] STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The invention proposes to improve the management of wireless equipment in a network connected to the Internet via an Internet access box.

[0011] In this respect, the invention relates, according to a first aspect, to wireless equipment comprising a first communication interface configured to access a first network and a wireless control module comprising a second communication interface configured to access a second network different from the first network, the first communication interface being powered independently of the second communication interface, the communication module being configured to:

[0012] - cutting off the power supply to the first communication interface and thus cutting off access to the first network, the wireless equipment being in standby mode; while maintaining access to the second network;

[0013] - restore power to the first communication interface and thus restore access to the first network, the wireless equipment being woken up.

[0014] The invention is advantageously supplemented by the following characteristics, taken alone or in any of their technically possible combinations:

[0015] - the control module is further configured to supervise, via the second network, the wireless equipment with which it is associated when the first network is active or inactive, the second network being active, the supervision consisting of: updating the wireless equipment and / or diagnosing the wireless equipment and / or monitoring the wireless equipment.

[0016] - the first network is a Wi-Fi network and in which the second network (R2) is a low-power network.

[0017] According to a second aspect of the invention, a wireless network comprising a plurality of wireless devices is provided. According to the first aspect of the invention, a wireless device forms an Internet access box and the other wireless device is configured to communicate with the Internet access box via the first network.

[0018] The invention relates, according to a third aspect, to a method for managing a network according to the second aspect of the invention, the Internet access box and the wireless equipment are connected according to the first active network, the method comprising a step of putting the Internet access box on standby by means of the corresponding control module and a step of transmitting a command to put the wireless equipment on standby via the second network to the control module of the wireless equipment, putting the Internet access box on standby cutting off access to the first network.

[0019] The invention relates, according to a fourth aspect, to a method for managing a wireless network according to the second aspect of the invention, the Internet access box and the wireless equipment not being connected according to the first inactive network, the method comprising a step of waking up the Internet access box by means of a control module of an equipment or of the IAD and a step of transmitting a command to wake up the wireless equipment or of the IAD via the second network, the waking up of the Internet access box activating the first network.

[0020] The invention relates according to a fifth a method for managing a wireless network according to the second aspect of the invention, the Internet access box and the wireless equipment being connected according to the first active network, the method comprising a step of cutting off the first network by means of the control module of the Internet access box and a step of transmitting a command to put the wireless equipment on standby via the second network to the control module of the wireless equipment.

[0021] The invention relates, according to a sixth aspect, to a method for managing a wireless network according to the second aspect of the invention, the Internet access box and the wireless equipment being connected only via their control module according to the second network, the method comprising a step of downloading by the Internet access box of an update of the wireless equipment and when the Internet access box is again connected to the wireless equipment according to the first network, a transmission of the update to the wireless equipment so that it applies the update.

[0022] The invention relates, according to a seventh aspect, to a method for managing a wireless network according to the second aspect of the invention, the Internet access box and the wireless equipment being connected or not by the second network, the method comprising, from the state connected or not by the second network, obtaining a state of a wireless equipment.

[0023] The invention allows for a permanent connection between the devices even when the first network, for example Wi-Fi, is inactive. It is therefore possible to intervene on the wireless devices.

[0024] PRESENTATION OF FIGURES

[0025] Other characteristics, aims and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following description, which is purely illustrative and non-limiting, and which must be read in conjunction with the appended figures in which:

[0026] - Figure 1 illustrates a wireless network comprising a first network according to a star topology; - Figure 2 illustrates a wireless network comprising a first network in a multi-hop topology;

[0027] - Figure 3 illustrates a wireless network comprising a first active network and a second active network according to star topologies;

[0028] - Figure 4 illustrates a wireless network comprising a first active network and a second active network according to multi-hop topologies;

[0029] - Figure 5 illustrates the wireless network of Figure 3 with the first network inactive and the second network active.

[0030] - Figure 6 illustrates the wireless network of Figure 4 with the first network inactive and the second network active.

