METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SENDING SCHEDULING INFORMATION FOR BROADCAST AND MULTICAST SERVICES IN A CELLULAR COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

• US 20090046617A1
• Filed: 05/29/2008
• Published: 02/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Tenny, Nathan Edward, Malladi, Durga Prasad
• Granted Patent: US 8,670,363 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/312
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0005 Time-frequency
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0037 Inter-user or inter-terminal allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0064 Rate requirement of the data, e.g. scalable bandwidth, data priority
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0092 Indication of how the channel is divided
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/30 Resource management for broadcast services

Abstract

Techniques for supporting broadcast, multicast, and unicast services in a cellular system are described. A Node B may multiplex data for broadcast and multicast services and data for unicast services on radio resources available for transmission. The Node B may periodically send scheduling information used to determine the radio resources carrying the broadcast and multicast services. In one design, the Node B may time division multiplex the data for the broadcast and multicast services and the data for the unicast services. The scheduling information may convey time unit(s) used for each broadcast or multicast service. In another design, the Node B may map the data for the broadcast and multicast services to time frequency blocks. The scheduling information may (i) convey the time frequency block(s) used for each broadcast or multicast service or (ii) point to control information conveying the time frequency block(s) used for each service.

Claims

1. A method of sending data in a cellular communication system, comprising:

multiplexing data for broadcast and multicast services and data for unicast services on radio resources available for transmission; and

periodically sending scheduling information used to determine the radio resources carrying the broadcast and multicast services.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the multiplexing comprises time division multiplexing the data for the broadcast and multicast services and the data for the unicast services, each broadcast or multicast service being sent in at least one time unit, and wherein the scheduling information conveys the at least one time unit used for each broadcast or multicast service.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the multiplexing comprises mapping the data for the broadcast and multicast services to time frequency blocks, and wherein the scheduling information conveys at least one time frequency block used for each broadcast or multicast service.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the multiplexing comprises mapping the data for the broadcast and multicast services to time frequency blocks, and wherein the scheduling information conveys location of control information conveying at least one time frequency block used for each broadcast or multicast service.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the scheduling information conveys time units in which the broadcast and multicast services are sent, and wherein control information is sent in each time unit in which the broadcast and multicast services are sent and conveys time frequency blocks used for broadcast and multicast services sent in the time unit.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending configuration information used to receive the broadcast and multicast services, wherein the scheduling information conveys radio resources carrying the configuration information.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein each broadcast or multicast service is sent by multiple cells in at least one time unit, the multiple cells being synchronized.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the broadcast and multicast services are sent by a cell and are unsynchronized with broadcast and multicast services sent by neighbor cells.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the periodically sending the scheduling information comprises sending the scheduling information in each scheduling period to convey radio resources used for the broadcast and multicast services in a current or a subsequent scheduling period.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

periodically sending a flag indicating whether or not the scheduling information will change in an upcoming scheduling period.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the periodically sending the scheduling information comprises sending the scheduling information in first N time units of each scheduling period to convey radio resources used for the broadcast and multicast services in the scheduling period, where N is one or greater.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the sending the scheduling information in the first N time units of each scheduling period comprises sending the scheduling information on all available radio resources in the first N time units of each scheduling period.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the sending the scheduling information in the first N time units of each scheduling period comprises

sending the scheduling information in at least one time frequency block in the first N time units of each scheduling period, and

sending control information conveying the at least one time frequency block used for the scheduling information.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the scheduling information conveys radio resources carrying the broadcast and multicast services, or parameters used to process transmissions sent on the radio resources, or both.

15. An apparatus in a cellular communication system, comprising:

at least one processor configured to multiplex data for broadcast and multicast services and data for unicast services on radio resources available for transmission, and to periodically send scheduling information used to determine the radio resources carrying the broadcast and multicast services.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least one processor is configured to time division multiplex the data for the broadcast and multicast services and the data for the unicast services, each broadcast or multicast service being sent in at least one time unit, and to send the scheduling information to convey the at least one time unit used for each broadcast or multicast service.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least one processor is configured to map the data for the broadcast and multicast services to time frequency blocks, and to send the scheduling information to convey at least one time frequency block used for each broadcast or multicast service.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least one processor is configured to map the data for the broadcast and multicast services to time frequency blocks, to send control information conveying at least one time frequency block used for each broadcast or multicast service, and to send the scheduling information to convey location of the control information.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least one processor is configured to send the scheduling information in each scheduling period to convey radio resources used for the broadcast and multicast services in a current or a subsequent scheduling period.

