TRANSMISSION RATE ADAPTATION

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for flexible channel allocation to subscriber equipments connected to a telecommunication network. The subscriber equipments are digitally connected to the telecommunication network and transmitted amount of information is depending on application and the need of the user. In the telecommunication network devices are arranged which add or remove channels depending on the need, which is controlled via a control device which communicates with the subscriber equipments. At the subscriber equipments the utilized capacity and possible changes are presented. Further, debiting of costs for the available alternatives can be presented. On the basis of the given information the user after decides which transmission capacity that shall be selected. At transmission on a number of channels, the system can allow all channels to follow a common path or allow the channels to take different paths through the telecommunication network depending on the traffic situation. The device further can allow that information is given a decided path between transmitting and receiving parties.

Description: TITLE OF THE INVENTION TRANSMISSION RATE ADAPTATION TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a telecommunication system, especially utilization of in the telecommunication system available transmission capacities. PRIOR ART In the telecommunication systems of today information of different kinds and capacities is transmitted. At this, principally analog connections between ordinary subscribers, A, and the telecommunication system are utilized, see Figure 1. The analog signals are transformed to channels, K, which are forwarded in the telecommunication system to a receiver. The receiver in this case preferably is analog. The to channels transformed signals are after that transformed to analog signals before the information is forwarded to receivers on the receiving side. Over the analog connections digital information further can be transmitted within the frame of the analog transmission. The transmission capacity is in this case limited by the capacity of the connections in the voice band. Transmission of digital signals are since previously known for certain fields of application in the telecommunication network. For private automatic branch exchanges and especially arranged customers, B, digital connections of the customers have been arranged. This has resulted in that the demand for transformations in the public telecommunication networks have been reduced and that the transmission capacity has been increased. TECHNICAL PROBLEM In the telecommunication systems of today the subscribers are allocated a certain transmission capacity at digital connections. The transmission capacity, however, can vary depending on utilized application and/or existing demand for information. Consequently there is a need to adapt the capacity tO an existing need. The customer shall in such a situation be in a position to weigh gains in time and costs if the transmission rate is increased. In order to satisfy these needs is required that the telecommunication systems on one hand can be controlled directly by the customer, and on the other that the telecommunication systems give sufficent information to the customer and that the telecommunication system flexibly can be adapted to the needs. Further, there is a need that the telecommunication system automatically adapts the capacity to one for the user optimal capacity. The present invention is intended to present a solution to mentioned problems. THE SOLUTION The present invention relates to a device for flexible channel allocation to subscriber equipments connected to a telecommunication network. The subscriber equipments A, B, are digitally connected to the telecommunication network, N, and transmitted amount of information is depending on application and the user's need. In the telecommunication network devices are arranged which add or remove channels depending on the need, which is controlled by a control device, S, which communicates with the subscriber equipments, A, B. At the subscriber equipments A, B, the utilized capacity and possible changes are presented. Further, the debiting of costs for the different available alternatives can be presented. On basis of the given information the user after that decides which transmission capacity that shall be selected. At transmission on a number of channels, the system can allow all channels to follow a common path, or allow the channels to take different paths through the telecommunication network, depending on the traffic situation. The device 1, 2 further allows that information is given a decided path between transmitting and receiving parties, A, B. The invention consequenty relates to a device at telecommunication system. In the telecommunication system, connections are arranged between the subscriber equipments and the telecommunication system. Connections are further arranged in the telecommunication system for connection of the subscriber equipments for establishing and execution of communication. Information from the subscriber equipments are received by first equipments, 1, 2, the task of which is to allocate one or more channels to the equipments at which a varying capacity is obtained. The first equipment communicates with the subscriber equipment and is affected by this, at which the transmission need can be affected. The first equipment includes, or can be connected to, a second equipment, S, the task of which is to communicate with the subscriber equipment. This second device, S, has as its task to control the transmission capacity in the telecommunication network and/or to the subscriber equipments depending on influence from the subscriber equipments. The subscriber equipments, A, B, further are arranged to receive and present information regarding utilized, respective available, transmission capacity, and the costs for different selected alternatives. The presentation is made, as a suggestion, on screeen or other suitable medium. The transmission capacites are divided into one or more channels which are allocated to the users at which at the utilization of a number of channels these are allowed to be transmitted different paths in the telecommunication network at transmission between given subscriber equipments. The second device, S, further has functions for determining an optimal utilization of the channels with regard to, for instance, the costs. The second device, S, further allocates with flexibility the channels to the subscriber equipments, A, B, depending on an existing need for transmission at a certain point of time. The invent-ion further includes means for identification of users by means of identification means, such as smart card. The identification means reads for instance the smart card via one in the device, 1, 2 arranged reader. The identification in this case relates to owner/renter of the device, which can be supplied via different suppliers, which have different agreements with a network operator. Further, the device can be provided by the network operator which allows different functionalities to the users depending on agreements between for instance these. The