TRACKING LOCATIONS OF MULTICAST GROUP MEMBERS WITHIN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

• US 20090080359A1
• Filed: 09/18/2008
• Published: 03/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Ananthanarayanan, Arul, Gill, Harleen, SONG, Bongyong
• Granted Patent: US 8,565,137 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/312
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management
• 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 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

Apparatuses and methods related to tracking locations of multicast group members within a wireless communication system are disclosed. An access terminal sends a group member report to an access network, the group member report indicating a location of the access terminal and at least one multicast group, the group member report being sent before a multicast session associated with the multicast group is initiated, determines a location update rule, the location update rule being a manner in which to report location updates of the access terminal to the access network and reports location updates of the access terminal to the access network based on the determined location update rule.

Claims

1. A method of multicasting, comprising:

sending, from an access terminal, a group member report to an access network, the group member report indicating a location of the access terminal and at least one multicast group, the group member report being sent before a multicast session associated with the multicast group is initiated;

determining a location update rule, the location update rule being a manner in which to report location updates of the access terminal to the access network; and

reporting location updates of the access terminal to the access network based on the determined location update rule.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the sending step is performed subsequent to the access terminal being powered-up.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the sending step is performed subsequent to a handoff of the access terminal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step determines the location update rule based on instructions received from the access network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step determines the location update rule based on a default location update rule stored at the access terminal.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step determines the location update rule based on a manual entry by a user of the access terminal.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the location is indicated by one of a sector identifier, a base station identifier, a location area (LA) identifier and a multicast area (MA) identifier.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one multicast group is indicated by one of a broadcast multicast service (BCMCS) Flow Identifier and a multicast Internet Protocol (IP) address and port number pair.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the sending step sends the group member report to request that the access terminal join the at least one multicast group.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the sending step sends the group member report to request that the access terminal withdraw from the at least one multicast group.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the location update rule is at least one of time-based and location-based.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the reporting step includes:

starting a timer having a given time period at the access terminal; and

sending a location update indicating a current location of the access terminal to the access network once per each given time period of the timer.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the location update rule is based on a distance-based registration (DBR) protocol.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the reporting step includes:

sending a location update indicating a current location of the access terminal to the access network after the DBR protocol indicates the access terminal has traversed a given distance.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether to change group membership information for the access terminal; and

sending, from the access terminal, a supplemental group member report to the access network if the determining step determines to change group membership information for the access terminal.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the supplemental group member report further indicates a current location of the access terminal to the access network.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the access terminal and an access network to which the group member report is sent are each pre-configured with the same BCMCSFIowID for the given multicast group.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the pre-configured BCMCSFIowID is determined based on a multicast IP address and port designation number for the given multicast group.

19. A method of multicasting, comprising:

receiving, from an access terminal, a group member report, the group member report indicating a location of the access terminal and at least one multicast group, the group member report being sent before a multicast session associated with the multicast group is initiated; and

receiving at least one location update report from the access terminal, each received location update report indicating a location of the access terminal.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

determining a location update rule, the location update rule being a manner in which to report location updates of the access terminal to the access network; and

sending the location update rule to the access terminal.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the at least one location update report is received from the access terminal in accordance with the sent location update rule.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the determined location update rule is determined after receiving the group member report from the access terminal.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the determined location update rule is determined after receiving a supplemental group member report from the access terminal.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the determined location update rule is configured to prompt the access terminal to send location update reports at a different rate than a rate associated with a default location update rule determined at the access terminal.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein the group member report requests that the access terminal be added to the at least one multicast group.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein the group member report requests that the access terminal be withdrawn from the at least one multicast group.

27. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

forming a group member list at an access network based at least on the received group member report, the group member list including a list of access terminals, at least one multicast group associated with each of the listed access terminals, a location associated with each of the listed access terminals and a time-stamp indicating a time at which each location was last reported to the access network from the listed access terminals; and

updating the group member list based on (i) the received at least one location update report or (ii) one or more supplemental group member reports from the access terminal.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the group member report requests that the access terminal be added to the at least one multicast group, and the updating step updates the group member list to register the access terminal for the requested at least one multicast group.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the group member report requests that the access terminal be withdrawn from the at least one multicast group, and the updating step updates the group member list to cancel registration of the access terminal to the at least one multicast group.

30. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

updating an existing group member list at an access network based at least on the received group member report, the group member list including a list of access terminals, at least one multicast group associated with each of the listed access terminals, a location associated with each of the listed access terminals and a time-stamp indicating a time at which each location was last reported to the access network from the listed access terminals.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the group member report requests that the access terminal be added to the at least one multicast group, and the updating step updates the group member list to register the access terminal for the requested at least one multicast group.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the group member report requests that the access terminal be withdrawn from the at least one multicast group, and the updating step updates the group member list to cancel registration of the access terminal to the at least one multicast group.

33. The method of claim 19, wherein the access terminal and an access network receiving the group member report are each pre-configured with the same BCMCSFIowID for the given multicast group.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the pre-configured BCMCSFIowID is determined based on a multicast IP address and port designation number for the given multicast group.

35. A method of multicasting, comprising:

forming a group member list at an access network, the group member list including a list of access terminals, at least one multicast group associated with each of the listed access terminals, a location associated with each of the listed access terminals and a time-stamp indicating a time at which each location was last reported to the access network; and

updating the group member list based on at least one report sent from at least one access terminal.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the at least one access terminal is one of the listed access terminals.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the at least one report includes at least one of location update reports and group member reports.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein the at least one access terminal is not one of the listed access terminal.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the at least one report includes at least one location update report.

40. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

determining whether the at least one report requests that the at least one access terminal be added to a given multicast group; and

adding, based on the determining step, the at least one access terminal to the given multicast group by listing the at least one access terminal in the group member list in association with the given multicast group included along with a location indicated by the at least one report and a time at which the at least one report is sent.

41. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

determining whether the at least one report requests that the at least one access terminal be withdrawn from a given multicast group; and

withdrawing, based on the determining step, the at least one access terminal from the given multicast group by removing a listing of the at least one access terminal from the group member list in association with the given multicast group.

42. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

initiating a multicast session for a given multicast group;

populating an initial cluster of sectors based on the group member list; and

supporting the multicast session within the initial cluster of sectors.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the initial cluster of sectors includes one or more target sectors, the target sectors being sectors including one or more listed access terminals belonging to the given multicast group within the group member list, the locations of the target sectors determined based on the locations stored in association with the listed access terminals of the group member list for the given multicast group.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the initial cluster of sectors further includes one or more supporting sectors, each supporting sector not being a target sector and satisfying a proximity metric with respect to at least one target sector.

45. A wireless communication system, comprising:

logic configured to send, from an access terminal, a group member report to an access network, the group member report indicating a location of the access terminal and at least one multicast group, the group member report being sent before a multicast session associated with the multicast group is initiated;

logic configured to determine a location update rule, the location update rule being a manner in which to report location updates of the access terminal to the access network; and

logic configured to report location updates of the access terminal to the access network based on the determined location update rule.

46. The wireless communication system of claim 45, wherein the logic configured to send sends the group member report to request that the access terminal join the at least one multicast group.

47. The wireless communication system of claim 45, wherein the logic configured to send sends the group member report to request that the access terminal withdraw from the at least one multicast group.

48. The wireless communication system of claim 45, wherein the location update rule is at least one of time-based and location-based.

49. The wireless communication system of claim 48, wherein the logic configured to report is configured to:

start a timer having a given time period at the access terminal; and

send a location update indicating a current location of the access terminal to the access network once per each given time period of the timer.

50. The wireless communication system of claim 45, further comprising:

logic configured to determine whether to change group membership information for the access terminal; and

logic configured to send, from the access terminal, a supplemental group member report to the access network if the logic configured to determine determines to change group membership information for the access terminal.

51. A wireless communication system, comprising:

logic configured to receive, from an access terminal, a group member report, the group member report indicating a location of the access terminal and at least one multicast group, the group member report being sent before a multicast session associated with the multicast group is initiated; and

logic configured to receive at least one location update report from the access terminal, each received location update report indicating a location of the access terminal.

52. The wireless communication system of claim 51, further comprising:

logic configured to determine a location update rule, the location update rule being a manner in which to report location updates of the access terminal to the access network; and

logic configured to send the location update rule to the access terminal.

53. The wireless communication system of claim 51, further comprising:

logic configured to form a group member list at an access network based at least on the received group member report, the group member list including a list of access terminals, at least one multicast group associated with each of the listed access terminals, a location associated with each of the listed access terminals and a time-stamp indicating a time at which each location was last reported to the access network from the listed access terminals; and

logic configure to update the group member list based on (i) the received at least one location update report or (ii) one or more supplemental group member reports from the access terminal.

