FR3123171A1 - Method for detecting a connection of a terminal to a telephony interface of a residential gateway in a local communication network, corresponding detection device and computer program. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for detecting a connection of a terminal of a user to an interface of a residential gateway configured to manage a local communication network (LAN) to which is connected at least one user equipment configured to control a receiver, said method being implemented in said gateway and comprising sending to said terminal a request to send a signal. The method further comprises: - sending to said at least one piece of equipment a request for detection of said signal emitted by said terminal, - reception, from said at least one piece of equipment, of an information notification relating to a detection of said signal. As a corollary, the invention also relates to a method for managing detection of a signal emitted by a terminal of a user connected to an interface of a residential gateway configured to manage a local communication network to which is connected at least a user equipment configured to control a receiver, said method being implemented in said at least one equipment. The method comprises:- receiving a request for detection of a signal emitted by said terminal,- sending, to said gateway, an information notification relating to detection of said signal. FIGURE 2A

Description

Method for detecting a connection of a terminal to a telephony interface of a residential gateway in a local communication network, corresponding detection device and computer program.

1. Field of the invention

The field of the invention is that of a domestic or professional local communication network, managed by a gateway, called a residential gateway, to which user equipment is connected.

In particular, the invention relates to the detection of the installation or connection of a user's terminal to an interface dedicated to a standard telephony service, also called FXS interface (for "Foreign Exchange Station" in English, or exchange station) of the residential gateway, and the activation or deactivation of this FXS interface depending on the presence or absence of the user terminal at the latter.

2. Prior art and its disadvantages

A large majority of homes are equipped with a residential gateway, often called a “box” or “Home Gateway” (HGW). This equipment, installed at the customer's premises, is the hub of all the connections, services and applications provided by the operator. Indeed, the gateway is connected, on the one hand, to the operator's network, and has, on the other hand, a set of interfaces, wireless or wired, allowing the connection of a plurality of equipment, such as for example a digital decoder (“Set-Top Box” in English or STB), a computer, a telephone, a digital television, etc.

The residential gateway includes different types of interfaces, i.e. communication boundaries between two entities, such as software elements, hardware components, or a user. It notably comprises so-called hardware interfaces corresponding to physical interfaces between computer hardware components, such as for example a port or a socket.

The FXS interface (for “Foreign Exchange Station”), or FXS port, allows the user to directly connect a standard telephone, also called a landline telephone, a fax machine or similar device to the gateway. The FXS interface carries carrier-issued telephony service to which the user has subscribed and provides ringtone, tone and voltage.

Nowadays, the citizen is more and more concerned about the future of the planet, which leads him to reduce the waste of energy resources.

In the connected home or business, reducing energy consumption involves shutting down or putting unused equipment on standby or at least some of their components, applications or interfaces. In particular, one of the ways to optimize the electrical consumption of residential gateway equipment is to dynamically activate or deactivate the interfaces of the gateway in order to only keep active what is really useful for the end user. .

In other words, one solution to reduce electricity consumption in a home is to activate certain interfaces when the associated services are actually used by the user. On the contrary, when certain services are not used by the user, then the deactivation of the associated interfaces makes it possible not to waste energy unnecessarily.

Thus, in the case for example of the FXS interface of the residential gateway, the latter is only activated if the user needs a standard telephony service, and therefore has connected a fixed telephone to the dedicated FXS port of the residential gateway.

However, the current method for detecting the installation of the fixed telephone at the level of the FXS port of the gateway is based on an essentially mechanical detection principle. Indeed, the detection of the connection of the telephone at the level of the FXS port is based on the detection of the insertion of a male plug of a connection cable of the fixed telephone into the female socket of the domestic gateway, i.e. ie the FXS port. More precisely, the connection of the telephone is detected if the male plug of the telephone is well engaged in the FXS port of the gateway and comes into contact with a small part or contactor placed at the bottom of the FXS port and connected to a micro-controller.

There are different types of male plug, or RJ for “registered jack” (in French “standardized jack”), whose different standards are designated by numbers, such as RJ11, RJ25, RJ45, etc. A problem with the diversity of these RJ sockets is that they are not all the right shape to mechanically trigger the switch located at the bottom of the female socket of the gateway, that is to say in the FXS port. As a result, the connection of a telephone is not systematically detected, which can sometimes cause reliability problems in the field.

Indeed, it seems risky to condition the activation or deactivation of this interface to the result of this detection.

There is therefore a need for a technique for detecting the connection of a terminal, such as a standard telephone, to the interfaces of the gateway, such as the FXS telephony interface, which does not have this drawback. In particular, there is a need for such a technique making it possible to guarantee the reliability of the detection of a terminal connected to the FXS port of the gateway, in order to be able to activate it only when necessary, i.e. tell when the user needs standard telephony service, and thus optimize energy consumption.

