Wireless telecommunications system using multislot channel allocation for multimedia broadcast/multicast service

• US 20030174645A1
• Filed: 03/13/2002
• Published: 09/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WSOU Investments, LLC (WSOU Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Paratainen, Janne, Leppisaari, Arto, Jokinen, Harri
• Granted Patent: US 6,795,419 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/229
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/22 Negotiating communication rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0219 where the power saving management affects multiple terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0446 Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/30 Resource management for broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method is disclosed for operating a wireless telecommunication system for providing a Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service MBMS broadcast transmission from a network operator (10) to a mobile station (100). A first step determines a minimum bit rate requirement to broadcast a MBMS message and a number of radio blocks per time period that are required to satisfy the bit rate requirement. A second step allocates the determined number of radio blocks in accordance with a multislot transmission technique, wherein a plurality of time slots are used per frame, such that the mobile station is provided with at least one idle radio block between two active MBMS transmission periods. The at least one idle radio block may occur between two active MBMS radio blocks. A third step transmits the determined radio block allocation to the mobile station. In the preferred embodiment the step of determining may include a consideration of radio channel conditions and a multislot class of the mobile station. In one embodiment the step of allocating attempts to maximize the number of idle radio blocks and the mobile station, during the idle radio block, performs at least one of entering a reduced power consumption mode of operation, or entering a neighbor channel measurement mode of operation. In another embodiment the step of allocating allocates radio blocks so as to complete the data transmission within the shortest period of time.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting data to a mobile station, comprising:

determining a minimum bit rate requirement to transmit the data to the mobile station;

determining a number of radio blocks per time period that are required to satisfy the bit rate requirement; and

allocating the determined number of radio blocks in accordance with a multislot transmission technique wherein a plurality of time slots are used per frame, such that the mobile station is provided with at least one idle radio block between two active transmission periods.

2. A method as in claim 1, where the step of determining the minimum bit rate requirement comprises a consideration of radio channel conditions.

3. A method as in claim 1, where the data comprises video data.

4. A method as in claim 1, where the data is transmitted as a Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service MBMS broadcast transmission.

5. A method as in claim 1, where the mobile station enters a reduced power consumption mode of operation during the at least one idle radio block.

6. A method as in claim 1, where the mobile station enters a neighbor cell measurement mode of operation during the at least one idle radio block.

7. A method as in claim 1, where the step of allocating operates to allocate radio blocks so as to complete the data transmission within the shortest period of time.

8. A method as in claim 1, where the step of allocating comprises signaling the mobile station to identify the radio block allocation.

9. A method as in claim 1, where the step of determining the number of radio blocks comprises considering a minimum multislot class of a plurality of mobile stations receiving the transmitted data.

10. A wireless telecommunication system comprising a network component and at least one mobile station, said network component comprising control means for determining a minimum bit rate requirement to transmit data to the mobile station and for determining a number of radio blocks per time period that are required to satisfy the bit rate requirement, said control means further operating for allocating the determined number of radio blocks in accordance with a multislot transmission technique, wherein a plurality of time slots are used per frame, such that the mobile station is provided with at least one idle radio block between two active transmission periods.

11. A wireless telecommunication system as in claim 10, where said control means, when determining the minimum bit rate requirement, considers radio channel conditions.

12. A wireless telecommunication system as in claim 10, where the data comprises video data.

13. A wireless telecommunication system as in claim 10, where the data is transmitted as a Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service MBMS broadcast transmission.

14. A wireless telecommunication system as in claim 10, where said mobile station is responsive to an occurrence of said at least one idle radio block for entering a reduced power consumption mode of operation.

15. A wireless telecommunication system as in claim 10, where said mobile station is responsive to an occurrence of said at least one idle radio block for entering a neighbor cell measurement mode of operation.

16. A wireless telecommunication system as in claim 10, where said control means, when allocating the determined number of radio blocks, operates to allocate the radio blocks so as to complete the data transmission within the shortest period of time.

17. A wireless telecommunication system as in claim 10, where said control means further operates to signal said mobile station to identify the radio block allocation, and where said mobile station stores the signaled radio block allocation in a mobile station memory.