[0031] - figure 7 illustrates equipment used in the case of a first network coexisting with a second network;

[0032] - Figure 8 illustrates a use case for putting an ecosystem consisting of an Internet access box and two wireless devices in a star topology network into standby mode;

[0033] - Figure 9 illustrates a use case for waking up an ecosystem consisting of an Internet access box and two wireless devices in a star topology network;

[0034] - Figure 10 illustrates a use case for cutting a first network in an ecosystem consisting of an Internet access box and two wireless devices in a star topology network;

[0035] - Figure 11 illustrates a use case for supervising or monitoring equipment in an ecosystem consisting of an Internet access box and two wireless devices in a star topology network;

[0036] - Figure 12 illustrates a use case for diagnosing a failure of equipment in an ecosystem consisting of an Internet access box and two wireless devices in a star topology network;

[0037] - Figure 13 illustrates a use case for updating equipment in an ecosystem consisting of an Internet access box and two wireless devices in a star topology network.

[0038] Throughout the figures, similar elements have identical references.

[0039] DETAILED DESCRIPTION In relation to figures 1 and 2, a wireless local network 1, T comprises several wireless devices IAD, EQi, EQ2 connected to an Internet access box (in English, Integrated Access Device, IAD) via a first network Ri, Ri'. The first network is a wireless local network (LAN for Local Access Network). In figure 1, network 1 has a star topology and in figure 2, network T has a multi-hop topology. These topologies are given as examples and are in no way limiting. The first network Ri, Ri' is illustrated in solid lines.

[0040] The IAD is, for example, connected to the Internet network (not shown) via an operator network (not shown) and the first network Ri, Ri' is in particular a Wi-Fi network. The Wi-Fi network is governed by the standards and amendments from the IEEE 802.11 working group and will not be detailed further.

[0041] EQi, EQ2 wireless devices include, for example: a Wi-Fi repeater, an STB (Set Top Box or digital decoder), Smart TV, TV dongle, mobile dongle (4G or 5G), smartphone, tablet, printer, home automation equipment, etc. Such a first Ri, Ri' network is usually installed in homes or offices.

[0042] In relation to figures 3, 4, 5 and 6, in order to improve the management of the EQi, EQ2 equipment in a wireless local area network 2, 2' each EQi, EQ2 wireless equipment is equipped with a wireless control module MCIAD, MCi, MC2. Each wireless equipment is therefore associated with a wireless control module. Here again, the networks of figures 1, 3 and 5 have a star topology while the networks of figures 2, 4 and 6 have a multi-hop topology. According to the invention, each element of the network T, 2' is therefore configured to communicate on a first network Ri and on a second network R2 as detailed in the following.

[0043] As illustrated in Figure 7, the IAD and the wireless equipment EQ1, EQ2 comprise a communication interface 11, I2 and an antenna A1, A2 which manage the first network Ri, Ri'.

[0044] The control module MCIAD, MC1, MC2 comprises a processing unit 10 configured to supervise the equipment with which it is associated and in particular manages access to the first network. Also, each control module comprises a memory 11 for storing data. The control modules MCIAD, MC1, MC2 communicate, in particular, with each other via a second network R2, R2' different from the first network Ri, Ri'. The second network R2, R2' can exist with or without the first network Ri, Ri'.

[0045] The control modules MCIAD, MC1, MC2 are advantageously powered by the same power supply (for example 12 volts) as that of the corresponding equipment IAD, EQ1, EQ2 but with very low consumption (for example 0.5 Watt). The control module is integrated into the corresponding wireless equipment IAD, EQ1, EQ2 and is therefore internal to it. It can be a low-consumption electronic circuit natively integrated into the product or an extension module to which a radio antenna is connected which manages the second network R2, R2'.

[0046] The control module MCIAD, MC1, MC2 is in particular configured to cut off the power supply to the first communication interface, preferably by dialoguing with the latter, and thus cut off access to the first network, the corresponding equipment then being in standby mode; while maintaining access to the second network. In other words, the control module can put the wireless equipment with which it is associated into standby mode. A dedicated button can be provided which, once actuated, puts the wireless equipment with which it is associated into standby mode. The button can be actuated directly by a physical action or virtually remotely.

[0047] Additionally, the button can, upon request, put the wireless equipment it controls into standby or wake it up. Waking up the equipment corresponds to a state in which it has access to the first network.

[0048] The second network R2 is advantageously a low-power network having a usage range at least equivalent to the network Ri. In any case, the second network R2, R2' has an energy consumption that can remain active on equipment in standby without significant impact on the consumption of the equipment in question, unlike the first network Ri, Ri'. The second network R2, R2' is, for example, 802.15.4, Thread, Zigbee, Z-Wave or Bluetooth Low Energy, etc. A person skilled in the art understands what a low-power network is.