54. The wireless communication system of claim 51, further comprising:

logic configured to update an existing group member list at an access network based at least on the received group member report, the group member list including a list of access terminals, at least one multicast group associated with each of the listed access terminals, a location associated with each of the listed access terminals and a time-stamp indicating a time at which each location was last reported to the access network from the listed access terminals.

55. A wireless communication system, comprising:

logic configured to form a group member list at an access network, the group member list including a list of access terminals, at least one multicast group associated with each of the listed access terminals, a location associated with each of the listed access terminals and a time-stamp indicating a time at which each location was last reported to the access network; and

logic configured to update the group member list based on at least one report sent from at least one access terminal.

56. The wireless communication system of claim 55, further comprising:

logic configured to determine whether the at least one report requests that the at least one access terminal be added to a given multicast group; and

logic configured to add, based on the determination, the at least one access terminal to the given multicast group by listing the at least one access terminal in the group member list in association with the given multicast group included along with a location indicated by the at least one report and a time at which the at least one report is sent.

57. The wireless communication system of claim 55, further comprising:

logic configured to determine whether the at least one report requests that the at least one access terminal be withdrawn from a given multicast group; and

logic configured to withdraw, based on the determination, the at least one access terminal from the given multicast group by removing a listing of the at least one access terminal from the group member list in association with the given multicast group.

58. The wireless communication system of claim 55, further comprising:

logic configured to initiate a multicast session for a given multicast group;

logic configured to populate an initial cluster of sectors based on the group member list; and

logic configured to support the multicast session within the initial cluster of sectors.

59. A wireless communication system, comprising:

means for sending, from an access terminal, a group member report to an access network, the group member report indicating a location of the access terminal and at least one multicast group, the group member report being sent before a multicast session associated with the multicast group is initiated;

means for determining a location update rule, the location update rule being a manner in which to report location updates of the access terminal to the access network; and

means for reporting location updates of the access terminal to the access network based on the determined location update rule.

60. The wireless communication system of claim 59, wherein the means for sending sends the group member report to request that the access terminal join the at least one multicast group.

61. The wireless communication system of claim 59, wherein the means for sending sends the group member report to request that the access terminal withdraw from the at least one multicast group.

62. The wireless communication system of claim 59, wherein the location update rule is at least one of time-based and location-based.

63. The wireless communication system of claim 62, wherein the means for reporting is configured to:

start a timer having a given time period at the access terminal; and

send a location update indicating a current location of the access terminal to the access network once per each given time period of the timer.

64. The wireless communication system of claim 59, further comprising:

means for determining whether to change group membership information for the access terminal; and

means for sendin, from the access terminal, a supplemental group member report to the access network if the means for determining determines to change group membership information for the access terminal.

65. A wireless communication system, comprising:

means for receiving, from an access terminal, a group member report, the group member report indicating a location of the access terminal and at least one multicast group, the group member report being sent before a multicast session associated with the multicast group is initiated; and

means for receiving at least one location update report from the access terminal, each received location update report indicating a location of the access terminal.

66. The wireless communication system of claim 65, further comprising:

means for determining a location update rule, the location update rule being a manner in which to report location updates of the access terminal to the access network; and

means for sending the location update rule to the access terminal.

67. The wireless communication system of claim 65, further comprising:

means for forming a group member list at an access network based at least on the received group member report, the group member list including a list of access terminals, at least one multicast group associated with each of the listed access terminals, a location associated with each of the listed access terminals and a time-stamp indicating a time at which each location was last reported to the access network from the listed access terminals; and

means for updating the group member list based on (i) the received at least one location update report or (ii) one or more supplemental group member reports from the access terminal.

68. The wireless communication system of claim 65, further comprising:

means for updating an existing group member list at an access network based at least on the received group member report, the group member list including a list of access terminals, at least one multicast group associated with each of the listed access terminals, a location associated with each of the listed access terminals and a time-stamp indicating a time at which each location was last reported to the access network from the listed access terminals.

69. A wireless communication system, comprising:

means for forming a group member list at an access network, the group member list including a list of access terminals, at least one multicast group associated with each of the listed access terminals, a location associated with each of the listed access terminals and a time-stamp indicating a time at which each location was last reported to the access network; and

means for updating the group member list based on at least one report sent from at least one access terminal.

70. The wireless communication system of claim 69, further comprising:

means for determining whether the at least one report requests that the at least one access terminal be added to a given multicast group; and

means for adding, based on the determination, the at least one access terminal to the given multicast group by listing the at least one access terminal in the group member list in association with the given multicast group included along with a location indicated by the at least one report and a time at which the at least one report is sent.

