Method and apparatus for delivering multimedia multicast services over wireless communication systems

• US 20070249282A1
• Filed: 06/27/2007
• Published: 10/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Shaheen, Kamel
• Application Number:
  US11/823,274
• Publication Number:
  US 20070249282A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/3.60
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/42 Arrangements for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/72 of terrestrial networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/25 Arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/185 with management of multicast group membership
• 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 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/40 for selective distribution or broadcast

Abstract

A method is provided for delivery of Multimedia Broadcast and Multicast Service (MBMS) over wireless systems. The method optimizes the number of paging messages sent over the air interface in order to enhance the overall system capacity. MBMS active Mobile Station User Equipments (UEs) track their locations to the granularity of a cell based on information sent by the system.

Claims

1. A method for reducing a number of paging messages sent over an air interface by a network in a wireless system to enhance delivery of multimedia broadcast and multicast service (MBMS) in a wireless channel, comprising:

a) providing a Group Identification Number (GIN) identifying subscriber units activating at least one type of MBMS with the network;

b) determining a number of subscriber units (UEs) present within a given region and assigned said GIN;

c) comparing the number of UEs detected in step (a) with a given threshold;

d) sending a message to UEs incorporating a flag that there is no new GIN when the number of UEs present in said given region and assigned said GIN is greater than said threshold; and

e) returning to step (a).

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said region is a location area/routing area (LA/RA).

3. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

the network employing a serving general packet radio service support node (SGSN) for assigning said GIN.

4. A method for reducing a number of paging messages sent over an air interface to enhance delivery of multimedia broadcast and multicast service (MBMS) over a wireless system, comprising:

a) providing a Group Identification Number (GIN) identifying subscriber units activating at least one type of MBMS with the network;

b) determining a number (N) of subscriber units (UEs) present within a given region and assigned said GIN;

c) comparing N against a given threshold (T);

d) sending a message to UEs incorporating a flag that the UEs track for another GIN when the number (N) of UEs present in said given region and previously assigned a GIN in step (a) is less than said threshold (T); and

e) returning to step (a).

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the region is a location area/routing area (LA/RA).

6. The method of claim 4, the method further comprising:

the network employing a serving general packet radio service support node (SGSN) for assigning said GIN.

7. A method for use by a subscriber unit (UE) in a wireless system, comprising:

a) the UE activating multicasting service with a network in said system;

b) obtaining an identification number (ID) from said network identifying at least one type of multimedia broadcast and multicast service (MBMS) subscribed to by said UE responsive to said activation; and

c) the UE thereafter listening to broadcast and paging channels from the system whereupon, when a message from the network contains a first given flag, the UE initiates an ID routine.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the ID routine comprises:

d) accessing the network;

e) updating the ID; and

f) returning to step (c) when no new subscribed MBMS is present. cecell ID is updated, and if said at least one type of (MBMS).

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the UE, upon activation of the multicasting service, reverts to an idle mode.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein step (b) comprises returning to step (a) when no new message is present.

11. Apparatus for delivery of multimedia broadcast and multicast service (MBMS) over a wireless system comprising:

means for providing a Group Identification Number (GIN) identifying subscriber units activating at least one type of MBMS with the network;

means for detecting a number (N) of subscriber units (UEs) present within a given region and assigned a GIN;

means for comparing N with a given threshold (T);

means for sending a message containing a flag that UEs need not track a cell identification number (ID) when N is greater than T.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising:

means for delivering multicast updates to the UEs using one of location area (LA) and routing area (RA) paging.

13. Apparatus for delivery of multimedia broadcast and multicast service (MBMS) over a wireless system, comprising:

means for providing a Group Identification Number (GIN) identifying subscriber units activating at least one type of MBMS with a network in the system;

means for detecting a number (N) of activated subscriber units (UEs) present within a given region;

means for comparing N with a given threshold (T);

means for sending a message to the activated UEs containing a flag instructing that UEs do not track for a GIN when N is less than T; and

means for delivering multicast updates to the UEs employing single cell paging.

14. Apparatus for use by subscriber units (UEs) in a wireless system for providing updates to a network in the system, comprising:

a UE having;

means for activating multicasting service in a given cell;

means for obtaining an identification number (ID) from said network

identifying at least one type of multimedia broadcast and multicast service

(MBMS) subscribed to by said UE responsive to said activation; and

means for thereafter listening to broadcast and paging channels from the system whereupon, when a message from the network contains a first flag, the UE initiates an ID routine, whereupon, when said first flag is present, the UE includes means for accessing the network and updating the ID.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the UE, upon activation of the multicasting service, includes means to revert to an idle mode.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the means for listening comprises means for returning to said activating means when no new message is present.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the UE further includes means to continue listening for messages from the network when no new message is present.