SUPPORTING A MULTICAST SESSION WITHIN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK

• US 20090080364A1
• Filed: 09/22/2008
• Published: 03/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Santhanam, Arvind, SONG, Bongyong
• Granted Patent: US 8,630,219 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/312
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/10 Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-On-Call services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/10 using broadcasted information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/30 Resource management for broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/45 for Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-to-Talk over cellular [PoC] services

Abstract

Methods of supporting a multicast session within a wireless communications network are provided. An access terminal adjusts a monitoring rate of a downlink control channel either (i) after transmitting a multicast registration message in a sector that is not supporting a given multicast session or (ii) after receiving an announce message announcing the given multicast session. An access network anticipates the monitoring rate adjustment, and sends a message advertising the given multicast session (e.g., a broadcast overhead message (BOM)) based on the adjusted monitoring rate. Further, the announce message sent by the access network can be sent on the downlink control channel, and can be sent based on expected paging cycles, or monitoring rates, of the downlink control channel at one or more access terminals within the network prior to the monitoring rate adjustment.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring a downlink control channel, comprising:

adjusting a rate at which an access terminal monitors the downlink control channel in expectation of receiving a message advertising a given multicast session; and

receiving the message advertising the given multicast session on the downlink control channel.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting, from the access terminal, a multicast registration message to an access network, the multicast registration message requesting registration of the access terminal to the given multicast session,

wherein the adjusting step is performed after the transmitting step, and the receiving step receives the message advertising the given multicast session from the access network in response to the multicast registration message.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein a wireless communication protocol associated with the given multicast session designates a given control channel capsule on the downlink control channel for messages that advertise multicast sessions, and the receiving step receives the message advertising the given multicast session on an earlier control channel capsule than the given control channel capsule.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the earlier control channel capsule is a next available control channel capsule on the downlink control channel after the access network receives the multicast registration message.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving, from the access network, an announce message announcing the given multicast session,

wherein the transmitting step bundles the multicast registration message with an acknowledgment message acknowledging the announce message.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

waiting a given period to receive a message advertising the given multicast session and indicating how the access terminal can tune to the given multicast session on a downlink broadcast channel,

wherein the transmitting step is performed if the message is not received within the given period.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein a wireless communication protocol associated with the given multicast session designates a given control channel capsule on the downlink control channel for messages that advertise multicast sessions, and the given period is at least equal to a period between successive instances of the given control channel capsule.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the waiting step is performed upon entry of the access terminal into a new sector.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from an access network, an announce message announcing a given multicast session to a plurality of access terminals;

wherein the adjusting step is performed in response to the announce message.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting step increases the rate at which the access terminal monitors the downlink control channel.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

resetting, after the receiving step, the adjusted rate to a rate at which the access terminal monitors the downlink control channel prior to the adjusting step.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the message advertising the given multicast session further indicates a manner in which the access terminal can tune to the given multicast session on a downlink broadcast channel.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the message advertising the given multicast session is a broadcast overhead message (BOM) that lists a broadcast multicast service (BCMCS) flow identifier of the given multicast session in association with an interlace-multiplex (IM) pair upon which multicast media for the given multicast session is being carried on the downlink broadcast channel.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the message advertising the given multicast session is a broadcast overhead message (BOM) that is received on a first carrier and indicates a second carrier that is hosting the given multicast session.

15. A method of scheduling a message advertising a given multicast session, comprising:

receiving, from an access terminal, a multicast registration message, the multicast registration message requesting registration of the access terminal to a given multicast session;

determining when to send a message advertising the given multicast session based on a first rate that the access terminal is expected to monitor the downlink control channel after the receiving step, the first rate being different than a second rate that the access terminal is expected to monitor the downlink control channel before the receiving step; and

transmitting the message advertising the given multicast session to the access terminal on a downlink control channel based on the determining step.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

transmitting an announce message to a plurality of access terminals to announce the given multicast session,

wherein the receiving step receives the multicast registration message in response to the announce message.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein a conservative paging cycle based on a least common multiplier (LCM) of paging cycles including the second rate is used to schedule the transmission of the announce message,

wherein the first rate is higher than the second rate, and

wherein a paging cycle based on the first rate is used to schedule the transmission of the message advertising the given multicast session

18. The method of claim 15, wherein a wireless communication protocol associated with the given multicast session designates a given control channel capsule on the downlink control channel for messages that advertise multicast sessions, and the determining step determines to transmit the message advertising the given multicast session on an earlier control channel capsule than the given control channel capsule.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the earlier control channel capsule is a next available control channel capsule on the downlink control channel after the receiving step receives the multicast registration message.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the receiving step receives, along with the multicast registration message, an acknowledgment message acknowledging the announce message.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the multicast registration message is received in response to the access terminal entering into a new sector.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein the message advertising the given multicast session further indicates a manner in which the access terminal can tune to the given multicast session on a downlink broadcast channel.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the message advertising the given multicast session is a broadcast overhead message (BOM) that lists a broadcast multicast service (BCMCS) flow identifier of the given multicast session in association with an interlace-multiplex (IM) pair upon which multicast media for the given multicast session is being carried on the downlink broadcast channel.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the message advertising the given multicast session is a broadcast overhead message (BOM) that is received on a first carrier and indicates a second carrier that is hosting the given multicast session.