71. The wireless communication system of claim 69, further comprising:

means for determining whether the at least one report requests that the at least one access terminal be withdrawn from a given multicast group; and

means for withdrawing, based on the determination, the at least one access terminal from the given multicast group by removing a listing of the at least one access terminal from the group member list in association with the given multicast group.

72. The wireless communication system of claim 69, further comprising:

means for initiating a multicast session for a given multicast group;

means for populating an initial cluster of sectors based on the group member list; and

means for supporting the multicast session within the initial cluster of sectors.

73. A computer-readable medium including program code stored thereon, the program code configured to operate within a wireless communication system including a plurality of sectors, comprising:

program code to send, from an access terminal, a group member report to an access network, the group member report indicating a location of the access terminal and at least one multicast group, the group member report being sent before a multicast session associated with the multicast group is initiated;

program code to determine a location update rule, the location update rule being a manner in which to report location updates of the access terminal to the access network; and

program code to report location updates of the access terminal to the access network based on the determined location update rule.

74. The computer-readable medium of claim 73, wherein the program code to send sends the group member report to request that the access terminal join the at least one multicast group.

75. The computer-readable medium of claim 73, wherein the program code to send sends the group member report to request that the access terminal withdraw from the at least one multicast group.

76. The computer-readable medium of claim 73, wherein the location update rule is at least one of time-based and location-based.

77. The computer-readable medium of claim 76, wherein the program code to report is configured to:

start a timer having a given time period at the access terminal; and

send a location update indicating a current location of the access terminal to the access network once per each given time period of the timer.

78. The computer-readable medium of claim 73, further comprising:

program code to determine whether to change group membership information for the access terminal; and

program code to send, from the access terminal, a supplemental group member report to the access network if the program code to determine determines to change group membership information for the access terminal.

79. A computer-readable medium including program code stored thereon, the program code configured to operate within a wireless communication system including a plurality of sectors, comprising:

program code to receive, from an access terminal, a group member report, the group member report indicating a location of the access terminal and at least one multicast group, the group member report being sent before a multicast session associated with the multicast group is initiated; and

program code to receive at least one location update report from the access terminal, each received location update report indicating a location of the access terminal.

80. The computer-readable medium of claim 79, further comprising:

program code to determine a location update rule, the location update rule being a manner in which to report location updates of the access terminal to the access network; and

program code to send the location update rule to the access terminal.

81. The computer-readable medium of claim 79, further comprising:

program code to form a group member list at an access network based at least on the received group member report, the group member list including a list of access terminals, at least one multicast group associated with each of the listed access terminals, a location associated with each of the listed access terminals and a time-stamp indicating a time at which each location was last reported to the access network from the listed access terminals; and

program code to update the group member list based on (i) the received at least one location update report or (ii) one or more supplemental group member reports from the access terminal.

82. The computer-readable medium of claim 79, further comprising:

program code to update an existing group member list at an access network based at least on the received group member report, the group member list including a list of access terminals, at least one multicast group associated with each of the listed access terminals, a location associated with each of the listed access terminals and a time-stamp indicating a time at which each location was last reported to the access network from the listed access terminals.

83. A computer-readable medium including program code stored thereon, the program code configured to operate within a wireless communication system including a plurality of sectors, comprising:

program code to form a group member list at an access network, the group member list including a list of access terminals, at least one multicast group associated with each of the listed access terminals, a location associated with each of the listed access terminals and a time-stamp indicating a time at which each location was last reported to the access network; and

program code to update the group member list based on at least one report sent from at least one access terminal.

84. The computer-readable medium of claim 83, further comprising:

program code to determine whether the at least one report requests that the at least one access terminal be added to a given multicast group; and

program code to add, based on the determination, the at least one access terminal to the given multicast group by listing the at least one access terminal in the group member list in association with the given multicast group included along with a location indicated by the at least one report and a time at which the at least one report is sent.

85. The computer-readable medium of claim 83, further comprising:

program code to determine whether the at least one report requests that the at least one access terminal be withdrawn from a given multicast group; and

program code to withdraw, based on the determination, the at least one access terminal from the given multicast group by removing a listing of the at least one access terminal from the group member list in association with the given multicast group.

86. The computer-readable medium of claim 83, further comprising:

program code to initiate a multicast session for a given multicast group;

program code to populate an initial cluster of sectors based on the group member list; and

program code to support the multicast session within the initial cluster of sectors.