[0049] Figures 3 and 4 illustrate the network in which the first Wi-Fi network is active with the second control module network active.

[0050] Figures 5 and 6 illustrate the network in which the first Wi-Fi network is inactive with the second network of control modules active. Via this second network R2, in the case of Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6, for a star or multi-hop topology:

[0051] - the MCIAD control module of the IAD can communicate with the MC1 communication module of a first EQ1 equipment,

[0052] - the IAD communication module can communicate with the MC2 communication module of a second EQ2 device,

[0053] - the communication module MC1 of a first device EQ1 can communicate with the communication module MC2 of a second device EQ2.

[0054] Via the first network Ri, in the case of figures 3 and 5, for a star topology:

[0055] - the IAD can communicate with the first EQ1 equipment;

[0056] - the IAD can communicate with the second EQ2 device;

[0057] - the first device EQ1 can communicate with the second device EQ2 via the second network R2

[0058] The second network formed by the control modules is thus always active regardless of the state of the first network and provides a "lifeline" that allows the IAD and the wireless devices in its ecosystem to be managed. In this way, it is always possible to control each wireless device.

[0059] The presence of a second network formed by the control modules allows several scenarios described above.

[0060] Ecosystem standby

[0061] As illustrated in Figure 8, in a network comprising an IAD and a first device EQ1 and possibly a second device EQ2, a first network for example Wi-Fi being active and a second low-power network being active, a supervision method makes it possible to put the entire ecosystem formed by the IAD and the wireless devices on standby (see configuration (A)). As such, the control module puts the IAD on standby, which has the effect of cutting off the first network. The standby by the control module is subsequent to an action on the control module via a button for example (step E1). The standby of the IAD has the effect of propagating a standby command by the second network to thus put all the wireless devices EQi, ECh on standby, the second network being active (step E2).

[0062] Such operation allows to simply propagate the sleep mode and reduces the carbon footprint (configuration (B)).

[0063] Awakening of the

[0064] As illustrated in Figure 9, a method for supervising a network comprising an IAD and a first EQi device and possibly a second ECh device, a first network for example Wi-Fi being inactive and a second low-consumption network being active makes it possible to wake up the entire ecosystem formed by the IAD and the wireless devices (see configuration (C)).

[0065] In this respect, the IAD control module wakes up the IAD, which has the effect of activating the first network. Wake-up by the control module is subsequent to an action on the control module via a button, for example (step E1a). Wake-up of the IAD has the effect of propagating a wake-up command by the second network to wake up all the wireless devices EQi, ECh, the second network being active (step E2a).

[0066] Alternatively, the control module of a device wakes up the associated device. The wake-up by the control module is subsequent to an action on the control module via a button for example (step E1a'). The wake-up of the device has the effect of propagating a wake-up command by the second network to wake up all the EQi wireless devices and the IAD, the second network being active (step E2a).

[0067] Such operation allows the alarm to be simply propagated (configuration (D)).

[0068] First network outage

[0069] As illustrated in Figure 10, a method for managing a network comprising an IAD and a first device EQi and possibly a second device ECh, a first network for example Wi-Fi being inactive and a second low-consumption network being active makes it possible to cut off the first network (see configuration (E)) to then cause all the devices to be put on standby with the exception of the IAD (configuration (F)). In this respect, the control module of the AD cuts off the first network from the IAD which has the effect of deactivating the first network. This is subsequent to an action on the control module of the IAD via a button for example (step E1 b). The deactivation of the first network from the IAD has the effect of ordering the standby of all the wireless devices with the exception of the IAD (step E2b).

[0070] Such operation makes it possible to optimize the network and in particular the energy consumption aspect of the network.

[0071] As illustrated in Figure 11, a method for managing a network comprising an IAD and a first EQi device and possibly a second ECh device, a first network, for example Wi-Fi, being inactive and a second low-consumption network being active, the wireless devices with the exception of the IAD are on standby (configuration (G)) makes it possible to monitor or track the wireless devices.

[0072] In this respect, through the second network, it is possible to retrieve KPI (Key Performance Indicator) type metrics (REC step). Such a metric is characteristic of the availability of the wireless equipment. In configuration (G) the wireless equipment is available and simply on standby.