25. An access terminal, comprising:

means for adjusting a rate at which the access terminal monitors the downlink control channel in expectation of receiving a message advertising a given multicast session; and

means for receiving the message advertising the given multicast session on the downlink control channel.

26. The access terminal of claim 25, further comprising:

means for transmitting a multicast registration message to an access network, the multicast registration message requesting registration of the access terminal to the given multicast session,

wherein the means for adjusting adjusts the rate after the means for transmitting transmits the multicast registration message, and the means for receiving receives the message advertising the given multicast session from the access network in response to the multicast registration message.

27. The access terminal of claim 26, further comprising:

means for receiving, from the access network, an announce message announcing the given multicast session,

wherein the means for transmitting bundles the multicast registration message with an acknowledgment message acknowledging the announce message.

28. The access terminal of claim 26, further comprising:

means for waiting a given period to receive a message advertising the given multicast session and indicating how the access terminal can tune to the given multicast session on a downlink broadcast channel,

wherein the means for transmitting transmits the multicast registration message if the message is not received within the given period.

29. The access terminal of claim 25, further comprising:

means for receiving, from an access network, an announce message announcing a given multicast session to a plurality of access terminals;

wherein the means for adjusting adjusts the rate in response to the announce message.

30. The access terminal of claim 25, further comprising:

means for resetting, after the means for receiving receives the message, the adjusted rate to a rate at which the access terminal monitors the downlink control channel prior to the adjustment.

31. The access terminal of claim 25, wherein the message advertising the given multicast session further indicates a manner in which the access terminal can tune to the given multicast session on a downlink broadcast channel.

32. An access network, comprising:

means for receiving, from an access terminal, a multicast registration message, the multicast registration message requesting registration of the access terminal to a given multicast session;

means for determining when to send a message advertising the given multicast session based on a first rate that the access terminal is expected to monitor the downlink control channel after the means for receiving receives the multicast registration message, the first rate being different than a second rate that the access terminal is expected to monitor the downlink control channel before the means for receiving receives the multicast registration message; and

means for transmitting the message advertising the given multicast session to the access terminal on a downlink control channel based on the determination of the means for determining.

33. The access network of claim 32, further comprising:

means for transmitting an announce message to a plurality of access terminals to announce the given multicast session,

wherein the means for receiving receives the multicast registration message in response to the announce message.

34. The access network of claim 33, wherein a conservative paging cycle based on a least common multiplier (LCM) of paging cycles including the second rate is used to schedule the transmission of the announce message,

wherein the first rate is higher than the second rate, and

wherein a paging cycle based on the first rate is used to schedule the transmission of the message advertising the given multicast session

35. The access network of claim 32, wherein the multicast registration message is received in response to the access terminal entering into a new sector.

36. The access network of claim 32, wherein the message advertising the given multicast session further indicates a manner in which the access terminal can tune to the given multicast session on a downlink broadcast channel.

37. An access terminal, comprising:

logic configured to adjust a rate at which the access terminal monitors the downlink control channel in expectation of receiving a message advertising a given multicast session; and

logic configured to receive the message advertising the given multicast session on the downlink control channel.

38. The access terminal of claim 37, further comprising:

logic configured to transmit a multicast registration message to an access network, the multicast registration message requesting registration of the access terminal to the given multicast session,

wherein the logic configured to adjust adjusts the rate after the logic configured to transmit transmits the multicast registration message, and the logic configured to receive receives the message advertising the given multicast session from the access network in response to the multicast registration message.

39. The access terminal of claim 38, further comprising:

logic configured to receive, from the access network, an announce message announcing the given multicast session,

wherein the logic configured to transmit bundles the multicast registration message with an acknowledgment message acknowledging the announce message.

40. The access terminal of claim 38, further comprising:

logic configured to wait a given period to receive a message advertising the given multicast session and indicating how the access terminal can tune to the given multicast session on a downlink broadcast channel,

wherein the logic configured to transmit transmits the multicast registration message if the message is not received within the given period.

41. The access terminal of claim 37, further comprising:

logic configured to receive, from an access network, an announce message announcing a given multicast session to a plurality of access terminals;

wherein the logic configured to adjust adjusts the rate in response to the announce message.