channel allocation for subscribers connected to the device consequently is depending on who has issued the identification means, and on the information which is obtained from this. The information consequently decides how channel allocation shall be allowed, and whether the information shall be transmitted exclusively to the receiver via decided path in the telecommunication system or if, for instance, traditional IP-addressing shall be applied. ADVANTAGES With the present invention possibility to give digitally connected subscribers themselves possibility to control the number of channels which shall be utilized at a communication, is obtained. The user further has possibility to decide said demand for channels during different phases of communication, i.e. the user can allocate to himself/herself different number of channels at different phases of the communication depending on the actual need of transmission. Further, possibility is obtained to form an opinion of the costs for different alternatives before decision is arrived at. Further, the invention gives a possibility to automatically allocate capacity in the system depending on the current need of information and to optimize the allocation of channels with regard to, for instance, the costs. The network operator further can identify which users that utilize the network and decide which functionalities that are allowed for these. The functionalities can refer to maximal number of allowed channels, maximal cost, time limits etc. Further, it can be determined whether a user is connected to the network via one by the telecommunication sanctioned device or not. These aspects decide which functionality that shall be allowed. DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES Figure 1 shows an example of the invention. Figure 2 shows a second example of the invention. Figure 3 shows an embodiment of the equipment where control devices have been introduced in the telecommunication system. PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the following the invention is described on basis of the figures and the terms therein. In a telecommunication system, N, equipments, A, B, are connected via devices, 1, 2. The equipments, A, B are intended for transmission of digital information between transmitter and receiver. The transmitters and receivers can consist of computers, equipments for transmission of voice, equipment for transmission of video etc, i.e. multimedia transmission. Each transmitter and receiver is connected to the device, 1, 2 via separate lines to the device 1, 2, in question. The device 1, 2 is placed on a suitable central place for serving a number of transmitters/receivers, subscribers, A, B. The from the subscribers received information is concentrated in the device 1, 2, and is forwarded in the telecommunication network in allocated channels. The information on one hand can be transmitted according to traditional IP-technology, and on the other via dedicated paths between transmitters and receivers. In the traditional IP-technology there is risk that information is lost because there is no dedicated path between transmitter and receiver. The invention, however, specifies that a certain path shall be dedicated for the information through the telecommunication network. This is made by each channel being given a path through the telecommunication system over different nodes and switching-points . Risk for loss of information is m this way reduced at the same time as the transmission rate in the network is increased. The quality of connections and the security of the information transmission in this way will be increased. In order to distinguish between different subscribers allowed utilization of the network, the device 1, 2, is equipped with devices, S, which can identify themselves to the network, N. These identification devices include for instance readers of smart cards, SIM-cards or the like identification material. The identification material is introduced into the device and indicates owner/supplier. Deciding for which functions that shall be allowed is at that the owners/suppliers agreement with the network operator. If there is no agreement, connection is made according to the present principle for IP-addressmg. If there is an agreement, is ascertained which functions that have been agreed upon for the device in question. Limits can for instance exist regarding maximally allowed channel allocation, number of at the same time connected channels depending on the number of at the same time existing communications, limits regarding point of time etc. The given information is transferred to the telecommunication system, N, which includes identification centre/centra, C, which finally decides what shall be allowed respective not allowed. Said identification centra, C, further has means for communication with the devices 1, 2, and at that transfer information which the devices 1, 2, have need of in their decisionmaking . A user connected to a device 1, 2, according to the present invention is identified by the device 1, 2. The user A, B, has in a first case unlimited access to channels, depending on the communication. At the set up of a call, the user A, B, indicates an address to a receiver, A, B. The device 1, 2 identifies the receiver A, B, and transmits information about this to the network, N. In a dialogue between the network, N, and the device A, B, after that a suitable path through the network, N, is decided for a first channel. This first channel constitutes a basic setting which is given by the network, N, or by in advance decided pre-conditions. Basically is, for instance, one channel allocated. The device 1, 2, after that senses the information flow between the users A, B. The information is concentrated to the allocated channels etc. In the case that the information flow exceeds the allocated capacity, the device 1, 2 senses this and decides whether more channels shall be allocated or not. The allocation of extra channels is made under the condition that given restrictions regarding the user's allowed transmission capacities, costs etc are observed. In the device 1, 2 there are also calculation devices which have the task to optimize the transmission capacity for at least one user A, B, with regard to a minimal cost. In this case the device 1, 2 adds respective removes channels depending on the information flow. The device 1, 2, communicates at each change of the number of utilized channels with the control device, C, of the network. At addition of channels the communication relates to which paths that shall be taken through the network for respective channel. It consequently is not necessary that each of the utilized channels are transmitted one and the same path through the network, N. In common for each channel, however, is that appointed paths are established between the points of communication in the network. The informationen through the network, N, in this way can reach the destination at different points of time. This problem is handled, for instance, in the same way as in -the now known IP-technology. In a second variant the user, A, B, decides which need of information that exists and informs the device 1, 2, about this. The device 1, 2 in this case