20. An apparatus in a cellular communication system, comprising:

means for multiplexing data for broadcast and multicast services and data for unicast services on radio resources available for transmission; and

means for periodically sending scheduling information used to determine the radio resources carrying the broadcast and multicast services.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the means for multiplexing comprises means for time division multiplexing the data for the broadcast and multicast services and the data for the unicast services, each broadcast or multicast service being sent in at least one time unit, and wherein the scheduling information conveys the at least one time unit used for each broadcast or multicast service.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the means for multiplexing comprises means for mapping the data for the broadcast and multicast services to time frequency blocks, and wherein the scheduling information conveys at least one time frequency block used for each broadcast or multicast service.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the means for multiplexing comprises means for mapping the data for the broadcast and multicast services to time frequency blocks, and wherein the scheduling information conveys location of control information conveying at least one time frequency block used for each broadcast or multicast service.

24. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the means for periodically sending the scheduling information comprises means for sending the scheduling information in each scheduling period to convey radio resources used for the broadcast and multicast services in a current or a subsequent scheduling period.

25. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

code for causing at least one computer to multiplex data for broadcast and multicast services and data for unicast services on radio resources available for transmission in a cellular communication system; and

code for causing the at least one computer to periodically send scheduling information used to determine the radio resources carrying the broadcast and multicast services.

26. A method of receiving data in a cellular communication system, comprising:

receiving scheduling information for broadcast and multicast services multiplexed with unicast services;

determining radio resources used for at least one service among the broadcast and multicast services based on the scheduling information; and

processing transmissions received on the radio resources to recover data for the at least one service.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the receiving the scheduling information comprises receiving the scheduling information in first N time units of a scheduling period, where N is one or greater, and wherein the determining the radio resources used for the at least one service comprises determining the radio resources used for the at least one service in the scheduling period based on the scheduling information.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein each of the at least one service is sent on all available radio resources in at least one time unit, and wherein the determining the radio resources used for the at least one service comprises determining the at least one time unit in which each service is sent based on the scheduling information.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein each of the at least one service is sent in at least one time frequency block, and wherein the determining the radio resources used for the at least one service comprises determining the at least one time frequency block used for each service based on the scheduling information.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein each of the at least one service is sent in at least one time frequency block in at least one time unit, and wherein the determining the radio resources used for the at least one service comprises

determining the at least one time unit in which each service is sent based on the scheduling information, and

determining the at least one time frequency block used for each service based on control information sent in the at least one time unit in which the service is sent.

31. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

at least one processor configured to receive scheduling information for broadcast and multicast services multiplexed with unicast services, to determine radio resources used for at least one service among the broadcast and multicast services based on the scheduling information, and to process transmissions received on the radio resources to recover data for the at least one service.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein each of the at least one service is sent on all available radio resources in at least one time unit, and wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine the at least one time unit in which each service is sent based on the scheduling information.

33. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein each of the at least one service is sent in at least one time frequency block, and wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine the at least one time frequency block used for each service based on the scheduling information.

34. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein each of the at least one service is sent in at least one time frequency block in at least one time unit, and wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine the at least one time unit in which each service is sent based on the scheduling information, and to determine the at least one time frequency block used for each service based on control information sent in the at least one time unit in which the service is sent.

35. A method of sending scheduling information in a cellular communication system, comprising:

periodically sending scheduling information for broadcast and multicast services in each scheduling period; and

periodically sending a flag indicating whether or not the scheduling information will change in an upcoming scheduling period.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

periodically sending the flag in a part of system information associated with a value tag; and

updating the value tag whenever the part of the system information changes.

37. A method of receiving scheduling information in a cellular communication system, comprising:

receiving scheduling information for broadcast and multicast services in a first scheduling period;

receiving a flag indicating whether or not the scheduling information will change in a second scheduling period;

receiving the scheduling information in the second scheduling period if the flag indicates that the scheduling information will change; and

skipping receiving the scheduling information in the second scheduling period if the flag indicates that the scheduling information will not change.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

receiving a part of system information comprising the flag and a value tag, and

wherein the flag is received only if the value tag indicates that the part of the system information comprising the flag has changed, and wherein the scheduling information in the second scheduling period is received only if the flag is received and indicates that the scheduling information will change.