Broadcast communication method, mobile communication system and mobile station using the broadcast communication method

• US 6,711,410 B1
• Filed: 07/20/2000
• Issued: 03/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NTT Docomo Incorporated (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: NTT Docomo Incorporated (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Inventors: Nakajima, Nobuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rampuria, Sharad
• Application Number:
  US09/620,596
• Time in Patent Office: 1,342 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3.05, 455/3.06, 455/458, 455/500, 455/502, 455/517, 725/62, 725/64, 725/87, 725/105
• US Class Current: 455/500
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/57 for mobile receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/72 of terrestrial networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/82 the transmission system being the Internet
• 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 4/08 User group management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/30 Resource management for broadcast services

Abstract

A broadcast communication method for a plurality of mobile stations belonging to a group in a mobile communication system is provided, in which a base station network in the mobile communication system sends information on broadcast communication to the plurality of mobile stations at a predetermined time, and a mobile station in the plurality of mobile stations which does not receive the information or broadcast information of the broadcast communication inquires of the base station network about the broadcast communication.

Claims

1. A broadcast communication method for a plurality of mobile stations belonging to a group in a mobile communication system, said broadcast communication method comprising:

sending by a base station network in said mobile communication system information on broadcast communication to said plurality of mobile stations at a predetermined time; and

inquiring by a mobile station in said plurality of mobile stations of said base station network about said broadcast communication when the mobile station does not receive said information or broadcast information of said broadcast communication,

wherein said information on said broadcast communication includes a time for performing said broadcast communication and an identifier indicating said group.

2. The broadcast communication method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said information on said broadcast communication includes a program table including the time for performing said broadcast communication.

3. The broadcast communication method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base station network performs said broadcast communication a plurality of times at said predetermined time.

4. The broadcast communication method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base station network sends notifying information which indicates that said base station network performed said broadcast communication to said group at a predetermined time after said broadcast communication.

11. The broadcast communication method as claimed in claim 4, wherein said notifying information includes a program table that includes a plurality of programs and flags indicating programs which have been sent to said group by broadcast communication.

5. A mobile communication system which performs broadcast communication for a plurality of mobile stations belonging to a group, said mobile communication system comprising:

a base station network including means for sending information on broadcast communication to said plurality of mobile stations at a predetermined time; and

a mobile station including means for receiving said information and receives broadcast information of said broadcast communication on the basis of said information,

wherein said mobile station inquires of said base station network about said broadcast communication when said mobile station does not receive said information or said broadcast information, and

wherein said information on said broadcast communication includes a time for performing said broadcast communication and an identifier indicating said group.

6. The mobile communication system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said information on said broadcast communication includes a program table including the time for performing said broadcast communication.

7. The mobile communication system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said base station network further includes means for performing said broadcast communication a plurality of times at said predetermined time.

8. The mobile communication system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said base station network further includes means for sending notifying information which indicates that said base station network performed said broadcast communication to said group at a predetermined time after said broadcast communication.

12. The broadcast communication system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said notifying information includes a program table that includes a plurality of programs and flags indicating programs which have been sent to said group by broadcast communication.

9. A mobile station in a mobile communication system which performs broadcast communication, said mobile station comprising:

means for receiving information on said broadcast communication and for receiving broadcast information of said broadcast communication on the basis of said information; and

means for inquiring of a base station network in said mobile communication system about said broadcast communication when said mobile station does not receive said information or said broadcast information,

wherein said information on said broadcast communication includes a time for performing said broadcast communication and an identifier indicating said group.

10. The mobile station as claimed in claim 9, wherein said information on said broadcast communication includes a program table including the time for performing said broadcast communication.

13. A mobile communication system which performs broadcast communication for a plurality of mobile stations belonging to a group, said mobile communication system comprising:

a base station network configured to send information on broadcast communication to said plurality of mobile stations at a predetermined time; and

a mobile station configured to receive said information and receive broadcast information of said broadcast communication on the basis of said information,

wherein said mobile station inquires of said base station network about said broadcast communication when said mobile station does not receive said information or said broadcast information, and

wherein said information on said broadcast communication includes a time for performing said broadcast communication and an identifier indicating said group.

14. The mobile communication system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said information on said broadcast communication includes a program table including the time for performing said broadcast communication.

15. The mobile communication system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said base station network performs said broadcast communication a plurality of times at said predetermined time.

16. The mobile communication system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said base station network sends notifying information which indicates that said base station network performed said broadcast communication to said group at a predetermined time after said broadcast communication.

17. The mobile communication system as claimed in claim 16, wherein said notifying information includes a program table that includes a plurality of programs and flags indicating programs which have been sent to said group by broadcast communication.

18. A mobile station in a mobile communication system which performs broadcast communication, said mobile station comprising:

a receiver configured to receive information on said broadcast communication and to receive broadcast information of said broadcast communication on the basis of said information; and

a unit configured to inquire of a base station network in said mobile communication system about said broadcast communication when said mobile station does not receive said information or said broadcast information,

wherein said information on said broadcast communication includes a time for performing said broadcast communication and an identifier indicating said group.

19. The mobile station as claimed in claim 18, wherein said information on said broadcast communication includes a program table including the time for performing said broadcast communication.