3. Presentation of the invention

The invention meets this need by proposing a method for detecting a connection of a user's terminal to an interface of a residential gateway configured to manage a local communication network to which is connected at least one user equipment configured to control a receiver. This method is implemented in the gateway and comprises in particular sending the terminal a request to send a signal. The method according to the invention further comprises:
- a sending to said at least one piece of equipment of a request for detection of the signal emitted by the terminal,
- A reception, from said at least one piece of equipment, of an information notification relating to a detection of the emitted signal.

Thus, the invention is based on an entirely new and inventive approach to the detection of the connection of a terminal of a user, such as a fixed telephone, to an interface of the residential gateway, such as for example the interface FXS dedicated to telephony service.

More particularly, when the user wishes to use the telephony service of the residential gateway via the FXS port of the latter, the invention proposes to use the possible interactions between the equipment of a local communication network and the gateway of management of this local communication network to check the correct installation of the fixed telephone, that is to say the effective connection of the telephone to the FXS port of the gateway.

In other words, when the user plugs a landline phone into the residential gateway's FXS port, the gateway performs a ring test to check if the landline phone is properly connected. To do this, it sends the fixed telephone a request to send a signal, such as an audio stream, such as a telephone ringtone.

As a variant, the residential gateway carries out a terminal connection test based on the transmission of a signal by the terminal such as, for example, a light signal (Li-Fi, infrared), a radio-frequency signal (Wi- Fi, Bluetooth), an ultra-sound signal, etc.

The gateway then sends a request for detection of the signal emitted by the terminal to one or more devices of the local communication network and connected to the residential gateway. The equipment(s) wait for reception of the signal transmitted by the terminal on a receiver controlled by the equipment. For example, in the case where the terminal is a fixed telephone and the signal is a telephone ringtone, it is a microphone internal to the equipment or that of another associated equipment, for example a remote control associated including a microphone.

In a variant, the receiver can be any type of receiver making it possible to receive a sound or light signal such as for example a light signal of the Li-Fi type, or infrared, or even a radio-frequency signal of the Wi-Fi type. or Bluetooth, or ultrasonic signal, etc.

After reception and analysis of the signal received, the equipment(s) send(s) an information notification relating to the detection of the signal to the residential gateway.

Thus, thanks to the cooperation between the equipment of the local communication network with the gateway, it is possible to reliably detect the connection of a terminal, for example a landline telephone, to the FXS port of the residential gateway.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the detection method further comprises, prior to said sending to the terminal of the signal transmission request, an activation of the interface.

Advantageously, in order to reduce energy consumption, the FXS telephony interface of the residential gateway is deactivated by default. When the user wishes to have access to a telephony service, then he connects a terminal such as a landline telephone to the FXS interface of the gateway. In order to verify that the connection is effective, the user requests that the gateway send a request to send a signal to the terminal. To do this, the user indicates in an equipment installation management user interface on the gateway, accessible for example via a dedicated website or a software application on a smartphone, that he wishes to install his fixed telephone. In response to the installation request from the terminal, the gateway then activates its FXS interface and sends a request to send a signal to the terminal.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the information notification relating to the detection of the transmitted signal comprises:
- information confirming detection of the signal emitted by said terminal, when the terminal is correctly connected to the interface of the residential gateway,
- information confirming the detection of the signal emitted by the terminal, when the terminal is connected incorrectly or when no terminal is connected to the interface of the residential gateway.

Advantageously, the residential gateway is informed of the detection or not of a signal, such as an audio stream, transmitted by the terminal and received by the equipment. The cooperation between the equipment(s) of the communication network and the residential gateway allows the latter to benefit from reliable information on whether or not a terminal is connected to its FXS interface. Furthermore, the residential gateway does not need to process the signal received from the receiver(s) controlled by the equipment(s). On the contrary, it directly receives information relating to the reception carried out, for example indicating whether or not a signal has been detected, that is to say whether the reception carried out contains a useful signal or not.

Advantageously, the information received can specify, for example, whether the useful signal detected has been recognized as a telephone ringtone.

Thus, when it has received confirmation that the FXS interface is actually used, the residential gateway activates it so that the user can benefit from the telephony service. Otherwise, if the FXS interface is not used, for example when the user does not wish to benefit from a telephony service, it remains deactivated. Enabling and disabling the FXS interface based on its actual use helps to optimize user power consumption.

According to another feature of the invention, the sending of the signal transmission request to the terminal is implemented upon receipt of a terminal installation request by the user.

Advantageously, during an installation phase of the terminal, such as when the user installs a terminal for the first time at the level of the FXS interface of the residential gateway, the user indicates, for example in a user interface of management, accessible for example via a dedicated website or an application on a smartphone, that he wishes to install a terminal at the level of the FXS interface to use the fixed telephony service and test the connection of the terminal by requesting transmission of a signal by the terminal. In other words, the user requests, for example, that a ringing test be carried out, that is to say that the gateway sends a request to send a signal to the terminal for detection by one or more network devices. Communication. This assists the user during the terminal installation process.