18. A wireless telecommunication system as in claim 10, where said control means, when determining the number of radio blocks, considers a minimum multislot class of a plurality of mobile stations receiving the transmitted data.

19. A method for operating a wireless telecommunication system comprising a network operator and at least one mobile station for providing a Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service MBMS broadcast transmission from said network operator to said mobile station:

comprising;

determining a minimum bit rate requirement to broadcast a MBMS message and a number of radio blocks per time period that are required to satisfy the bit rate requirement;

allocating the determined number of radio blocks in accordance with a multislot transmission technique, wherein a plurality of time slots are used per frame, such that said mobile station is provided with at least one idle radio block between two active transmission periods; and

transmitting the determined radio block allocation to said mobile station.

20. A method as in claim 19, where the step of determining comprises a consideration of radio channel conditions and a minimum multislot class of a plurality of mobile stations receiving the broadcast MBMS message.

21. A method as in claim 19, where the step of allocating comprises maximizing the number of idle radio blocks, and where said mobile station, in response to an occurrence of the at least one idle radio block, performs at least one of entering a reduced power consumption mode of operation during the at least one idle radio block, or entering a neighbor channel measurement mode of operation during the at least one idle radio block.

23. A method as in claim 19, where the step of allocating operates to allocate radio blocks so as to complete the data transmission within the shortest period of time.

24. A method for operating a wireless telecommunication system comprising a network operator and at least one mobile station for providing a Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service MBMS broadcast transmission from said network operator to said mobile station:

comprising;

determining a number of MBMS radio blocks that are required to satisfy a minimum bit rate requirement for the MBMS broadcast transmission;

allocating the determined number of MBMS radio blocks in accordance with a multislot transmission technique that assigns a plurality of time slots per TDMA frame for transmitting a MBMS broadcast message such that there is at least one idle radio block between two active MBMS transmission periods;

transmitting information that describes the TDMA time slot assignment to said mobile station; and

during reception of the broadcast MBMS message by said mobile station, entering a reduced power consumption mode of operation during the at least one idle radio block.

25. A method for operating a wireless telecommunication system comprising a network operator and at least one mobile station for providing a Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service MBMS broadcast transmission from said network operator to said mobile station:

comprising;

determining a number of MBMS radio blocks that are required to satisfy a minimum bit rate requirement for the MBMS broadcast transmission;

allocating the determined number of MBMS radio blocks in accordance with a multislot transmission technique that assigns a plurality of time slots per TDMA frame for transmitting a MBMS broadcast message such that there is at least one idle radio block between two active MBMS transmission periods;

transmitting information that describes the TDMA time slot assignment to said mobile station; and

during reception of the broadcast MBMS message by said mobile station, performing a neighbor cell measurement operation during the at least one idle radio block.

26. A method for operating a wireless telecommunication system comprising a network operator and at least one mobile station for providing a Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service MBMS broadcast transmission from said network operator to said mobile station:

comprising;

determining a number of MBMS radio blocks that are required to satisfy a minimum bit rate requirement for the MBMS broadcast transmission; and

allocating the determined number of MBMS radio blocks in accordance with a multislot transmission technique that assigns a plurality of time slots per TDMA frame for transmitting a MBMS broadcast message such that there is at least one idle radio block between two MBMS radio blocks.

27. A mobile station operable in a wireless telecommunication system comprising a network operator providing a Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service MBMS broadcast transmission service, said mobile station comprising a radio frequency transceiver and a memory coupled to a data processor, said data processor being responsive to an assignment of MBMS radio blocks received through said radio frequency transceiver for storing the assignment in said memory, the MBMS radio blocks being assigned in accordance with a multislot technique so that when a MBMS broadcast message is transmitted to said mobile station there is at least one idle radio block following an active MBMS transmission period, said controller being responsive to the stored assignment, during reception of the broadcast MBMS message by said mobile station, for performing at least one of a neighbor cell measurement operation during the at least one idle radio block, or for entering a reduced power consumption mode of operation during the at least one idle radio block.