Method and apparatus for processing multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS) counting message

• US 20130051306A1
• Filed: 04/25/2011
• Published: 02/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xi'An Zhongxing New Software Co., Ltd. (ZTE Corporation)
• Original Assignee: ZTE Corporation
• Inventors: Wang, Bin, Gou, Wei
• Granted Patent: US 9,332,527 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/312
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 using downlink control channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/30 Resource management for broadcast services

Abstract

The disclosure provides a method for processing a Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS) counting message. The method includes: a network side configures counting message for performing feedback counting on an MBMS service; and the network side determines a Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service Single Frequency Network (MBSFN) area to which the counted MBMS belongs and a Multimedia Control Channel (MCCH) which corresponds to the MBSFN area, and transmits the counting message to user equipment (UE) through the MCCH which corresponds to the MBSFN area, or transmits the counting message to the UE through a Broadcast Control Channel (BCCH). The disclosure also discloses an apparatus for processing an MBMS counting message. By using the method and the apparatus provided by the disclosure, the network side can know the reception situation of the MBMS service in the MBSFN area.

Claims

1. A method for processing a Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS) counting message, comprising:

configuring, by a network side, a counting message for performing feedback counting on an MBMS service; and

determining, by the network side, a Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service Single Frequency Network (MBSFN) area to which the counted MBMS service belongs and a Multimedia Control Channel (MCCH) which corresponds to the MBSFN area, and transmitting the counting message to User Equipment (UE) through carrying the counting message on the MCCH which corresponds to the MBSFN area, or transmitting the counting message to UE through carrying the counting message on a Broadcast Control Channel (BCCH).

2. The method for processing an MBMS counting message according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting the counting message to UE through carrying the counting message on a BCCH comprises:

when the network side transmits the counting message by taking an MBSFN area as a unit, carrying the counting message in a system information block 13 (SIB13) and transmitting the counting message which serves as a parameter of MBSFN-AreaInfo-r9 to the UE corresponding to the MBMS service; and

when the network side transmits the counting message by taking a cell or a base station as a unit, carrying the counting message in the SIB13 and transmitting the counting message which serves as an independent information element to the UE corresponding to the MBMS service.

3. The method for processing an MBMS counting message according to claim 1, wherein the network side comprises a Multi-Cell Coordination Entity (MCE) and an evolved Node B (eNB);

correspondingly, when MBSFN area overlapped coverage does not exist, the method further comprises;

generating, by the MCE, the counting message for the MBMS service which needs to be subjected to the feedback counting, and transmitting by the MCE the counting message generated to all relative eNBs in the MBSFN area to which the MBMS service belongs; and

transmitting the counting message to UE by the eNBs.

4. The method for processing an MBMS counting message according to claim 1, wherein the network side comprises an MCE and an eNB;

correspondingly, when MBSFN area overlapped coverage exists, the method further comprises;

generating, by the MCE, the counting message for the MBMS service which needs to be subjected to the feedback counting and determining the MBSFN area where the counting message is transmitted, or the MCCH through which the counting message is transmitted; and

transmitting the counting message generated to all relative eNBs in the MBSFN area to which the MBMS service belongs by the MCE; and

transmitting the counting message to UE by the eNBs.

5. The method for processing an MBMS counting message according to claim 1, further comprising:

after transmitting the counting message to the UE, detecting a feedback from the UE and analyzing a reception situation of the MBMS service at the UE by the network side.

6. The method for processing an MBMS counting message according to claim 5, wherein the detecting a feedback from the UE by the network side comprises:

adopting a first detection mode to detect the feedback from the UE and determining whether there is UE receiving the MBMS service according to a detection result under the first detection mode by the network side; and

when determining that there is UE receiving the MBMS service, adopting, by the network side, a second detection mode to analyze uplink feedback information transmitted by the UE to obtain data which is fed back by the UE.

7. The method for processing an MBMS counting message according to claim 1, wherein the configuring by a network side a counting message for performing feedback counting on an MBMS service comprises:

configuring a counting message for each MBSFN area respectively by the network side, wherein the counting message is only transmitted in an MBSFN sub-frame corresponding to the each MBSFN area; and

in a cell which is covered by the MBSFN areas in a overlapping manner, the counting message of the each MBSFN area only contains an MBMS service in an MBSFN area for which the counting message is configured.

8. The method for processing an MBMS counting message according to claim 1, wherein the configuring a counting message for performing feedback counting on an MBMS service by a network side comprises:

configuring a common counting message for all MBSFN areas by the network side;

wherein only one counting message is configured for a cell, and the counting message contains all MBMS services which need to be subjected to feedback counting in one or more MBSFN areas in the cell.