According to a particular aspect of the invention, the method comprises sending the user via a user interface a message informing him that no terminal has been detected on the interface, when the information notification comprises the transmitted signal detection denial information.

Thus, the user is informed via a message on a user interface, such as, for example, a terminal installation management application has not been detected.

Advantageously, this notification tells the user that the terminal is incorrectly connected and suggests that he change the connection cable from the terminal to the gateway, before repeating the ringing test or the connection test until the connection of the terminal is detected. . Upon receipt of this notification, the user is therefore encouraged to modify the connection of the terminal at the gateway's FXS port, and to request again that the gateway send a request to send a signal to the terminal to the detection of this signal by one or more devices of the communication network.

If one of the communication network devices detects a signal emitted by the terminal, then the connection is effective and therefore the FXS interface remains activated.

According to another particular aspect of the invention, the sending of the signal transmission request to the terminal is implemented periodically.

Advantageously, the gateway periodically tests whether a terminal is connected to its FXS telephony port. To do this, the request for transmission of the signal by the terminal for detection by one or more devices of the communication network, that is to say the request for the ringtone test of the landline telephone for example, is sent periodically. Thus, it is possible to periodically check whether a change has occurred since the last test (connection or disconnection of a terminal) in order to update the activation status of the interface accordingly.

For example, the request is sent each time the residential gateway is updated. In another example, the user can program the detection of the connection of a terminal to the FXS port according to a schedule which is not binding for him, for example every month, or every week, avoiding the time slots of night.

The invention also relates to a device for detecting a connection of a user's terminal to an interface of the residential gateway configured to implement the steps of the detection method as described previously. The connection device has in combination all or part of the characteristics set out throughout this document.

The invention also relates to a residential gateway of a local communication network comprising a device for detecting a connection of a terminal of a user to an interface of the residential gateway as described above.

The invention also relates to a method for managing detection of a signal emitted by a terminal a user connected to an interface of a residential gateway configured to manage a local communication network to which is connected at least one user device configured to control a receiver. This method is implemented in said at least one piece of equipment and comprises:
- receipt of a request to detect a signal emitted by the terminal,
- sending, to the gateway, of an information notification relating to detection of the signal.

The invention also relates to a device for detecting a signal emitted by a terminal configured to implement the steps of the detection management method as described above. The detection device has in combination all or part of the characteristics set out throughout this document.

The invention also relates to equipment of a local communication network comprising a device for detecting a signal emitted by a terminal as described above.

The invention also relates to a detection system a connection of a user's terminal to an interface of a residential gateway configured to manage a local communication network to which is connected at least one user equipment configured to control a receiver. This system comprises a residential gateway as described above and said at least one user equipment is equipment as described above.

The invention also relates to computer program products comprising program code instructions for implementing the methods as described above, when they are executed by a processor.

A program may use any programming language, and be in the form of source code, object code, or intermediate code between source code and object code, such as in partially compiled form, or in any other desirable form.

The invention also relates to a recording medium readable by a computer on which is recorded a computer program comprising program code instructions for the execution of the steps of the methods according to the invention as described above.

Such recording medium can be any entity or device capable of storing the program. For example, the medium may include a storage medium, such as a ROM, for example a CD ROM or a microelectronic circuit ROM, or else a magnetic recording medium, for example a mobile medium (memory card) or a hard drive or SSD.

On the other hand, such a recording medium may be a transmissible medium such as an electrical or optical signal, which may be conveyed via an electrical or optical cable, by radio or by other means, so that the program computer it contains is executable remotely. The program according to the invention can in particular be downloaded onto a network, for example the Internet network.

Alternatively, the recording medium may be an integrated circuit in which the program is incorporated, the circuit being adapted to execute or to be used in the execution of the aforementioned display control method.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the present technique is implemented by means of software and/or hardware components. From this perspective, the term "module" may correspond in this document to a software component, a hardware component or a set of hardware and software components.

A software component corresponds to one or more computer programs, one or more sub-programs of a program, or more generally to any element of a program or software capable of implementing a function or a set of functions, as described below for the module concerned. Such a software component is executed by a data processor of a physical entity (terminal, server, gateway, set-top-box, router, etc.) and is likely to access the hardware resources of this physical entity (memories, recording media, communication bus, electronic input/output cards, user interfaces, etc.). Hereafter, resources means all sets of hardware and/or software elements supporting a function or service, whether unitary or combined.

In the same way, a hardware component corresponds to any element of a hardware assembly (or hardware) able to implement a function or a set of functions, according to what is described below for the module concerned. It can be a hardware component that can be programmed or has an integrated processor for executing software, for example an integrated circuit, a smart card, a memory card, an electronic card for executing firmware ( “firmware” in English), etc.

