Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving MBMS packet data and control information

• US 20050041681A1
• Filed: 08/19/2004
• Published: 02/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Chun, Sung Duck, Lee, Young Dae, Yi, Seung June
• Granted Patent: US 7,706,318 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/437
• 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 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal

Abstract

A method and apparatus is provided that enables a mobile terminal which cannot simultaneously receive two physical channels to receive a service that utilizes two physical channels. In one embodiment, the service data and control information are transmitted on separate physical channels in a non-simultaneous manner such that the physical channel on which the data is transmitted includes an indication of when control information is available on the other physical channel on which the control information is transmitted, thereby facilitating the mobile terminal switching between the two physical channels in order to receive the service data and control information. In another embodiment, the service data and control information are transmitted on a single physical channel, thereby precluding the need for the mobile terminal to switch between two physical channels in order to receive the service data and control information.

Claims

1. A method of receiving a service in a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

receiving data and a control information indicator via a first channel, the data associated with the service and the control information indicator indicating the transmission of control information on a second channel; and

receiving the control information via the second channel according to the control information indicator, the control information associated with at least one of the service and another service.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the service is a point-to-multipoint service.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the data is point-to-multipoint data and the control information is point-to-multipoint control information.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the data and control information are not received simultaneously.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising switching from the first channel to the second channel upon receiving the control information indicator in order to receive the control information on the second channel.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising switching from the second channel to the first channel upon receiving the control information in order to receive the data on the first channel.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a data reception indicator on the second channel.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising switching from the second channel to the first channel upon receiving the data reception indicator in order to receive the data on the first channel.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first channel and second channel are physical channels.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the data and the control information indicator are mapped to a first logical channel and the control information is mapped to a second logical channel.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first logical channel is MTCH and the second logical channel is MCCH.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the data is mapped to a first logical channel, the control information indicator is mapped to a second logical channel and the control information is mapped to a third logical channel.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first logical channel is MTCH, the second logical channel is a second MCCH channel and the third logical channel is a primary MCCH channel.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the data and control information are not received simultaneously.

15. A method of receiving a service in a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

receiving data and a control information indicator via a first channel, the data associated with the service and the control information indicator indicating the transmission of control information on a second channel, wherein the control information is associated with at least one of the service and another service;

determining, based on the control information indicator, whether to receive the control information; and

one of switching to the second channel to receive the control information and not switching to the second channel to receive the control information.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein switching from the first channel to the second channel is performed if the control information indicator indicates that the mobile terminal is to receive the control information.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein switching from the first channel to the second channel is performed if the mobile terminal has joined the service.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the service is a point-to-multipoint service.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the data is point-to-multipoint data and the control information is point-to-multipoint control information.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the data and control information are not received simultaneously.

21. A method of receiving a service in a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

receiving first control information on a first point-to-multipoint channel, the first control information associated with at least one of the service and another service;

establishing a second point-to-multipoint channel; and

receiving data and second control information on the second point-to-multipoint channel, the data associated with the service and the second control information associated with at least one of the service and another service and wherein the first and second point-to-multipoint channels are associated with the service.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the first control information is related to information on the second point-to-multipoint channel.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the data and second control information are received in accordance with the first control information.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the second control information indicates that the mobile terminal has joined the service.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the service is a point-to-multipoint MBMS service.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the first point-to-multipoint channel and second point-to-multipoint channel are physical channels.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the first point-to-multipoint channel is a primary SCCPCH channel and the second point-to-multipoint channel is a second SCCPCH channel.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein receiving the first control information further comprises establishing a primary MCCH channel.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein establishing the primary MCCH channel comprises receiving one of a broadcast control channel, a paging channel and a page indicator channel.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein a second MCCH channel is established based on the information received on the primary MCCH channel.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein the data and second control information are mapped to the same logical channel.

32. The method of claim 26, wherein the data is mapped to a first logical channel and the second control information is mapped to a second logical channel.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the first logical channel is MTCH and the second logical channel is MCCH.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein the data is mapped to a first logical channel and a third logical channel.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the first logical channel is a primary MTCH channel and the third logical channel is a second MTCH channel.

36. A method of providing a service to a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

transmitting data and a control information indicator via a first channel, the data associated with the service and the control information indicator indicating the transmission of control information on a second channel; and

transmitting the control information via the second channel according to the control information indicator, the control information associated with at least one of the service and another service.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the service is a point-to-multipoint service.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein the data is point-to-multipoint data and the control information is point-to-multipoint control information.