13. The method for processing an MBMS counting message according to claim 2, wherein the network side comprises a Multi-Cell Coordination Entity (MCE) and an evolved Node B (eNB);

correspondingly, when MBSFN area overlapped coverage does not exist, the method further comprises;

generating, by the MCE, the counting message for the MBMS service which needs to be subjected to the feedback counting, and transmitting by the MCE the counting message generated to all relative eNBs in the MBSFN area to which the MBMS service belongs; and

transmitting the counting message to UE by the eNBs.

14. The method for processing an MBMS counting message according to claim 2, wherein the network side comprises an MCE and an eNB;

correspondingly, when MBSFN area overlapped coverage exists, the method further comprises;

generating, by the MCE, the counting message for the MBMS service which needs to be subjected to the feedback counting and determining the MBSFN area where the counting message is transmitted, or the MCCH through which the counting message is transmitted; and

transmitting the counting message generated to all relative eNBs in the MBSFN area to which the MBMS service belongs by the MCE; and

transmitting the counting message to UE by the eNBs.

15. The method for processing an MBMS counting message according to claim 2, further comprising:

after transmitting the counting message to the UE, detecting a feedback from the UE and analyzing a reception situation of the MBMS service at the UE by the network side.

16. The method for processing an MBMS counting message according to claim 15, wherein the detecting a feedback from the UE by the network side comprises:

adopting a first detection mode to detect the feedback from the UE and determining whether there is UE receiving the MBMS service according to a detection result under the first detection mode by the network side; and

when determining that there is UE receiving the MBMS service, adopting, by the network side, a second detection mode to analyze uplink feedback information transmitted by the UE to obtain data which is fed back by the UE.

17. The method for processing an MBMS counting message according to claim 2, wherein the configuring by a network side a counting message for performing feedback counting on an MBMS service comprises:

configuring a counting message for each MBSFN area respectively by the network side, wherein the counting message is only transmitted in an MBSFN sub-frame corresponding to the each MBSFN area; and

in a cell which is covered by the MBSFN areas in a overlapping manner, the counting message of the each MBSFN area only contains an MBMS service in an MBSFN area for which the counting message is configured.

18. The method for processing an MBMS counting message according to claim 2, wherein the configuring a counting message for performing feedback counting on an MBMS service by a network side comprises:

configuring a common counting message for all MBSFN areas by the network side;

wherein only one counting message is configured for a cell, and the counting message contains all MBMS services which need to be subjected to feedback counting in one or is more MBSFN areas in the cell.

9. An apparatus for processing a Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS) counting message, applied to a network side, comprising:

a message configuration module, configured to configure a counting message for performing feedback counting on an MBMS service; and

a message transmission module, configured to determine a Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service Single Frequency Network (MBSFN) area to which the counted MBMS service belongs and a Multimedia Control Channel (MCCH) which corresponds to the MBSFN area, and transmit the counting message to User Equipment (UE) through carrying the counting message on the MCCH which corresponds to the MBSFN area, or transmit the counting message to UE through carrying the counting message on a Broadcast Control Channel (BCCH).

10. The apparatus for processing an MBMS counting message according to claim 9, wherein the message transmission module is further configured to, when transmitting the counting message through the BCCH by taking an MBSFN area as a unit, carry the counting message in a system information block 13 (SIB13) and transmit the counting message which serves as a parameter of MBSFN-AreaInfo-r9 to the UE corresponding to the MBMS service;

and

the message transmission module is further configured to, when transmitting the counting message through the BCCH by taking a cell or a base station as a unit, carry the counting message in the SIB13 and transmit the counting message which serves as an independent information element to the UE corresponding to the MBMS service.

11. The apparatus for processing an MBMS counting message according to claim 9, further comprising a detection and analysis module configured to detect a feedback from the UE and analyze a reception situation of the MBMS service at the UE.

12. The apparatus for processing an MBMS counting message according to claim 11, wherein the detection and analysis module is further configured to detect the feedback from the UE by adopting a first detection mode and determine whether there is UE receiving the MBMS service according to a detection result under the first detection mode;

and

when determining that there is UE receiving the MBMS service, the detection and analysis module is configured to adopt a second detection mode to analyze uplink feedback information transmitted by the UE to obtain data which is fed back by the UE.

19. The apparatus for processing an MBMS counting message according to claim 10, further comprising a detection and analysis module configured to detect a feedback from the UE and analyze a reception situation of the MBMS service at the UE.

20. The apparatus for processing an MBMS counting message according to claim 19, wherein the detection and analysis module is further configured to detect the feedback from the UE by adopting a first detection mode and determine whether there is UE receiving the MBMS service according to a detection result under the first detection mode;

and

when determining that there is UE receiving the MBMS service, the detection and analysis module is configured to adopt a second detection mode to analyze uplink feedback information transmitted by the UE to obtain data which is fed back by the UE.