Each component of the system described above naturally implements its own software modules.

The various embodiments mentioned above can be combined with each other for the implementation of the present technique.

The device for detecting a connection, the device for detecting a signal, the residential gateway, the equipment of the network and the corresponding computer programs mentioned above have at least the same advantages as those conferred by the method for detecting a connection of a user's terminal to an interface of a residential gateway according to the present invention.

4. Brief description of figures

Other aims, characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description, given by way of a simple illustrative example, and not limiting, in relation to the figures, among which:

• [fig. 1] : FIG. 1 illustrates an example of an environment for implementing the invention according to a particular embodiment;
• [fig. 2A ]: FIG. 2A illustrates an example of the architecture of a system for managing detection of a connection of a terminal to an interface of a management gateway of the local communication network according to an embodiment of invention;
• [fig. 2B]: FIG. 2B illustrates an example of architecture of a system for managing detection of a connection of a terminal to an interface of a local communication network management gateway according to a particular embodiment of the invention;
• [fig. 3A] and [fig.3B] : schematically illustrate examples of architectures of a residential gateway configured to manage a local area network, integrating a device for detecting a connection of a user terminal to an interface of the residential gateway according to one embodiment of the invention, of equipment connected to the local area network integrating a device for detecting a signal emitted by a terminal of a user connected to a residential gateway, according to one embodiment of the invention;
• [fig. 4]: FIG. 4 presents in the form of a flow diagram the exchanges between the management gateway of the local communication network and at least one device of the local communication network, according to an example embodiment of the invention.

5. Detailed description of the invention

The general principle of the invention is based on the detection of the connection, or the installation, of a user's terminal, such as a standard or landline telephone, on a hardware interface of the management gateway of a local communication network, using the possible interactions between the gateway and the equipment of the local communication network, such as for example a digital decoder (or "Set Top Box" STB in English), a smart phone, a tablet, etc. ...

More particularly, the invention is based on the detection by at least one of the equipment of the local communication network, of the emission of a signal, such as an audio stream, such as for example a ringtone, by the terminal of the user, at the request of the residential gateway.

In another example, the signal can be a luminous flux of the Li-Fi type or an infrared signal, a radio-frequency signal such as a beacon of the Wi-Fi or Bluetooth type, or even an ultra-sound signal, etc.

In other words, when a terminal, for example a landline telephone, is connected to the FXS hardware interface, or FXS port, a step known as the ringtone test is implemented at the request of the residential gateway. This ringtone test includes sending the terminal a request to send a signal, such as an audio stream, i.e. to send the telephone ringtone.

Alternatively, when the signal is not an audio stream, but a signal such as a luminous flux or a radio-frequency signal, this step simply corresponds to a connection test of a terminal on the FXS port of the gateway , implemented by this residential gateway. This connection test includes sending the terminal a request to send a signal, for example a luminous flux of the Li-Fi type or a radio-frequency signal of the Wi-Fi or Bluetooth type.

This signal is then detected by one of the devices of the local communication network controlling a receiver, for example a microphone in the case of a ringtone, and which, in return, confirms or not to the residential gateway the detection of the ringtone. of the telephone and therefore the effective connection of the fixed telephone to the correct port, here the FXS port of the residential gateway, and in the correct way.

Thus, the verification of the effective connection, and therefore of the correct installation, of the landline telephone on the FXS port of the residential gateway no longer relies solely on a mechanical process implemented solely within the gateway, but on a system and a detection method based on cooperation between the equipment of the local communication network and the residential gateway which manages this network. In particular, it is possible to take advantage of the presence of receivers, such as microphones, within certain equipment of the communication network to check, thanks to their capacity of reception, even recording and recognition of a signal test, for example a landline telephone ringtone test, that this terminal is properly connected to the residential gateway.

It is thus possible to improve the reliability of the detection of a terminal connected to a hardware interface of the residential gateway. In other words, the residential gateway is no longer alone in managing the detection of the installation or the connection of the landline telephone on one of these FXS interfaces by mechanical detection of the connection, but associates itself with at least one of the equipment of the communication network configured to control a receiver, thus allowing automation and simplification of the installation of the user's terminal, in particular during an installation course of the terminal. This installation guide guides the user through the connections when installing the terminal, for example by indicating which cable to use and which port of the gateway to connect it to. This installation path can for example be accessible via a software application installed on a smart phone (or smartphone) or via a web graphical interface of the operator to which the user is subscribed.

We now present, in relation to the an example of an environment for implementing the invention according to a particular embodiment.

The environment shown in notably comprises a local communication network LAN which is managed by a residential gateway GW connected to a data communication network R_EXT of an operator.

In this example, the LAN network is a home network, to which several devices are connected, such as:
- a digital decoder STB associated with a remote control 1 making it possible to remotely control the digital decoder STB,
- a smart phone 2 (or “smartphone” in English),
- a tablet 3,
- a computer 4.

