# US 2018/0027097 A1 · Method for selecting network connection concentrators

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- Number: US 2018/0027097 A1
- Document ID: US20180027097A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/550,964
- Filed: 2016-02-01
- Published: 2018-01-25
- Earliest claimed: 2015-02-13
- Assignees: Orange
- Applicants: Orange
- Inventors: Mohamed Boucadair; Christian Jacquenet
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180027097A1

## CPC

- H04L 69/14: Multichannel or multilink protocols
- H04L 12/5691: {Access to open networks; Ingress point selection, e.g. ISP selection}
- H04L 45/124: {using a combination of metrics}
- H04L 45/245: {Link aggregation, e.g. trunking}
- H04L 69/16: Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
- Y02D 30/50: in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)
- Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE

## Abstract

A selection method for selecting network connection concentrators for a given set of M≧1 communication paths usable by a communicating device. Each respective interface of the communicating device is connected to a respective path. The method includes the following acts: a) identifying a set (P1, P2, . . . , PN) of N≧2 concentrators situated in at least one network to which the communicating device is connected, each concentrator making it possible to aggregate connections using a plurality of paths suitable for being used by the communicating device; b) obtaining the value of at least one quality of service parameter QoS(i,j) for at least one path i, where i=1, . . . , M, and for concentrators Pj reachable from the communicating device via the path i; and c) selecting at least one concentrator from the set on the basis of the quality of service values that are obtained. The method is applicable to the multipath TCP (MPTCP) protocol.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A selection method comprising:
selecting network connection concentrators for a given set of M≧1 communication paths usable by a communicating device, each respective interface of said communicating device being connected to a respective path, wherein selecting comprises the following steps implemented by the communicating device:
a) identifying a set (P1, P2, . . . , PN) of N≧2 concentrators situated in at least one network to which the communicating device is connected, each concentrator making it possible to aggregate connections using a plurality of paths suitable for being used by the communicating device;
b) obtaining the value of at least one quality of service parameter QoS(i,j) for at least one path i, where i=1, . . . , M, and for concentrators Pj reachable from the communicating device via said path i; and
c) selecting at least one concentrator from said set on the basis of said quality of service values that are obtained.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The selection method according to claim 1, wherein during said step c), the selected concentrator Pk(i) is the concentrator for which the quality of service value QoS(i,k(i)) is optimal in comparison with the quality of service values QoS(i,j), where j≠k, of the other concentrators that have been reached from the communicating device via the path i.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The selection method according to claim 1, wherein during step c), a single concentrator Pk is selected for all of said M paths, this concentrator Pk being the concentrator for which the quality of service value QoS(i,k) is optimal in comparison with the quality of service value QoS(i,j), where j≠k, of the other concentrators that have been reached from the communicating device, and for the largest number of paths among the M paths.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The selection method according to claim 1, wherein during said step b), said quality of service values are obtained by using test messages passing via said paths.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The selection method according to claim 1, wherein said multipath connection implements the multipath TCP (MPTCP) protocol.

### Claim 6

A communicating device comprising:
a processor; and
a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon, which when executed by the processor configure the processor to perform acts comprising:
identifying a set (P1, P2, . . . , PN) of N≧2 concentrators situated in at least one network to which the communicating device is connected, each concentrator making it possible to aggregate connections using a plurality of paths suitable for being used by the communicating device;
obtaining the value of at least one quality of service parameter QoS(i,j), for at least one path i, where i=1, . . . , M from a given set of M≧1 communication paths usable by said communicating device, and for concentrators Pj reachable from the communicating device via said path i, each respective interface of the communicating device being connected to a respective path; and
selecting at least one concentrator from said set on the basis of said quality of service values that are obtained.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The communicating device according to claim 6, wherein the device comprises a client device.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The communicating device according to claim 6, wherein the device comprises a proxy device suitable for implementing a multipath connection and connected to a client device.

### Claim 9

(canceled)

### Claim 10

A system for selecting network connection concentrators, the system comprising:
a communicating device comprising:
a processor; and
a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon, which when executed by the processor configure the communicating device to perform acts comprising:
identifying a set (P1, P2, . . . , PN) of N≧2 concentrators situated in at least one network to which the communicating device is connected, each concentrator making it possible to aggregate connections using a plurality of paths suitable for being used by the communicating device; and
obtaining the value of at least one quality of service parameter QoS(i,j), for at least one path i, where i=1, . . . , M from a given set of M≧1 communication paths usable by said communicating device, and for concentrators Pj reachable from the communicating device via said path i, each respective interface of the communicating device being connected to a respective path; and
a server (CSS) for selecting network connection concentrators and having means for:
selecting at least one concentrator from said set on the basis of said quality of service values that are obtained; and
for at least the path i, assisting in redirecting the traffic issued by or sent to the communicating device towards said selected concentrator.

### Claim 11

A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising a computer program stored thereon including computer program code instructions for executing steps of a selection method when the instructions are execute by a processor of a communicating device, wherein the method comprises:
selecting network connection concentrators for a given set of M≧1 communication paths usable by the communicating device, each respective interface of said communicating device being connected to a respective path, wherein selecting comprises:
a) identifying a set (P1, P2, . . . , PN) of N≧2 concentrators situated in at least one network to which the communicating device is connected, each concentrator making it possible to aggregate connections using a plurality of paths suitable for being used by the communicating device;
b) obtaining the value of at least one quality of service parameter QoS(i,j) for at least one path i, where i=1, . . . , M, and for concentrators Pj reachable from the communicating device via said path i; and
c) selecting at least one concentrator from said set on the basis of said quality of service values that are obtained.

### Claim 12

(canceled)