Communication method for MBMS and apparatus using same

• US 10,097,326 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2015
• Issued: 10/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Ahn, Joonkui, Yi, Yunjung, Yang, Suckchel
• Primary Examiner(s): Jaroenchonwanit, Bunjob
• Application Number:
  US15/322,710
• Publication Number:
  US 20170155485A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,196 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0048 Allocation of pilot signals, i.e. of signals known to the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/005 of common pilots, i.e. pilots destined for multiple users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0005 Control or signalling for completing the hand-off
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0007 for multicast or broadcast services, e.g. MBMS multicast or broadcast application services H04W4/06; resource management for broadcast services H04W72/30; connection management for selective distribution or broadcast H04W76/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/04 Reselecting a cell layer in multi-layered cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0446 Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames

Abstract

Provided are a communication method and an apparatus for a multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS) in a wireless communication system. A wireless device determines, from among a plurality of subframes, a shared multimedia broadcast multicast service single frequency network (MBSFN) subframe utilized in a plurality of MBSFN regions, and receives a shared MBSFN reference signal (RS) from within the shared MBSFN subframe.

Claims

1. A communication method for a multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS) in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

determining, by a wireless device served by a primary cell and a secondary cell, a common Multimedia Broadcast service Single Frequency Network (MBSFN) subframe commonly used in a plurality of MBSFN areas among a plurality of subframes,

wherein the secondary cell is configured as a dedicated MBSFN cell;

receiving, by the wireless device, a common MBSFN reference signal (RS) in the common MBSFN subframe, the common MBSFN RS for estimating a channel for the plurality of MBSFN areas; and

receiving, by the wireless device, a common synchronization signal (SS) for acquiring initial time synchronization with the dedicated MBSFN cell in the common MBSFN subframe if the wireless device does not maintain time synchronization with the dedicated MBSFN cell through the primary cell.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the dedicated MBSFN cell is activated or deactivated by the primary cell.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the wireless device, reception information of the common MBSFN RS through the primary cell.

4. An apparatus served by a primary cell and a secondary cell for a multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS) in a wireless communication system, the apparatus comprising:

a radio frequency (RF) unit that transmits and receives a radio signal; and

a processor operatively coupled to the RF unit and configured to;

determine a common Multimedia Broadcast service Single Frequency Network (MBSFN) subframe commonly used in a plurality of MBSFN areas among a plurality of subframes,

wherein the secondary cell is configured as a dedicated MBSFN cell;

control the RF unit to receive a common MBSFN reference signal (RS) in the common MBSFN subframe, the common MBSFN RS for estimating a channel for the plurality of MBSFN areas; and

control the RF unit to receive a common synchronization signal (SS) for acquiring initial time synchronization with the dedicated MBSFN cell in the common MBSFN subframe if the wireless device does not maintain time synchronization with the dedicated MBSFN cell through the primary cell.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the dedicated MBSFN cell is activated or deactivated by the primary cell.