39. The method of claim 36, wherein the data and control information are not transmitted simultaneously.

40. The method of claim 36, further comprising transmitting a data reception indicator on the second channel.

41. The method of claim 36, wherein the first channel and second channel are physical channels.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the data and the control information indicator are mapped from a first logical channel and the control information is mapped from a second logical channel.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the first logical channel is MTCH and the second logical channel is MCCH.

44. The method of claim 41, wherein the data is mapped from a first logical channel, the control information indicator is mapped from a second logical channel and the control information is mapped from a third logical channel.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the first logical channel is MTCH, the second logical channel is a second MCCH channel and the third logical channel is a primary MCCH channel.

46. The method of claim 44, wherein the data and control information are not transmitted simultaneously.

47. A method of providing a service to a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

transmitting first control information on a first point-to-multipoint channel, the first control information associated with at least one of the service and another service; and

transmitting data and second control information on a second point-to-multipoint channel once the second point-to-multipoint channel is established, the data associated with the service and the second control information associated with at least one of the service and another service and wherein the first and second point-to-multipoint channels are associated with the service.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the first control information is related to information on the second point-to-multipoint channel.

49. The method of claim 47, wherein the second control information indicates that the mobile terminal has joined the service.

50. The method of claim 47, wherein the service is a point-to-multipoint MBMS service.

51. The method of claim 47, wherein the first point-to-multipoint channel and second point-to-multipoint channel are physical channels.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein the first point-to-multipoint channel is a primary SCCPCH channel and the second point-to-multipoint channel is a second SCCPCH channel.

53. The method of claim 51, wherein the data and the second control information are mapped from the same logical channel.

54. The method of claim 51, wherein the data is mapped from a first logical channel and the second control information is mapped from a second logical channel.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein the first logical channel is MTCH and the second logical channel is MCCH.

56. The method of claim 54, wherein the data is mapped from a first logical channel and a third logical channel.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein the first logical channel is a primary MTCH channel and the third logical channel is a second MTCH channel.

58. A network for providing a service to a mobile terminal, the network comprising:

a transmitter adapted to transmit data and a control information indicator to the mobile terminal via a first channel and to transmit control information to the mobile terminal via a second channel;

a receiver adapted to receive information from the mobile terminal; and

a controller adapted to provide the data and the control information indicator on the first channel, the data associated with the service and the control information indicator indicating the transmission of control information on the second channel, and to provide the control information on the second channel, the control information associated with at least one of the service and another service.

59. The network of claim 58, wherein the data and control information are not transmitted simultaneously.

60. The network of claim 58, wherein the service is a point-to-multipoint service.

61. The network of claim 58, wherein the data is point-to-multipoint data and the control information is point-to-multipoint control information.

62. The network of claim 58, wherein the controller is further adapted to transmit a data reception indicator on the second channel.

63. The network of claim 58, wherein the controller is further adapted to map the data and the control information indicator from a first logical channel and to map the control information from a second logical channel.

64. The network of claim 58, wherein the controller is further adapted to map the data from a first logical channel, map the control information indicator from a second logical channel and map the control information from a third logical channel.

65. The network of claim 64, wherein the data and control information are not transmitted simultaneously.

66. A network for providing a service to a mobile terminal, the network comprising:

a transmitter adapted to transmit first control information to the mobile terminal via a first point-to-multipoint channel and to transmit data and second control information to the mobile terminal via a second point-to-multipoint channel;

a receiver adapted to receive information from the mobile terminal; and

a controller adapted to provide the first control information on the first point-to-multipoint channel, the first control information associated with at least one of the service and another service, and to provide the data and the second control information on the second point-to-multipoint channel once the second point-to-multipoint channel is established, the data associated with the service and the second control information associated with at least one of the service and another service.

67. The network of claim 66, wherein the first control information is related to information on the second point-to-multipoint channel and indicates that the mobile terminal has joined the service.

68. The network of claim 66, wherein the service is a point-to-multipoint MBMS service.

69. The network of claim 66, wherein the controller is further adapted to map the data and second control information from the same logical channel.

70. The network of claim 66, wherein the controller is further adapted to map the data from a first logical channel and to map the second control information from a second logical channel.

71. The network of claim 70, wherein the controller is further adapted to map the data from a first logical channel and a third logical channel.