checks whether the requested channel allocation is allowed or not. If request for channel allocation exceeds the allowed, the user A, B, is informed about this, as well as if the load does not allow the requested number of channels. This communication between the device 1, 2 and the user's equipment is for instance made by presentation on screen or other presentation depending on the character of the information. Check whether a requested set up is allowed or not can be programmed in the device 1, 2, or in the control device of the network. The programming can for instance relate to prevention of access to certain information suppliers in the network, N, or a pool of informers/communicators which are allowed. Information to the user is made via the device whether requested connections will be set up or not. To each device 1, 2 a number of equipments, A, B, are connected via separate connections such as wires, radio channels etc. The transmission capacity between the devices 1, 2 and the equipments, A, B at the users which maximally can be utilized is depending on the transmission medium. The transmission medium can be a number of allocated radio channels, common telephone lines, coaxial circuits, fibre connections etc. The connections in the telecommunication network also consist of different conventional transmission media. All subscriber connections between the equipments, 1, 2 and the subscriber equipments A, B are concentrated in the equipments 1, 2, to one or more transmission media containing a number of channels. At establishing of a communication, the equipment 1, 2, identifies the user which can be made in different ways, such as password, smart card reader etc. The identification is concluded either in the equipment, S, or through deliberation between the equipment, S, and identification functions, C, in the network, N-. After identification is decided which type of communication that is allowed. The type of communication can relate to voice, video, data etc. When his has been decided is checked whether the user is allowed to utilize varied number of channels or if only a fixed number of channels can be allowed and if IP-addressing shall be utilized or if dedicated path through the network may be utilized. If a number of channels are allowed to be utilized flexibly is also controlled which costs that shall be debited depending on the number of utilized channels. A communication channel is after that opened between the subscriber equipment and the device. Via the communication channel information is transferred regarding number of channels that are allowed to be utilized, and the cost for the different alternatives. In at least certain cases the equipment also calculates when it is optimal to increase or to reduce the number of channels with regard to the amounts of transferred information. Presentation of the information is for instance made on data screen in a separate information field which does not interfere with other information that is processed. In addition to that the information is continuously presented, the user can by special commands select to have the information presented on certain selected occasions, such as at establishing of the communication, and on occasions when the amount of transferred information is changed. Further, the presentation can turn up automatically with suggestions for number of channels when the device senses that the transmitting capacity is changed. The information is not restricted to the above described example of embodiment or to following patent claims, but may be subject to modifications within the frame of the idea of invention.

Claims: PATENT CLAIMS 1. Device at telecommunication system including connections between subscriber equipments and the telecommunication system, to which the subscriber equipments are digitally connected, and the information is brought together and forwarded via in the telecommunication network arranged first devices, and the subscriber equipments are arranged to communicate with varying transmission rates, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the first equipment is arranged to be affected via the subscriber equipments at which the transmission capacity in the telecommunication network is arranged to be adapted to an existent need. 2. Device according to patent claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the first device includes a second device arranged to communicate with the subscriber equipment . 3. Device according to patent claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the second device is arranged to increase or reduce the transmission capacity in the telecommunication network for the subscriber equipments depending on influence from the subscriber equipments. 4. Device according to patent claim 2 or 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the subscriber equipments are arranged to receive and present information regarding used respective available transmission capacity and costs depending on selected transmission capacity. 5. Device according to any of the previous patent claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the transmission capacity in the telecommmunication network is divided into one or more channels. 6. Device according to patent claim 5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the channels are arranged to be transmitted the same or different paths in the telecommunication network. 7. Device according to any of the previous patent claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the second device is arranged to indicate an optimal allocation of the channels with regard to cost. 8. Device according to any of the previous patent claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the second device is arranged to with flexibility allocate the channels to the subscriber equipments depending on the transmission need at a certain point of time for each of the subscriber equipments . 9. Device according to any of the previous patent claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the second device is arranged to include means for identification and/or authentication of users, and that the identification and/or authentication is made by means of identification means, for instance smart card. 10. Device according to any of the previous patent claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the second device is arranged to, depending on issuer of the identification means and/or information in the same, determine the channel allocation. 11. Device according to any of the previous patent claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the second device is arranged to decide destination/connection paths for each separate channel in the telecommunication network for the connection in question. 12. Device according to any of the previous patent claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the second device is arranged to arrange connection paths for the channels in such a way that the information has been given a path to a decided end destination.

Inventors: HAGSTROEM BENGT, HAGSTROEM, BENGT
Applicants: HAGSTROEM BENGT, TELIA AB, HAGSTROEM, BENGT, TELIA AB (PUBL)
Application year: 1998
Main classification: H04L25
IPC codes: H04J3, H04L12, H04L29