The LAN communication network may include other equipment, such as for example a connected television or even connected speakers (not shown).

In one example, the digital decoder STB, the telephone 2, the tablet 3 or the computer 4 are connected to the gateway GW by a radio wireless link, for example Wi-Fi. Of course other types of wireless link can be used as Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy, Z-Wave, Zigbee, DECT-ULE etc. In another example, the digital decoder STB is connected to the gateway GW by a wired connection, such as an Ethernet connection.

The GW gateway includes different types of hardware or software interface.

By software interface is meant a programming interface allowing exchanges between several software programs. An application programming interface, often referred to as the API for "Application Programming Interface" in English, or application programming interface, defines exactly the methods by which one program can interact with another. When this action involves sending data over a network, web services come into play. A web service facilitates interactions between two devices located on a communication network.

Thus, in this example, the residential gateway GW can communicate via APIs of the web services type with the equipment of the local communication network LAN, such as for example the digital decoder STB or even the smart telephone 2 and comprises one or more interfaces FXS, or FXS port allowing it to connect directly to a standard telephone, also known as a landline TEL, to provide ringtone, voltage and dial tone.

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate examples of architecture of a system 10 for managing detection of a terminal connected to an interface of a management gateway of the local communication network according to embodiments of the invention .

This management system 10 includes, among other things, the LAN communication network management gateway GW, as well as several pieces of equipment EQ of this communication network, such as for example a digital decoder, a smart telephone, etc.

This communication network equipment is configured to control a receiver, such as a microphone for example. In other words, either the equipment comprises a receiver, or they are associated with at least one other equipment which comprises a receiver, this is the case for example when the equipment is the digital decoder STB. In the example related to the , the equipment EQ of the communication network is a digital decoder STB associated with a remote control 1. In this example, it is the remote control 1 which controls the digital decoder STB which incorporates a microphone MICRO.

Alternatively, the receiver can be any type of receiver making it possible to receive a sound or light signal such as, for example, a luminous flux of the Li-Fi type, or infrared, or even radio-frequency such as a beacon of the Wi-Fi type. or Bluetooth, or ultrasonic signal, etc.

The equipment EQ of the communication network is connected in IP (“Internet Protocol” in English or internet protocol) on the communication network LAN and is capable of communicating with the gateway GW via APIs of the web service type for example.

The communication from the gateway GW to the device(s) of the communication network LAN takes place for example via an API API_LAN_EQ. The communication from the equipment(s) of the communication network LAN to the gateway GW takes place for example via an API API_LAN_GW.

The general principle of the invention is presented in connection with the examples of FIGS. 2A and 2B.

In these examples, the user UT wishes to connect a landline telephone TEL to the local LAN communication network management gateway GW, via an FXS Int_FXS interface, or FXS port.

For this, during a step 21, the user UT conventionally plugs the male plug of the fixed telephone cable TEL, for example an RJ11 type plug, into the FXS port of the residential gateway GW.

In order to check that the connection of the fixed telephone is correct, the residential gateway GW launches a so-called connection test step, or in the present case a ringing test, that is to say that the gateway rings the phone to check that the connection is correct. In other words, when connecting the fixed telephone to the FXS port, the residential gateway GW sends in a step 24 a ringtone test request to the fixed telephone TEL, that is to say a request to send a signal, such as a particular audio stream or ringtone, such as for example a request to activate the ringtone of the landline telephone TEL.

According to one embodiment of the invention, step 24 is implemented at the request of the user during an installation phase of the terminal, such as the landline telephone TEL. To do this, the user indicates in an equipment installation management user interface on the gateway, accessible for example via a dedicated website or a software application on a smart phone, that he wishes to install his fixed telephone TEL. In response to the terminal install request, the gateway activates its FXS interface, which is disabled by default to save power, and proceeds to step 21 by plugging into the FXS port of the GW gateway.

In another embodiment, step 24 is implemented periodically, that is to say that the gateway GW periodically sends a connection test request, or ringing of the landline telephone TEL, to check the plugged into the FXS port. In other words, the gateway activates the FXS interface periodically and sends the branch test request. This step can be implemented for example with each new update of the residential gateway GW. In another example, the user can program the detection of the installation of a terminal on the FXS port according to a schedule which is not binding for him, for example every month, or every week avoiding schedules by night.

In other words, the gateway sends a request asking the fixed telephone to emit a particular signal, such as for example to play a ringtone, either on request from a user, for example via an equipment installation management application on the gateway on smart phone, either periodically according to a schedule programmed by the user or by the operator.

In a step 22, the gateway GW asks one or more equipment(s) to start a signal detection test, such as for example a ringtone listening test. For this, the gateway GW sends to at least one device EQ of the communication network LAN, such as for example the digital decoder of the , a request to detect a signal, such as an audio stream, that is to say the ringtone, emitted by the landline telephone TEL.

