Scheduling Processing Method For Multimedia Broadcast And Multicast Service And Lower-Layer Network Element

• US 20120093055A1
• Filed: 01/04/2010
• Published: 04/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ZTE Corporation
• Original Assignee: ZTE Corporation
• Inventors: Zhai, Hengxing, Ai, Jianzun
• Granted Patent: US 8,855,037 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/312
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1881 with schedule organisation, e.g. priority, sequence management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/003 Arrangements for allocating sub-channels of the transmission path
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0078 Timing of allocation
• 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 72/121 for groups of terminals or users
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/30 Resource management for broadcast services

Abstract

A scheduling processing method for a MBMS service and a lower-layer network element are provided in the present invention. The method is used for each lower-layer network element to perform scheduling processing for data of an MBMS service received from an upper-layer network element. The method comprises: the lower-layer network element receives information sent by a designated network element, wherein the information is used for indicating a scheduling period of the MBMS service; then the lower-layer network element performs scheduling processing for the data of the received MBMS service according to the scheduling period of the MBMS service. According to the present invention, the problem of the service data loss due to the deficiency distribution of resources can be avoided. Thus, the service quality of the MBMS service can be improved.

Claims

1. A scheduling processing method for a Multimedia Broadcast and Multicast Service (MBMS), used for each lower-layer network element to perform scheduling processing for data of an MBMS service received from an upper-layer network element, comprising:

receiving, by the lower-layer network element, information sent by a designated network element, wherein the information is used for indicating a scheduling period of the MBMS service;

performing, by the lower-layer network element, scheduling processing for the data of the received MBMS service according to the scheduling period of the MBMS service indicated by the information.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step that the lower-layer network element performs the scheduling processing for the data of the received MBMS service comprises:

performing, by the lower-layer network element, the scheduling processing for the data of the received MBMS service in a predetermined transmission scheduling period of a Multicast Channel (MCH).

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein a method for determining the transmission scheduling period of the MCH comprises one of the followings:

indicating, by the upper-layer network element, the transmission scheduling period of the MCH to the lower-layer network element via signalling;

determining, by the designated network element, the transmission scheduling period of the MCH according to the scheduling period of the MBMS service and sending the transmission scheduling period of the MCH to the lower-layer network element via signalling, wherein the designated network element comprises a multimedia broadcast and multicast coordination entity;

determining, by the lower-layer network element, the transmission scheduling period of the MCH according to the scheduling period of the received MBMS service.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the step that the lower-layer network element performs the scheduling processing for the data of the received MBMS service during the predetermined transmission scheduling period of the MCH comprises:

performing, by the lower-layer network element, the scheduling processing for the data of the received MBMS service during the predetermined transmission scheduling period of the MCH according to a predetermined sequence and/or predetermined scheduling amount.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the step that the lower-layer network element performs the scheduling processing for the data of the received MBMS service according to the predetermined sequence comprises one of the followings:

performing the scheduling processing according to priority sequence of the MBMS service;

is performing the scheduling processing according to service quality sequence of the MBMS service;

performing the scheduling processing according to length sequence of the scheduling period of the MBMS service.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the step that the lower-layer network element performs the scheduling processing for the data of the received MBMS service according to the predetermined scheduling amount comprises one of the followings:

performing, by the lower-layer network element, the scheduling processing for the data of the received MBMS service according to average data amount of each MBMS service in received MBMS services which is required to be scheduled in the transmission scheduling period;

performing, by the lower-layer network element, the scheduling processing for the data of the received MBMS service according to the scheduling period of each MBMS service in the received MBMS services.

7. The method according to claim 2, wherein scheduling information of all MBMS services, which are required to be sent during the transmission scheduling period, is set in the transmission scheduling period of the MCH, wherein the scheduling information comprises:

information used for indicating a sub-frame position for sending the MBMS service during the transmission scheduling period.

8. The method according to claim 2, wherein for any two different scheduling periods of MBMS services, a long scheduling period is an integral multiple of a short scheduling period.

9. The method according to claim 2, wherein the transmission scheduling period of the MCH is an integral multiple of a minimum or maximal value of the scheduling period of the MBMS service.

11. The method according to claim 3, wherein scheduling information of all MBMS services, which are required to be sent during the transmission scheduling period, is set in the transmission scheduling period of the MCH, wherein the scheduling information comprises:

information used for indicating a sub-frame position for sending the MBMS service during the transmission scheduling period.

12. The method according to claim 4, wherein scheduling information of all MBMS services, which are required to be sent during the transmission scheduling period, is set in the transmission scheduling period of the MCH, wherein the scheduling information comprises:

information used for indicating a sub-frame position for sending the MBMS service during the transmission scheduling period.

13. The method according to claim 5, wherein scheduling information of all MBMS services, which are required to be sent during the transmission scheduling period, is set in the transmission scheduling period of the MCH, wherein the scheduling information comprises:

information used for indicating a sub-frame position for sending the MBMS service during the transmission scheduling period.

14. The method according to claim 6, wherein scheduling information of all MBMS services, which are required to be sent during the transmission scheduling period, is set in the transmission scheduling period of the MCH, wherein the scheduling information comprises:

information used for indicating a sub-frame position for sending the MBMS service during the transmission scheduling period.

15. The method according to claim 3, wherein for any two different scheduling periods of MBMS services, a long scheduling period is an integral multiple of a short scheduling period.

16. The method according to claim 4, wherein for any two different scheduling periods of MBMS services, a long scheduling period is an integral multiple of a short scheduling period.

17. The method according to claim 5, wherein for any two different scheduling periods of MBMS services, a long scheduling period is an integral multiple of a short scheduling period.

18. The method according to claim 6, wherein for any two different scheduling periods of MBMS services, a long scheduling period is an integral multiple of a short scheduling period.

19. The method according to claim 3, wherein the transmission scheduling period of the MCH is an integral multiple of a minimum or maximal value of the scheduling period of the MBMS service.

20. The method according to claim 4, wherein the transmission scheduling period of the MCH is an integral multiple of a minimum or maximal value of the scheduling period of the MBMS service.

21. The method according to claim 5, wherein the transmission scheduling period of the MCH is an integral multiple of a minimum or maximal value of the scheduling period of the MBMS service.

22. The method according to claim 6, wherein the transmission scheduling period of the MCH is an integral multiple of a minimum or maximal value of the scheduling period of the MBMS service.

10. A lower-layer network element, comprising:

a first receiving unit, used for receiving data of an MBMS service from an upper-layer network element;

a second receiving unit, used for receiving information indicating a scheduling period of the MBMS service from a designated network element;

a scheduling processing unit, used for performing scheduling processing for the data of the MBMS service received by the first receiving unit according to the scheduling period of the MBMS service indicated by the information received by the second receiving unit.