So I need to go over the Internet. I heard that I can stay in GPRS network?
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how to build a server that must recive files (binary) from mobile phones (via GPRS)
Hi,
I need to build a server that will be able to get binary files from mobile phones via GPRS.
The server can be accessed by 1000's of mobile phone.
Do I need a GPRS gateway?
Do I need a static IP?
Can you please help me to define an overall strategy?
Thank you
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Answers
Thank you for your responses.
I must to add some details:
- in fact we have to use GPRS (no wifi available for those mobile phone).
- we are using a bluetooth device that will transfer a file to a server via bluetooth to mobile and gprs to server.
we would like also to get the phone number used for this gprs connection. do you know a way to get this information?
>>we would like also to get the phone number used for this gprs connection. do you know a way to get this information?
let me try to provide some help. gprs connections do not have a phone number associated with them, it is a packet data connection and does not use a phone number. on the mobile device there is an IMEI number which is the unique number associated with the *handset* itself, there is the IMSI number which is stored on the SIM and there is the phone number (more than one in the case of alternate line service) which the subscriber has. which number do you need? are you actually writing an application for the mobile side as well which will send the file or will this be done using something like the email client on the phone?
>>As I said, I know that I will need a static IP.
Not necessarily, your server could have a public dynamic IP address and the mobile phones could use a known domain name, this is possible using a service like:
http://www.dyndns.com/serv
Even if you have a static IP address, the mobile phones should use a domain name and not a raw IP address for future compatibility.
>>But I can stay in the GPRS network with a modem connected to 1 propvider or to be in internet network. I do not know what will be the best for us?
You can't stay inside the "GPRS network", this is managed by your mobile operator and where the IP traffic is routed is not up to the mobile client, so I'm not sure why you are concerned by this, is it for security reasons?
Thank you logic_chopper,
Tel Number: We are developing a Bluetooth device that will send a file to a server via Bluetooth to mobile and gprs to a server. We would like to get the Telephone number in order to call back person after reception of the file. So I need the phone number and not the other numbers (IMEI, IMSI)
GPRS: I would prefer to stay in GPRS for security reason (no firewalll...) and speed. It is not mandatory.
there is an AT command for this "AT+CNUM" which will return the subscribers number which you can send to the mobile phone from your bluetooth device (are u using AT commands or some other method of communication with the phone? e.g. how are you geting the phone to establish a PDP context so u can transfer the file?) . however the AT+CNUM command depends upon the mobile platform that is being used and also the type of operator SIM card that is being used so it may not work in all circumstances. so what mobile phone model are you using for your gprs connection or can it be any?
sorry for the delay. i would say that the most technical issue you have is how to determine what phone number the mobile phone has that your bluetooth device is connected to. the other issue of sending a file is reasonably straight forward as your bluetooth device will be using TCP/IP to send the file to your server.
the reason why i was asking which type of model u are using is because not all AT commands are supported equally well on each device, this makes the problem more complicated. here's what i'm thinking; some AT commands like AT+CNUM will allow you to find out what the phone number of the subscriber is so you can phone them back, however a lot of phones will not return the phone number (for a variety of reasons) so for those phones another solution is needed. you could use AT commands to send an SMS to your server after the file has been uploaded, that way u would have the phone number of the subscriber so that u could call them back. basically these solutions depend upon your requirements though. how critical is it that you call the subscriber back after the file has been uploaded? do you need to call all the subscribers back or just a subset? because for example SMS is not guaranteed delivery so your requirements will affect the technical solution selected.
Thank you for this good answer.
Yes we need to contact every person loading the file to the server (so we cannot limit ourself to some specific mobile phone type).
we plan to combile technical & commercial solution:
-1- After pairing operation we ask the user to dial his phone number. We will assume that this first dialed number is the user phone number.
-2- the BT device will use the AT command (you discrib) to send a SMS to the server with the first dialed number, the IME and the BT device ID as the SMS body.
This solution will increase the success:
-1- for user that mask their phone number
-2- for SMS that my come late.
What do you think about this solution.?
>>-1- After pairing operation we ask the user to dial his phone number. We will assume that this first dialed number is the user phone number
Could you re-explain this point to me please, I'm not sure what you mean. Do you mean that the BT device has a screen and a keypad and the user will enter their number on this after pairing? I'm going to assume this is what you mean.
There are a few problems, like for example the user may change their SIM card in which case their number may change. Can you tell me, does your BT device have some non-volatile storage to store the users phone number? What is the frequency of the file being uploaded to the server, is it once a day, once a week, once a month, etc?
As a strategy and to make your device as intelligent as possible II can outline the following:
Use case: Phone number retrieved from AT commands
Description: This use case is for the case whereby the number can be retrieved from the phone by AT commands
1. BT Device pairs with phone
2. BT Device tried to find out the phone number using AT commands, if this fails then go to UC: IMSI number retrieved
3. BT Device stores the phone number retrieved from the AT commands
4. When the BT device uploads the file to the server it also sends the phone number (which it has stored) thereby allowing you to call the user back
5. When the BT device is turned on, every time it must retrieve the phone number via AT commands and if its different to the one that it has stored then the BT device overwrites this old number with the new one in its storage.
Use case: IMSI number retrieved
Description: This use case is for the case whereby the phone number cannot be retrieved but the IMSI can be retrieved by AT commands. BT device has been paired.
1. Retrieve the IMSI via AT commands and store it in the BT device. If this fails then go to UC Identify phone number.
2. The BT device uses AT commands to send the BT device ID to the server, now the server has a mapping from the BT device ID to phone number.
3. When a file is uploaded, the BT device sends through its ID to the server as well so that you know which user to call back (as the server has the mapping from BT device ID to phone number).
4. Every time the BT device is turned on, it retrieves the (of course it first tries to retrieve the phone number) IMSI via AT commands and if its different then is assumes that the number has changed and resends the SMS from step 2.
Use case: Identify phone number
Description: This use case is for the case whereby the phone number and IMSI cannot be retrieved from the phone. The BT device is already paired
1. The phone sends an SMS with its BT device ID in the body to the server, the server then keeps a mapping from BT device ID to phone number.
2. When the BT device sends the file to the server it also sends the BT device ID thereby allowing you to call the user back.
Now the issue with this last use case is that the user may change their SIM card and phone number. To solve this you could either send an SMS after each file upload (dependent upon the frequency of uploads and how many users you have) or it could send an SMS periodically to ensure the phone number/BT ID mapping on the server is up to date.
For the strategy above to work, this means at a minimum is that your BT device can only work with phones that support retrieving their phone number via AT commands OR that the phone supports AT commands to send an SMS. I think that's fair enough as you already have the requirement that the phone must support DUN. As an aside to this, some of these rules could be specified in a configuration file which your BT device can download (assuming you have non-volatile storage) at least then you'd have the flexibility to update the rules for phone number identification if you needed.
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by: NagavaliPosted on 2009-08-05 at 01:26:46ID: 25021154
Hi,
You will need a machine that exposes a public IP address and is available to access from Internet as server. Then the mobile phones can use that IP address and transfer the binary data.
The way the data connection is established is upto the phones, either over GSM/GPRS.
Regards,
Nagavali