The equipment EQ is for example the smart telephone 2, the tablet 3 or the digital decoder STB of the local communication network presented in . In another example, the equipment can be the remote control of a connected television, or even a connected speaker comprising a voice assistant (for example Djingo® from the operator Orange or even Alexa® from Amazon).

In another example, the equipment can be the residential gateway itself, when the latter comprises a receiver capable of detecting a signal, for example a microphone capable of detecting an audio stream.

In a step 23, upon receipt of the request for detection of the signal emitted by the terminal TEL, the equipment EQ activates its receiver, like the microphone MICRO, and goes on standby to receive an audio stream. The microphone MICRO is capable of receiving the audio stream, or ring tone, emitted by the landline telephone TEL. In the example related to the , the digital decoder STB first sends a request to activate the microphone MICRO of remote control 1.

Thus, in a step 25, upon receipt of the request for detection of the signal emitted by the telephone TEL, when the equipment EQ embeds the microphone MICRO, it activates its microphone and waits for reception of the signal emitted by the landline telephone. SUCH. For example, upon detection of a sound level above a predetermined threshold, it triggers recording of the audio signal received.

In one example, the signal reception step has a duration allowing the processing, or even the recording of the sound signal of about 10 seconds or 20 seconds. When the equipment does not include a microphone, but is associated with another equipment incorporating a microphone, then the EQ equipment receives the audio stream recorded by the other associated equipment. This is the case for example of the , where the digital decoder STB receives the audio stream picked up by the microphone of remote control 1.

At the end of a predetermined period of time, such as for example a duration of approximately 10 to 20 seconds, the recorded signal is then analyzed by the equipment EQ, such as for example the digital decoder STB in a step 26, to detect the ringtone of the fixed telephone TEL.
According to a variant, the signal received by the equipment EQ is analyzed on the fly, without prior recording.

One objective of such an analysis is to inform at least one field of information relating to the detection carried out. It is therefore at least a question of deciding whether a signal has been detected or not and of valuing an indicator of confirmation or invalidation of detection of a signal accordingly. At a minimum, an invalidation indicator can take a first value, for example equal to 0, which means that no signal is detected, whereas a confirmation indicator can take a second value, distinct from the first, for example equal to 1, which means that a signal is indeed detected.

Advantageously, this analysis makes it possible to detect the presence of a particular signal. When the signal to be detected is a ringtone, such an analysis is for example based on the detection or recognition of predetermined sound patterns. To do this, such an analysis can be based on a signal processing technique known per se, making it possible to detect a known periodic signal. This prevents a false detection, due to the detection of external noises, for example a police siren, of a musical sound played by a radio receiver or a connected speaker, from unnecessarily triggering the activation of the gateway telephony interface.

In a variant, the audio stream is analyzed in the operator's R_EXT network ("cloud" or cloud in French).

In a step 27, the equipment EQ, such as for example the digital decoder STB, sends a notification to the gateway GW comprising information relating to the detection of the signal, or audio stream, emitted by the landline telephone TEL. This information can be:

• information confirming detection of the audio stream emitted by the fixed telephone TEL, when the fixed telephone is correctly connected to the FXS port of the gateway GW,
• information denying the detection of an audio stream emitted by the fixed telephone TEL, when no fixed telephone is connected to the FXS port or incorrectly connected to the FXS port.

In a step 28, once the detection has been confirmed, the gateway leaves its FXS interface active in order to be able to operate the fixed telephony service.

On the contrary, when no fixed telephone is detected, for example when it is incorrectly connected to the FXS port or because no telephone is connected to the interface, a message is sent to the user informing him that no landline TEL has been detected on the FXS port. This message is for example sent via the management user interface on which the user indicates that he wishes to install a fixed telephone TEL or via an equipment installation management application on the gateway on a smartphone. The user can therefore check the connection and possibly change the connection cable if the connector is not suitable, then ask the gateway again to carry out the ringing test of step 24, until confirmation of the detection of the telephone in the FXS port by the method according to the invention. In the same way, once the detection is confirmed, the gateway leaves its FXS interface active to be able to operate the fixed telephony service.

In order to illustrate the principle of the invention more precisely, figures 3A and 3B schematically present examples of architectures of a residential gateway GW configured to manage a local network, integrating a connection detection device DISP_GW of a terminal of a user on an interface INT_FX of the residential gateway GW (also called device for detecting a connection DISP_GW hereafter) according to one embodiment of the invention, and of an equipment EQ connected to the local area network LAN integrating a device for detecting a signal, DISP_EQ emitted by a terminal of a user connected to an interface of the gateway according to one embodiment of the invention.

The connection detection device DISP_GW and the device for detecting a signal DISP_EQ comprise a random access memory RAM (for example a RAM memory), a processing unit CPU equipped for example with a processor, and controlled by a program of computer stored in a read only memory (for example a ROM memory or a hard disk). On initialization, the code instructions of the computer program are for example loaded into the random access memory RAM before being executed by the processor of the processing unit CPU.