[0073] In configuration (H), a device is not available and possibly has a fault and has not returned anything, the link via the second network between the IAD and this wireless device is broken.

[0074] Such operation makes it possible to simply ensure the health of the ecosystem.

[0075] Diagnosis

[0076] As illustrated in Figure 12, in a network comprising an IAD and a first EQi device and possibly a second ECh device, the second network makes it possible to diagnose a connection failure on the first network (configuration (I)) between the IAD and a wireless device.

[0077] Thanks to the link between the IAD and this equipment, it is possible to know if it is because it has lost the connection with the first network (configuration (J)) or if it is a voluntary action of the user on this equipment (configuration (K)). It is therefore possible to determine why a piece of equipment cannot be reached by the first network.

[0078] Such functioning facilitates the diagnosis of the ecosystem.

[0079] Software update

[0080] As illustrated in Figure 13, in a network comprising an IAD and a first EQi device and possibly a second EQ2 device, the second network allows equipment updates to be managed.

[0081] In configuration (L), one wireless device is not connected to the IAD through the first network while another device is. The IAD downloads the update for the devices and applies it to the device to which it is connected through the first network.

[0082] In configuration (M), all equipment is in standby but the IAD downloads the update for the equipment.

[0083] According to these configurations (L) and (M) it is thanks to the second network that the IAD was able to determine that the wireless equipment is indeed in its ecosystem.

[0084] In this scenario, as soon as the connection to the first network is reestablished for each device, then the updates are applied (configuration (N)).

[0085] This operation allows updates to be retrieved without worrying about the state of the equipment in relation to the first network.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Wireless equipment (EQi, EQ2, IAD) comprising a first communication interface (h) configured to access a first network (Ri) and a wireless control module (MCIAD, MC1, MC2) comprising a second communication interface (I2) configured to access a second network (R2) different from the first network (Ri), the first communication interface being powered independently of the second communication interface, the communication module being configured to: - cut off the power supply to the first communication interface (h) and thus cut off access to the first network, the wireless equipment being in standby mode; while maintaining access to the second network; - restore power to the first communication interface (h) and thus restore access to the first network, the wireless equipment being woken up.

2. Wireless equipment according to claim 1, wherein the control module is further configured to supervise, via the second network, the wireless equipment with which it is associated when the first network (Ri) is active or inactive, the second network (R2) being active, the supervision consisting of: updating the wireless equipment and / or diagnosing the wireless equipment and / or monitoring the wireless equipment.

3. Wireless equipment according to one of claims 1 to 2, in which the first network (Ri) is a Wi-Fi network and in which the second network (R2) is a low-consumption network.

4. Wireless network comprising a plurality of wireless devices according to one of the preceding claims, one wireless device forming an Internet access box (IAD) and the other wireless device is configured to communicate with the Internet access box (IAD) via the first network.

5. Method for managing a wireless network according to claim 4, the Internet access box (IAD) and the wireless equipment are connected according to the first active network, the method comprising a step of putting the Internet access box on standby at by means of the corresponding control module and a step of transmitting a command to put the wireless equipment on standby via the second network to the control module of the wireless equipment, putting the Internet access box on standby cutting off access to the first network.

6. Method for managing a wireless network according to one of claims 4 to 5, the Internet access box (IAD) and the wireless equipment not being connected according to the first inactive network, the method comprising a step of waking up the Internet access box by means of a control module of an equipment or of the IAD and a step of transmitting a command to wake up the wireless equipment or of the IAD via the second network, the waking up of the Internet access box activating the first network.

7. Method for managing a wireless network according to claim 4, the Internet access box (IAD) and the wireless equipment being connected according to the first active network, the method comprising a step of cutting off the first network by means of the control module of the Internet access box and a step of transmitting a command to put the wireless equipment on standby via the second network to the control module of the wireless equipment.

8. Method for managing a wireless network according to claim 4, the Internet access box (IAD) and the wireless equipment being connected only via their control module according to the second network, the method comprising a step of downloading by the Internet access box of an update of the wireless equipment and when the Internet access box is again connected to the wireless equipment according to the first network, a transmission of the update to the wireless equipment so that it applies the update.

9. Method for managing a wireless network according to claim 4, the Internet access box (IAD) and the wireless equipment being connected or not by the second network, the method comprising, from the state connected or not by the second network, obtaining a state of a wireless equipment.

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