In-band signaling within broadcast stream and support for mixed flows

• US 20050118946A1
• Filed: 11/04/2004
• Published: 06/02/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Balasubramanian, Srinivasan, Colban, Erik, Khan, Irfan
• Application Number:
  US10/982,021
• Publication Number:
  US 20050118946A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/3.60
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1881 with schedule organisation, e.g. priority, sequence management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/14 using intermediate storage
• 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 36/18 for allowing seamless reselection, e.g. soft reselection
• 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 56/00 Synchronisation arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/30 Resource management for broadcast services

Abstract

A base station inserts an overhead message into a broadcast stream transmitted to a mobile station. To support autonomous soft handoff by the mobile station, the base station inserting the overhead message sends a notification message to one or more of the base stations transmitting the same broadcast stream. The notification message indicates the time when the overhead message will be sent and the duration and/or length of the overhead message. The broadcast channel may be divided into multiple time slots to support mixed flows. Base stations supporting a mobile station in soft handoff can agree on the time slots allocated for a designated broadcast stream.

Claims

1. A method of synchronizing transmission of a broadcast stream to a mobile station from multiple base stations during a soft handoff, the method comprising:

transmitting a broadcast stream from a first base station to a mobile station synchronously with a second base station;

inserting an overhead message into said broadcast stream at said first base station for transmission to said mobile station; and

sending a notification message from said first base station to said second base station prior to transmitting said signaling message to resynchronize the transmission of the broadcast stream.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the notification message includes the time that the first base station will transmit the overhead message.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the notification message further includes the duration of the overhead message.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the notification message further includes the length of the overhead message.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the notification message further includes the overhead message.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the first base station transmits the overhead message synchronously with the second base station.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the notification message is transmitted over a sidehaul link from the first base station to the second base station.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the second base station silences transmission for the duration of the overhead message.

9. A base station comprising a base station controller configured to:

transmit a broadcast stream to a mobile station synchronously with a second base station;

insert an overhead message into said broadcast stream for transmission to said mobile station; and

send a notification message to said second base station prior to transmitting said signaling message to resynchronize the transmission of the broadcast stream.

10. The base station of claim 9 wherein the notification message includes the time that the first base station will transmit the overhead message.

11. The base station of claim 9 wherein the notification message further includes the duration of the overhead message.

12. The base station of claim 9 wherein the notification message further includes the length of the overhead message.

13. The base station of claim 9 wherein the notification message further includes the overhead message.

14. The base station of claim 13 wherein the first base station transmits the overhead message synchronously with the second base station.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein the notification message is transmitted over a sidehaul link from the first base station to the second base station.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the second base station silences transmission for the duration of the overhead message.

17. A method of synchronizing transmission of a broadcast stream transmitted to a mobile station by two or more base stations comprising:

dividing a broadcast channel into multiple time slots for multiplexing two or more broadcast streams;

negotiating between said base stations selected time slots to transmit one or more broadcast streams, wherein each broadcast stream occupies different time slots; and

transmitting the broadcast streams in the selected time slots.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising silencing transmission during unused time slots.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising determining a minimum broadcast interval for said two or more broadcast stream based on the required bandwidth of the broadcast streams.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the minimum broadcast interval is an interval that maximizes data throughput.

21. A base station comprising a base station controller configured to:

divide a broadcast channel into multiple time slots for multiplexing two or more broadcast streams;

negotiate with one or more other base stations selected time slots to transmit one or more broadcast streams, wherein each broadcast stream occupies different time slots; and

transmit the broadcast streams in the selected time slots.

22. The base station of claim 21 wherein the base station controller silences transmission during unused time slots.

23. The base station of claim 21 wherein the base station controller determines a minimum broadcast interval for said two or more broadcast stream based on the required bandwidth of the broadcast streams.

24. The base station of claim 23 wherein the minimum broadcast interval is an interval that maximizes data throughput.