FIGS. 3a and 3B illustrate only one particular way, among several possible ones, of realizing the devices for detecting a branch DISP_GW and for detecting a signal DISP_EQ, so that they carry out the steps of the methods for detecting a branch of a terminal on an interface of the residential gateway and detection of a signal emitted by a terminal connected to the interface of the gateway detailed above, in relation to FIGS. 2A, 2B and 4 in its various modes of achievement. Indeed, these steps can be carried out either on a reprogrammable calculation machine (a PC computer, a DSP processor or a microcontroller) executing a program comprising a sequence of instructions, or on a dedicated calculation machine (for example a set of logic gates like an FPGA or an ASIC, or any other hardware module).

In the case where the branch detection devices DISP_GW and signal detection DISP_EQ are made with a reprogrammable calculation machine, the corresponding program (that is to say the sequence of instructions) can be stored in a removable storage medium (such as for example an SD card, a USB key, a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM) or not, this storage medium being partially or totally readable by a computer or a processor.

There illustrates in the form of a flow diagram the exchanges between the connection detection device DISP_GW of the local communication network management gateway and the device for detecting a signal emitted by a terminal connected to an interface of the gateway DISP_EQ of equipment of the local communication network, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

These devices can communicate via web service type APIs. In this example, the messages exchanged conform to the HTTP protocol. Indeed, this protocol is supported by most equipment of a local communication network, and in particular by the residential gateway which manages this network and a TV decoder (or “Set Top Box”, in English). In the example detailed below, the body of the HTTP requests and responses exchanged by the devices conforms to the JSON format (for “JavaScript Object Notation”, in English) which is a Web protocol located above HTTP, whose textual data format is derived from the object notation of the JavaScript language.

However, the invention is not limited to this example. Since the equipment is linked by an IP connection, an alternative is to create an IP connection interface (for "socket") between the equipment and have them communicate according to a proprietary protocol above the IP layer.

For example, the request for detection of a signal emitted by the terminal is transmitted to the equipment EQ, for example the decoder, in the following form:

HTTPbody :

{"service":"setTopBox.Device.Control",

"method":"startDetection",

"parameters": {“applicationName”:RingingTest,

}

}

HTTP reply body :

{"status":0,"data":{“contextID”:<context id>}}

In this example, the user UT connects a landline telephone TEL to the local LAN communication network management gateway GW, via an FXS Int_FXS interface, or FXS port of this gateway.

In a step 401, in order to verify that the connection of the fixed telephone is correct, the connection detection device DISP_GW of the residential gateway GW sends a request for detection of a signal, such as an audio stream, emitted by the telephone sets TEL to the device for detecting a DISP_EQ signal from at least one EQ device of the LAN communication network.

In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, this signal detection test is for example a ringtone listening test, implemented at the request of the user who sends, for example via a installation on his smartphone, a connection test request, such as a ringtone test, to the GW home gateway.

In another example, signal detection testing is implemented periodically on a scheduled schedule.

This request is for example included in a message of the type: HTTP POST StartDetection.

In a step 402, upon receipt of the signal detection request transmitted by the telephone TEL, the signal detection device DISP_EQ sends a response notification to the connection detection device DISP_GW comprising a status informing it that it is ready for the ringtone listening test, ie it is ready to receive and detect the audio stream emitted by the user terminal, such as the landline telephone TEL.

This request is for example in the form: HTTP 200 OK.

In a step 403, the branch detection device DISP_GW sends a request to the signal detection device DISP_EQ to start reception of a signal, such as an audio stream.

This request is for example in the form: HTTP POST GetEvent().

In a step 404, the device for detecting a signal DISP_EQ activates the receiver, such as for example a microphone, EQ equipment or associated equipment to initiate reception of the audio stream.

In a step 405, the connection detection device DISP_GW commands the gateway to start a ringing test, that is to say that the gateway rings the telephone several times to check that the connection is correct. In other words, the residential gateway GW sends a request to the fixed telephone TEL to transmit an audio stream, that is to say to activate the ringtone of the fixed telephone TEL.

As described previously, the gateway sends this request to the fixed telephone, for example on request from the user, or periodically according to a programmed schedule.

In a step 406, the signal detection device DISP_EQ analyzes the audio stream.

In a step 407, the signal detection device DISP_EQ sends the connection detection device DISP_GW a notification comprising information relating to the detection of the audio stream emitted by the landline telephone TEL. This information can be:

• information confirming detection of the audio stream emitted by the fixed telephone TEL, when the fixed telephone is correctly connected to the FXS port of the gateway GW,
• information denying detection of the audio stream emitted by the landline telephone TEL, when no landline telephone is connected to the FXS port or incorrectly connected to the FXS port.