72. A mobile communication device for receiving a service from a network, the mobile communication device comprising:

an RF module adapted to receive data and a control information indicator via a first channel and to receive control information via a second channel;

an antenna adapted to receive data and a control information indicator via a first channel and to receive control information via a second channel;

a keypad adapted for inputting information from a user;

a storage unit adapted to store the data and the control information;

a display adapted to convey information to the user; and

a processing unit adapted to process the data and the control information indicator received on the first channel, the data associated with the service and the control information indicator associated with at least one of the service and another service, in order to receive the control information on the second channel, the control information associated with at least one of the service and another service.

73. The mobile communication device of claim 72, wherein the service is a point-to-multipoint service.

74. The mobile communication device of claim 72, wherein the data is point-to-multipoint data and the control information is point-to-multipoint control information.

75. The mobile communication device of claim 72, wherein the data and control information are not received simultaneously.

76. The mobile communication device of claim 72, wherein the processing unit is further adapted to switch from the first channel to the second channel upon receiving the control information indicator.

77. The mobile communication device of claim 72, wherein the processing unit is further adapted to switch from the second channel to the first channel upon receiving the control information.

78. The mobile communication device of claim 72, wherein the RF module is further adapted to receive a data reception indicator on the second channel and the processing unit is further adapted to switch from the second channel to the first channel upon receiving the data reception indicator.

79. The mobile communication device of claim 72, wherein the processing unit is further adapted to map the data and the control information indicator to a first logical channel and to map the control information to a second logical channel.

80. The mobile communication device of claim 72, wherein the processing unit is further adapted to map the data to a first logical channel, to map the control information indicator to a second logical channel and to map the control information to a third logical channel.

81. The mobile communication device of claim 80, wherein the data and control information are not received simultaneously.

82. The mobile communication device of claim 72, wherein the processing unit is further adapted to:

determine, based on the control information indicator, whether to receive the control information; and

one of switch to the second channel to receive the control information and not switch to the second channel to receive the control information.

83. The mobile communication device of claim 82, wherein the processing unit is further adapted to switch from the first channel to the second channel if the control information indicator indicates that the mobile terminal is to receive the control information.

84. The mobile communication device of claim 82, wherein the processing unit is further adapted to switch from the first channel to the second channel if the mobile terminal has joined the service.

85. The mobile communication device of claim 82, wherein the service is a point-to-multipoint service.

86. The mobile communication device of claim 82, wherein the data is point-to-multipoint data and the control information is point-to-multipoint control information.

87. The mobile communication device of claim 82, wherein the data and control information are not received simultaneously.

88. A mobile communication device for receiving a service from a network, the mobile communication device comprising:

an RF module adapted to receive first control information on a first point-to-multipoint channel and to receive data and second control information on a second point-to-multipoint channel, wherein the first and second point-to-multipoint channels are associated with the service;

an antenna adapted to receive first control information on a first point-to-multipoint channel and to receive data and second control information on a second point-to-multipoint channel, wherein the first and second point-to-multipoint channels are associated with the service;

a keypad adapted for inputting information from a user;

a storage unit adapted to store the first control information, the data and the second control information;

a display adapted to convey information to the user; and

a processing unit adapted to process the first control information received on the first point-to-multipoint channel, the first control information associated with at least one of the service and another service, and establish the second point-to-multipoint channel in order to receive and process the data and the second control information on the second point-to-multipoint channel, the data associated with the service and the second control information associated with at least one of the service and another service.

89. The mobile communication device of claim 88, wherein the first control information is related to information on the second point-to-multipoint channel.

90. The mobile communication device of claim 88, wherein the processing unit is further adapted to receive the data and second control information in accordance with the first control information.

91. The mobile communication device of claim 88, wherein the second control information indicates that the mobile terminal has joined the service.

92. The mobile communication device of claim 88, wherein the service is a point-to-multipoint MBMS service.

93. The mobile communication device of claim 88, wherein the processing unit is further adapted to establish a primary MCCH channel for receiving the first control information.

94. The mobile communication device of claim 93, wherein the processing unit is further adapted to receive one of a broadcast control channel, a paging channel and a page indicator channel to establish the primary MCCH channel.

95. The mobile communication device of claim 93, wherein the processing unit is further adapted to establish a second MCCH channel based on the information received on the primary MCCH channel.

96. The mobile communication device of claim 88, wherein the processing unit is further adapted to map the data and second control information to the same logical channel.

97. the mobile communication device of claim 88, wherein the processing unit is to the map the data to a first logical channel and to map the second control information to a second logical channel.

98. The mobile communication device of claim 97, wherein the processing unit is further adapted to map the data to a first logical channel and a third logical channel.