Method and apparatus for providing point-to-multipoint multimedia service in a mobile communications system

• US 20060182051A1
• Filed: 12/23/2005
• Published: 08/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Chun, Sung Duck, Lee, Young Dae, Jung, Myung Cheul
• Granted Patent: US 7,664,064 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/312
• 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 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/30 Resource management for broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/40 for selective distribution or broadcast

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing at least one user equipment (UE) with a point-to-multipoint multimedia service through two or more common physical channels in a mobile communications system. A radio network transmits a point-to-multipoint multimedia service through a plurality of physical channels using multiple codes. A user equipment (UE) receives multiple channel code information through a control channel from the radio network, configures a plurality of physical channels using the received multiple channel code information and receives the point-to-multipoint multimedia service through the configured physical channels.

Claims

1. A method of providing a point-to-multipoint service to at least one mobile communications terminal in a mobile communications system, the method comprising:

a network configuring at least two multi-code physical channels and transmitting multi channel code information to the at least one mobile communication terminal, the multi channel code information related to the transmission of point-to-multipoint service data via the at least two multi-code physical channels;

the at least one mobile communication terminal configuring at least two physical channels using the multi channel code information;

the network transmitting the point-to-multipoint service data via the at least two multi-code physical channels; and

the at least one mobile communication terminal receiving the point-to-multipoint service data via the at least two multi-code physical channels.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the at least one mobile communication terminal combining point-to-multipoint service data received via the at least two multi-code physical channels.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the network transmitting control information to the at least one mobile communication terminal via a specific one of the at least two multi-code physical channels; and

the at least one mobile communication terminal receiving the point-to-multipoint service data using the control information.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the control information comprises a transport format combination indicator (TFCI).

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising the network transmitting a pilot signal to the at least one mobile communication terminal via the specific one of the at least two multi-code physical channels.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the network transmitting a point-to-point radio bearer (RB) comprising the multi channel code information.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the network transmitting the point-to-point radio bearer via a control channel.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the control channel is a secondary common control physical channel (SCCPCH) carrying an MBMS control channel (MCCH).

9. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the at least two multi-code physical channels is a secondary common control physical channel (SCCPCH) carrying an MBMS control channel (MCCH).

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the multi channel code information is associated with one of a spreading code, an orthogonal code and an orthogonal variable spreading factor (OVSF) code.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the point-to-multipoint service is a multimedia broadcast or multicast service (MBMS).

12. A method of providing a point-to-multipoint service to at least one mobile communications terminal in a mobile communications system, the method comprising:

receiving multi channel code information, the multi channel code information related to the transmission of point-to-multipoint service data via at least two multi-code physical channels;

configuring at least two physical channels using the multi channel code information; and

receiving the point-to-multipoint service data via the at least two multi-code physical channels.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising combining point-to-multipoint service data received via the at least two multi-code physical channels.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving control information via a specific one of the at least two multi-code physical channels; and

receiving the point-to-multipoint service data using the control information.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the control information comprises a transport format combination indicator (TFCI).

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising receiving a pilot signal via the specific one of the at least two multi-code physical channels.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein receiving the multi channel code information comprises receiving a point-to-point radio bearer (RB) information.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein receiving the multi channel code information comprises receiving point-to-point radio bearer (RB) information via a control channel.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the control channel is a secondary common control physical channel (SCCPCH) carrying an MBMS control channel (MCCH).

20. The method of claim 12, wherein each of the at least two multi-code physical channels is a secondary common control physical channel (SCCPCH) carrying an MBMS control channel (MCCH).

21. The method of claim 12, wherein the multi channel code information is associated with one of a spreading code, an orthogonal code and an orthogonal variable spreading factor (OVSF) code.

22. The method of claim 12, wherein the point-to-multipoint service is a multimedia broadcast or multicast service (MBMS).

23. A method for providing a point-to-multipoint service to at least one mobile communication terminal in a mobile communications system, the method comprising:

configuring at least two multi-code physical channels and transmitting multi channel code information, the multi channel code information related to the transmission of point-to-multipoint service data via the at least two multi-code physical channels; and

transmitting the point-to-multipoint service data via the at least two multi-code physical channels.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising transmitting control information via a specific one of the at least two multi-code physical channels.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the control information comprises a transport format combination indicator (TFCI).