This request is for example transmitted in a message of the type: HTTP 200 OK SendRingingDetectionReport().

For example :

HTTP 200 OK:

{"ContextID":ID,"Event":{

"method":"SendRingingDetectionReport",

"parameters": {“TestResult”: “1”

} } }

The invention which has just been described in its various embodiments has numerous advantages. It allows, thanks to the cooperation between the equipment of the local communication network LAN with the gateway GW, to reliably detect the connection of a terminal, for example a landline telephone, to the FXS port of the gateway GW.

On the basis of this reliable detection of the effective connection of a terminal at the level of the FXS port of the residential gateway GW, the invention proposes to activate the FXS interface of the gateway in order to make the telephony service operational. Otherwise, when it has been established that the user does not need to use a telephone service, since he has not connected a telephone to the gateway's FXS interface, the latter is disabled to limit the energy consumption of the gateway. Thus, only the interfaces of the residential gateway actually used are activated, which makes it possible to optimize its electrical consumption.

Claims (13)

Method for detecting a connection of a terminal (TEL) of a user (UT) to an interface (Int_FXS) of a residential gateway (GW) configured to manage a local communication network (LAN) to which the at least one user equipment (EQ) configured to control a receiver, said method being implemented in said gateway (GW) and comprising:
- sending (21) to said terminal (TEL) a request to send a signal,
characterized in that said method further comprises:
- sending (22) to said at least one piece of equipment (EQ) a request for detection of said signal emitted by said terminal (TEL),
- A reception (27), from said at least one piece of equipment (EQ), of an information notification relating to a detection of said emitted signal. Detection method according to Claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises, prior to said sending to said terminal (TEL) of said request to send said signal, an activation of said interface (Int_FXS). Detection method according to any one of Claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the said information notification relating to the said detection of the said transmitted signal comprises:
- information confirming detection of said signal emitted by said terminal (TEL), when the terminal (TEL) is correctly connected to said interface (Int_FXS) of said residential gateway (GW),
- information confirming the detection of said signal emitted by said terminal (TEL), when the terminal (TEL) is connected incorrectly or when no terminal is connected to said interface (Int_FXS) of said residential gateway (GW). Detection method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said sending to said terminal (TEL) of said request to send said signal is implemented on receipt of a request to install said terminal (TEL ) by said user. Detection method according to Claims 3 and 4 , characterized in that it comprises sending to said user via a user interface a message informing him that no terminal has been detected on said interface, when said information notification includes said detection invalidation information of said transmitted signal. Detection method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said sending to said terminal (TEL) of said request to send said signal is implemented periodically. Device (DISP_GW) for detecting a connection of a terminal (TEL) of a user (UT) to an interface (Int_FXS) of a residential gateway (GW) configured to manage a local communication network (LAN) to which is connected to at least one user equipment (EQ) configured to control a receiver, characterized in that said device is capable of:
- send to said at least one piece of equipment (EQ) a request for detection of a signal emitted by said terminal (TEL),
- receiving from said at least one piece of equipment (EQ) an information notification relating to a detection of said signal. Residential gateway (GW) of a local communication network (LAN) configured to manage a local communication network (LAN) to which at least one piece of equipment (EQ) is connected, said gateway being characterized in that it comprises a branch detection (DISP_GW) according to claim 7. Management process detection of a signal emitted by a terminal (TEL) of a user (UT) connected to an interface (Int_FXS) of a residential gateway (GW) configured to manage a local communication network (LAN) to which is connected at least one user equipment (EQ) configured to control a receiver,
characterized in thatsaid method is implemented in said at least one piece of equipment (EQ) and comprises:
- receipt of a request to detect a signal emitted by said terminal (TEL),
- sending, to said gateway (GW), an information notification relating to detection of said signal. Device for detecting a signal (DISP_EQ) emitted by a terminal (TEL) of a user (UT) connected to an interface (Int_FXS) of a residential gateway (GW) configured to manage a local communication network (LAN) to which is connected at least one user equipment (EQ) configured to control a receiver,characterized in thatsaid device is suitable for:
- receive a request for detection of a signal emitted by said terminal (TEL),
- send, to said gateway (GW), an information notification relating to detection of said signal. Equipment (EQ) configured to connect to a local communication network (LAN) managed by a residential gateway (PAS), characterized in that it comprises a device for detecting a signal according to claim 10. Computer program product comprising program code instructions for implementing a method according to any one of claims 1 to 6 and 9, when executed by a processor. Detection system (10) of a connection of a terminal (TEL) of a user (UT) to an interface (Int_FXS) of a residential gateway (GW) configured to manage a local communication network (LAN) to which at least one piece of equipment is connected user (EQ) configured to control a receiver,characterized in thatsaid system comprises a residential gateway according to claim 8 and in that said at least one user equipment (EQ) is equipment according to claim 11.