42. The access terminal of claim 37, further comprising:

logic configured to reset, after the logic configured to receive receives the message, the adjusted rate to a rate at which the access terminal monitors the downlink control channel prior to the adjustment.

43. The access terminal of claim 37, wherein the message advertising the given multicast session further indicates a manner in which the access terminal can tune to the given multicast session on a downlink broadcast channel.

44. An access network, comprising:

logic configured to receive, from an access terminal, a multicast registration message, the multicast registration message requesting registration of the access terminal to a given multicast session;

logic configured to determine when to send a message advertising the given multicast session based on a first rate that the access terminal is expected to monitor the downlink control channel after the logic configured to receive receives the multicast registration message, the first rate being different than a second rate that the access terminal is expected to monitor the downlink control channel before the logic configured to receive receives the multicast registration message; and

logic configured to transmit the message advertising the given multicast session to the access terminal on a downlink control channel based on the determination of the logic configured to determine.

45. The access network of claim 44, further comprising:

logic configured to transmit an announce message to a plurality of access terminals to announce the given multicast session,

wherein the logic configured to receive receives the multicast registration message in response to the announce message.

46. The access network of claim 45, wherein a conservative paging cycle based on a least common multiplier (LCM) of paging cycles including the second rate is used to schedule the transmission of the announce message, wherein the first rate is higher than the second rate, and

wherein a paging cycle based on the first rate is used to schedule the transmission of the message advertising the given multicast session

47. The access network of claim 44, wherein the multicast registration message is received in response to the access terminal entering into a new sector.

48. The access network of claim 44, wherein the message advertising the given multicast session further indicates a manner in which the access terminal can tune to the given multicast session on a downlink broadcast channel.

49. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions, which, when executed by an access terminal within a wireless communications system, cause the access terminal to perform operations, the instructions comprising:

program code to adjust a rate at which the access terminal monitors the downlink control channel in expectation of receiving a message advertising a given multicast session; and

program code to receive the message advertising the given multicast session on the downlink control channel.

50. The computer-readable medium of claim 49, further comprising:

program code to transmit a multicast registration message to an access network, the multicast registration message requesting registration of the access terminal to the given multicast session,

wherein the program code to adjust adjusts the rate after the program code to transmit transmits the multicast registration message, and the program code to receive receives the message advertising the given multicast session from the access network in response to the multicast registration message.

51. The computer-readable medium of claim 50, further comprising:

program code to receive, from the access network, an announce message announcing the given multicast session,

wherein the program code to transmit bundles the multicast registration message with an acknowledgment message acknowledging the announce message.

52. The computer-readable medium of claim 49, further comprising:

program code to wait a given period to receive a message advertising the given multicast session and indicating how the access terminal can tune to the given multicast session on a downlink broadcast channel,

wherein the program code to transmit transmits the multicast registration message if the message is not received within the given period.

53. The computer-readable medium of claim 49, further comprising:

program code to receive, from an access network, an announce message announcing a given multicast session to a plurality of access terminals;

wherein the program code to adjust adjusts the rate in response to the announce message.

54. The computer-readable medium of claim 49, further comprising:

program code to reset, after the program code to receive receives the message, the adjusted rate to a rate at which the access terminal monitors the downlink control channel prior to the adjustment.

55. The computer-readable medium of claim 49, wherein the message advertising the given multicast session further indicates a manner in which the access terminal can tune to the given multicast session on a downlink broadcast channel.

56. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions, which, when executed by an access network within a wireless communications system, cause the access network to perform operations, the instructions comprising:

program code to receive, from an access terminal, a multicast registration message, the multicast registration message requesting registration of the access terminal to a given multicast session;

program code to determine when to send a message advertising the given multicast session based on a first rate that the access terminal is expected to monitor the downlink control channel after the program code to receive receives the multicast registration message, the first rate being different than a second rate that the access terminal is expected to monitor the downlink control channel before the program code to receive receives the multicast registration message; and

program code to transmit the message advertising the given multicast session to the access terminal on a downlink control channel based on the determination of the program code to determine.

57. The computer-readable medium of claim 56, further comprising:

program code to transmit an announce message to a plurality of access terminals to announce the given multicast session,

wherein the program code to receive receives the multicast registration message in response to the announce message.

58. The computer-readable medium of claim 57, wherein a conservative paging cycle based on a least common multiplier (LCM) of paging cycles including the second rate is used to schedule the transmission of the announce message,

wherein the first rate is higher than the second rate, and

wherein a paging cycle based on the first rate is used to schedule the transmission of the message advertising the given multicast session

59. The computer-readable medium of claim 56, wherein the multicast registration message is received in response to the access terminal entering into a new sector.

60. The computer-readable medium of claim 56, wherein the message advertising the given multicast session further indicates a manner in which the access terminal can tune to the given multicast session on a downlink broadcast channel.