System and method for resource selection during group communication broadcast

• US 10,110,669 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2017
• Issued: 10/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kodaypak, Rajendra Prasad
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Jae Y
• Application Number:
  US15/584,536
• Publication Number:
  US 20170237808A1
• Time in Patent Office: 539 Days
• 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 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/101 based on network conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1034 Reaction to server failures by a load balancer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/04 Wireless resource allocation

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, receiving a request to initiate a multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS) to wirelessly distribute media content to mobile user equipment within a target geographical region using a common radio channel. An efficiency metric is obtained, in response to the request, for each broadcast multicast service center (BMSC). The efficiency metric is evaluated for each of the BMSCs and one of the BMSCs is selected based on the evaluation result. Establishment of an MBMS bearer service is facilitated using the selected BMSC, and a first media content item is disseminated to the mobile user equipment within the target geographical region using the common radio channel by way of the MBMS bearer service. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a processing system including a processor; and

a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising;

determining a plurality of network configurations providing connectivity to a plurality of broadcast multicast service centers (BMSCs);

determining an efficiency metric for each of the plurality of network configurations, wherein the efficiency metric is based on measured parameters related to the BMSCs;

selecting a BMSC of the plurality of BMSCs of the plurality of network configurations to obtain a selected BMSC based on the determining of the efficiency metric; and

initiating a multimedia broadcast multicast (MBMS) service using the selected BMSC, wherein content is distributed to mobile user equipment by way of the MBMS service.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the content is disseminated over a network, and wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a request to initiate the MBMS service; and

identifying criteria, based on the request, for selecting candidate group communication service (GCS) nodes on the network,

wherein the selecting the BMSC comprises selecting a GCS node from the candidate GCS nodes.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the content is distributed within a target geographical region using a common radio channel.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the selecting the BMSC comprises determining whether the efficiency metric satisfies an efficiency criterion.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise evaluating the efficiency metric for each of the plurality of BMSCs to obtain an evaluation result, wherein the efficiency metric comprises a broadcast efficiency metric.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the plurality of BMSCs are accessible by way of a network, and wherein the operations further comprise:

detecting a failure of the network, the selected BMSC, or both; and

responsive to the detecting the failure;

selecting an alternative BMSC of the plurality of BMSCs to obtain a selected alternative BMSC based on the evaluation result; and

initiating an alternative MBMS service using the selected alternative BMSC.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the selecting the BMSC comprises selecting a subset of the plurality of BMSCs to obtain a selected subset of BMSCs based on the evaluation result,

wherein the initiating the MBMS service comprises facilitating a plurality of MBMS services using the selected subset of BMSCs.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the efficiency metric comprises one of resource utilization metrics, associated wireless serving areas, proximity to a group communication service processor providing a content item, loading metrics, latency factors, round trip time latency measurements, or any combination thereof.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the efficiency metric further comprises characteristics of network connections of the connectivity to the plurality of BMSCs.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the connectivity comprises network connections between the plurality of BMSCs and a group communication service application server (GCS-AS) through a signaling controller.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the operations further comprise receiving a request from the GCS-AS to initiate the MBMS service.

12. A method comprising:

determining, by a processing system including a processor, a plurality of network configurations comprising network connectivity to a plurality of broadcast multicast service centers (BMSCs);

determining, by the processing system, an efficiency metric for each of the plurality of network configurations, wherein the efficiency metric is based on measured parameters related to the plurality of BMSCs;

selecting, by the processing system, a BMSC of the plurality of BMSCs to obtain a selected BMSC based on the determining of the efficiency metric, wherein the selecting comprises determining whether the efficiency metric satisfies an efficiency criterion; and

initiating, by the processing system, a multimedia broadcast multicast (MBMS) service using the selected BMSC, wherein content is distributed to mobile user equipment within a target geographical region using a common radio channel by way of the MBMS service.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising evaluating, by the processing system, the efficiency metric for each of the plurality of BMSCs to obtain an evaluation result, wherein the efficiency metric comprises a broadcast efficiency metric.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the plurality of BMSCs are accessible by way of a network, and further comprising:

detecting, by the processing system, a failure of the network, the selected BMSC, or both; and

responsive to the detecting the failure;

selecting, by the processing system, an alternative BMSC of the plurality of BMSCs to obtain a selected alternative BMSC based on the evaluation result; and

initiating, by the processing system, an alternative MBMS service using the selected alternative BMSC.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the efficiency metric comprises one of resource utilization metrics, associated wireless serving areas, proximity to a group communication service processor providing a content item, loading metrics, latency factors, round trip time latency measurements, or any combination thereof.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the efficiency metric further comprises characteristics of network connections of the plurality of network configurations to the plurality of BMSCs.

17. A non-transitory, machine-readable storage medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising:

determining a plurality of network configurations comprising a plurality of network connections to a plurality of broadcast multicast service centers (BMSCs);

determining an efficiency metric for each of the plurality of network configurations, wherein the efficiency metric is based on measured parameters related to the plurality of BMSCs;

selecting a BMSC of the plurality of BMSCs to obtain a selected BMSC based on the determining of the efficiency metric; and

initiating a multimedia broadcast multicast (MBMS) service using the selected BMSC, wherein content is distributed to mobile user equipment within a target geographical region using a common radio channel by way of the MBMS service.

18. The non-transitory, machine-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the selecting the BMSC comprises determining whether the efficiency metric satisfies an efficiency criterion.

19. The non-transitory, machine-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise evaluating the efficiency metric for each of the plurality of BMSCs to obtain an evaluation result, wherein the efficiency metric comprises a broadcast efficiency metric.

20. The non-transitory, machine-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the efficiency metric comprises one of resource utilization metrics, associated wireless serving areas, proximity to a group communication service processor providing a content item, loading metrics, latency factors, round trip time latency measurements, or any combination thereof.