Point-to-multipoint transmission of localized data

• US 20070206548A1
• Filed: 05/31/2006
• Published: 09/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Pekonen, Johanna, Rantaaho, Karri, Toskala, Antti
• Granted Patent: US 8,027,317 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• 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 72/30 Resource management for broadcast services

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method, system, network element and computer program product for transmitting a data stream in a point-to-multipoint mode from a source entity to a plurality of users in a predetermined area of a cellular network, said predetermined area comprising a plurality of sub-areas. A predetermined, recurring time period is allocated to transmission of localized data specified for users of individual ones of said plurality of sub-areas, and a transmission capacity of the data stream is divided using said predetermined, recurring time period among adjacent sub-areas. Localized data is then transmitted during the predetermined, recurring time period using a divided transmission capacity allocated to the respective sub-area. Thereby, combination of global and local broadcast or multicast content is enabled in a broadcast system by avoiding overlapping of transmissions with different content at cell edges.

Claims

1. A method of transmitting a data stream in a point-to-multipoint mode from a source entity to a plurality of users in a predetermined area of a cellular network, said predetermined area comprising a plurality of sub-areas, wherein said method comprises the steps of:

a) allocating a predetermined recurring time period to transmission of localized data specified for users of individual ones of said plurality of sub-areas;

b) dividing a transmission capacity of said data stream of said predetermined recurring time period among adjacent sub-areas; and

c)transmitting localized data specified for one of said adjacent sub-areas during said predetermined recurring time period using a divided transmission capacity allocated to one of said adjacent sub-areas.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined recurring time period corresponds to predetermined fixed time slots allocated to said localized data.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said transmission capacity is divided by defining a predetermined time pattern based on which transmission times are allocated to individual ones of said adjacent sub-areas during said predetermined recurring time period.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein said time pattern comprises at least one discontinuous transmission period.

5. A method according to claim 3, wherein said time pattern comprises at least one transmission period used for replacing multicast/broadcast content with data being sent at lower power level than a broadcast or multicast service.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said data stream is generated from a mobile broadcast or multicast service.

7. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium, the computer program being configured to control a computer to perform the steps of:

(a) allocating a predetermined recurring time period to transmission of localized data specified for users of individual ones of a plurality of sub-areas;

(b) dividing a transmission capacity of a data stream of said predetermined recurring time period among adjacent sub-areas; and

(c) transmitting localizdata specified for one of said adjacent sub-areas during said predetermined recurring time period using a divided transmission capacity allocated to one of said adjacent sub-areas.

8. A system for transmitting a data stream in a point-to-multipoint mode from a source entity to a plurality of users in a predetermined area of a cellular network, said predetermined area comprising a plurality of sub-areas, wherein said system comprises:

a) allocation means for allocating a predetermined recurring time period to transmission of localized data specified for users of individual ones of said plurality of sub-areas;

b) dividing means for dividing a transmission capacity of said predetermined time period among adjacent sub-areas for transmitting said data stream; and

c)transceiver means for transmitting localized data, specified for one of said adjacent sub-areas, during said predetermined recurring time period using a divided transmission capacity allocated to one of said adjacent sub-areas.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein said allocation means is configured to allocate predetermined fixed time slots to said transmission of said localized data.

10. A system according to claim 8, wherein said dividing means is configured to divide said transmission capacity by defining a predetermined time pattern based on which transmission times are allocated to individual ones of said adjacent sub-areas during said predetermined time period.

11. A system according to claim 10, wherein said transceiver means is configured to provide at least one discontinuous transmission period during said time pattern.

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein said transceiver means is configured to provide at least one transmission period used for replacing multicast/broadcast content with data being sent at lower power level than a broadcast or multicast service.

13. A system according to claim 9, further comprising a broadcast multicast service center for generating said data stream.

14. A network element for transmitting a data stream in a point-to-multipoint mode to a sub-area of a predetermined area to which said data stream is directed, said network element comprising:

a) detecting means for detecting localized data specified for said sub-area;

b) selecting means for selecting, in response to said detecting means, a divided transmission capacity of said data stream of a predetermined recurring time period allocated to localized data; and

c) transmitting means for transmitting said detected localized data by using said selected divided transmission capacity of said predetermined time period.

15. A network element according to claim 14, wherein said transmitting means is configured to transmit said localized data at transmission times allocated based on a predetermined time pattern during said predetermined recurring time period.

16. A network element according to claim 15, wherein said transmitting means is configured to provide at least one discontinuous transmission period during said time pattern.

17. A network element according to claim 15, wherein said transmitting means is configured to provide at least one transmission period during said time pattern used for replacing multicast/broadcast content with data being sent at lower power level than a broadcast or multicast service.

18. A network element according to claim 15, wherein said network element is a base station device.

19. A network element for transmitting a data stream in a point-to-multipoint mode to a sub-area of a predetermined area to which said data stream is directed, said network element comprising:

a) a detecting unit for detecting localized data specified for said sub-area;

b) a selecting unit for selecting, in response to said detecting unit, a divided transmission capacity of said data stream of a predetermined recurring time period allocated to localized data; and

c) a transmitting unit for transmitting said detected localized data by using said selected divided transmission capacity of said predetermined time period.

20. A system for transmitting a data stream in a point-to-multipoint mode from a source entity to a plurality of users in a predetermined area of a cellular network, said predetermined area comprising a plurality of sub-areas, wherein said system comprises:

a) an allocation unit configured to allocate a predetermined recurring time period to transmission of localized data specified for users of individual ones of said plurality of sub-areas;

b) a dividing unit configured to divide a transmission capacity of said predetermined time period among adjacent sub-areas for transmitting said data stream; and

c) a transceiver unit configured to transmit localized data, specified for one of said adjacent sub-areas, during said predetermined recurring time period using a divided transmission capacity allocated to one of said adjacent sub-areas.