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising transmitting a pilot signal via the specific one of the at least two multi-code physical channels.

27. The method of claim 23, further comprising transmitting point-to-point radio bearer (RB) information comprising the multi channel code information.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising transmitting the point-to-point radio bearer information via a control channel.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the control channel is a secondary common control physical channel (SCCPCH) carrying an MBMS control channel (MCCH).

30. The method of claim 23, wherein each of the at least two multi-code physical channels is a secondary common control physical channel (SCCPCH) carrying an MBMS control channel (MCCH).

31. The method of claim 23, wherein the multi channel code information is associated with one of a spreading code, an orthogonal code and an orthogonal variable spreading factor (OVSF) code.

32. The method of claim 23, wherein the point-to-multipoint service is a multimedia broadcast or multicast service (MBMS).

33. A mobile communication terminal for receiving a point-to-multipoint service from a network, the mobile communication terminal comprising:

an antenna adapted to receive RF signals containing messages comprising multi channel code information and point-to-multipoint service data, the multi channel code information related to the transmission of the point-to-multipoint service data via at least two multi-code physical channels;

an RF module adapted to process the RF signals received by the antenna;

a keypad for inputting information from a user;

a storage unit adapted to store the multi channel code information;

a display adapted to convey information to the user; and

a processing unit adapted to configure at least two physical channels using the multi channel code information and to process the point-to-multipoint service data received via the at least two multi-code physical channels.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the processing unit is further adapted to combine point-to-multipoint service data received via the at least two multi-code physical channels.

35. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the processing unit is further adapted to process the point-to-multipoint service data using control information received via a specific one of the at least two multi-code physical channels.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the control information comprises a transport format combination indicator (TFCI).

37. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the processing unit is further adapted to process a pilot signal received via the specific one of the at least two multi-code physical channels.

38. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the processing unit is further adapted to process the multi channel code information by processing point-to-point radio bearer (RB) information.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the point-to-point radio bearer (RB) information is received via a control channel.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the control channel is a secondary common control physical channel (SCCPCH) carrying an MBMS control channel (MCCH).

41. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein each of the at least two multi-code physical channels is a secondary common control physical channel (SCCPCH) carrying an MBMS control channel (MCCH).

42. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the multi channel code information is associated with one of a spreading code, an orthogonal code and an orthogonal variable spreading factor (OVSF) code.

43. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the point-to-multipoint service is a multimedia broadcast or multicast service (MBMS).

44. A network for providing a point-to-multipoint service to at least one mobile communication terminal in a mobile communications system, the network comprising:

a transmitter adapted to transmit signals containing multi channel code information and point-to-multipoint service data to the at least one mobile communication terminal;

a receiver adapted to receive signals from the at least one mobile communication terminal; and

a controller adapted to configure at least two multi-code physical channels for transmitting the point-to-multipoint service data and generate the multi channel code information comprising information related to the transmission of the point-to-multipoint service data via the at least two multi-code physical channels.

45. The network of claim 44, wherein the controller is further adapted to transmit control information via a specific one of the at least two multi-code physical channels.

46. The network of claim 45, wherein the controller is further adapted to generate the control information comprising a transport format combination indicator (TFCI).

47. The network of claim 45, wherein the controller is further adapted to transmit a pilot signal via the specific one of the at least two multi-code physical channels.

48. The network of claim 44, wherein the controller is further adapted to transmit point-to-point radio bearer (RB) information comprising the multi channel code information.

49. The network of claim 48, wherein the controller is further adapted to transmit the point-to-point radio bearer information via a control channel.

50. The network of claim 49, wherein the control channel is a secondary common control physical channel (SCCPCH) carrying an MBMS control channel (MCCH).

51. The network of claim 44, wherein each of the at least two multi-code physical channels is a secondary common control physical channel (SCCPCH) carrying an MBMS control channel (MCCH).

52. The network of claim 44, wherein the multi channel code information is associated with one of a spreading code, an orthogonal code and an orthogonal variable spreading factor (OVSF) code.

53. The network of claim 44, wherein the point-to-multipoint service is a multimedia broadcast or multicast service (MBMS).