Method and apparatus for switching between shared and individual channels to provide broadcast content services in a wireless telephone network

• US 7,283,782 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2002
• Issued: 10/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Wang, Jun, Chen, Tao, Sinnarajah, Ragulan
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson; Matthew D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHARMA, SUJATHA R
• Application Number:
  US10/278,485
• Publication Number:
  US 20040203336A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,820 Days
• Field of Search: 455/436, 455/437, 455/438, 455/442, 455/455, 455/3.11, 455/450, 455/67.11, 455/452.1, 370/229, 370/232, 370/328, 370/329, 370/335, 370/336, 370/331, 370/352, 370/353, 370/431, 370/437, 725/62, 725/60, 725/61, 725/86, 725/81, 725/120, 725/135, 725/148
• US Class Current: 455/3.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0007 for multicast or broadcast services, e.g. MBMS multicast or broadcast application services H04W4/06; resource management for broadcast services H04W72/30; connection management for selective distribution or broadcast H04W76/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/06 Reselecting a communication resource in the serving access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/08 Reselecting an access point
• 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 72/30 Resource management for broadcast services

Abstract

A wireless communications network (100) includes various base stations (110) and subscriber-stations (114). The base stations each provide (602) broadcast content services to subscriber-stations over communication channels of one of the following types: 1) shared channels for use by multiple subscriber-stations, 2) individual channels each dedicated for use by an individual subscriber-station. In response to one or more prescribed condition changes (604), there is a switch (606) in the type of communications channel used to provide broadcast content services to one or more given subscriber-stations.

Claims

1. A base station for use in a wireless communications network, comprising:

first means for transceiving;

second means for performing broadcast content delivery operations comprising;

providing broadcast content to one or more wireless subscriber-stations over one or more communication channels each having one of the following types;

a shared channel for use by multiple subscriber-stations, an individual channel dedicated for use by an individual subscriber-station;

in response to a first type of a network condition change, directing the first means to change the type of communications channel used to provide the broadcast content to one or more subscriber-stations by;

notifying the one or more wireless subscriber-stations of providing the broadcast content from a shared channel to an individual channel;

analyzing responses from the one or more wireless subscriber-stations to determine interest by a wireless subscriber-station in continuing to receive the broadcast content;

assigning an individual channel to each wireless subscriber-station that indicated an interest in continuing to receive the broadcast content; and

resuming broadcast of the broadcast content to each wireless subscriber-station on each assigned individual channel; and

in response to a second type of a network condition change, directing the first means to change the type of communication channel used to provide the broadcast content to one or more subscriber-stations by;

informing a first subscriber-station of the one or more subscriber-stations of the subject base station'"'"'s intent to release the individual channel used to provide the broadcast content and to provide the broadcast content on a shared channel;

releasing the individual channel of the first subscriber-station;

determining if there are any remaining subscriber-stations of the one or more subscriber-stations to inform and release;

if there are no remaining subscriber-stations to inform and release, transmitting the broadcast content on the shared channel to the one or more subscriber-stations.

2. A signal bearing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital data processor to perform operations to operate a base station in a wireless communications network, the operations comprising:

providing broadcast content to one or more wireless subscriber-stations over one or more communication channels each having one of the following types;

a shared channel for use by multiple subscriber-stations, an individual channel dedicated for use by an individual subscriber-station;

in response to a first type of a network condition change, changing the type of communications channel used to provide the broadcast content to one or more subscriber-stations by;

notifying the one or more wireless subscriber-stations of providing the broadcast content from a shared channel to an individual channel;

analyzing responses from the one or more wireless subscriber-stations to determine interest by a wireless subscriber-station in continuing to receive the broadcast content;

assigning an individual channel to each wireless subscriber-station that indicated an interest in continuing to receive the broadcast content; and

resuming broadcast of the broadcast content to each wireless subscriber-station on each assigned individual channel; and

in response to a second type of a network condition change, changing the type of communication channel used to provide the broadcast content to one or more subscriber-stations by;

informing a first subscriber-station of the one or more subscriber-stations of the subject base station'"'"'s intent to release the individual channel used to provide the broadcast content and to provide the broadcast content on a shared channel;

releasing the individual channel of the first subscriber-station;

determining if there are any remaining subscriber-stations of the one or more subscriber-stations to inform and release;

if there are no remaining subscriber-stations to inform and release, transmitting the broadcast content on the shared channel to the one or more subscriber-stations.

3. A method of operating a base station in a wireless communications network, performed by a subject base station, comprising:

providing broadcast content to one or more wireless subscriber-stations over one or more communication channels each communication channel having one of the following types;

a shared channel for use by multiple subscriber-stations, an individual channel dedicated for use by an individual subscriber-station;

in response to a first type of a network condition changes, changing the type of communications channel used to provide the broadcast content to one or more subscriber-stations by;

notifying the one or more wireless subscriber-stations of providing the broadcast content from a shared channel to an individual channel;

analyzing responses from the one or more wireless subscriber-stations to determine interest by a wireless subscriber-station in continuing to receive the broadcast content;

assigning an individual channel to each wireless subscriber-station that indicated an interest in continuing to receive the broadcast content; and

resuming broadcast of the broadcast content to each wireless subscriber-station on each assigned individual channel; and

in response to a second type of a network condition change, changing the type of communication channel used to provide the broadcast content to one or more subscriber-stations by;

informing a first subscriber-station of the one or more subscriber-stations of the subject base station'"'"'s intent to release the individual channel used to provide the broadcast content and to provide the broadcast content on a shared channel;

releasing the individual channel of the first subscriber-station;

determining if there are any remaining subscriber-stations of the one or more subscriber-stations to inform and release;

if there are no remaining subscriber-stations to inform and release, transmitting the broadcast content on the shared channel to the one or more subscriber-stations.

4. A base station for use in a wireless communications network, comprising:

a transceiver;

a digital data processor, coupled to the transceiver, programmed to perform broadcast content delivery operations comprising;

providing broadcast content to one or more wireless subscriber-stations over one or more communication channels each having one of the following types;

a shared channel for use by multiple subscriber-stations, an individual channel dedicated for use by an individual subscriber-station;

in response to a first type of a network condition changes, changing the type of communications channel used to provide the broadcast content to one or more subscriber-stations by;

notifying the one or more wireless subscriber-stations of providing the broadcast content from a shared channel to an individual channel;

analyzing responses from the one or more wireless subscriber-stations to determine interest by a wireless subscriber-station in continuing to receive the broadcast content;

assigning an individual channel to each wireless subscriber-station that indicated an interest in continuing to receive the broadcast content; and

resuming broadcast of the broadcast content to each wireless subscriber-station on each assigned individual channel; and

in response to a second type of a network condition change, changing the type of communication channel used to provide the broadcast content to one or more subscriber-stations by;

informing a first subscriber-station of the one or more subscriber-stations of the subject base station'"'"'s intent to release the individual channel used to provide the broadcast content and to provide the broadcast content on a shared channel;

releasing the individual channel of the first subscriber-station;

determining if there are any remaining subscriber-stations of the one or more subscriber-stations to inform and release;

if there are no remaining subscriber-stations to inform and release, transmitting the broadcast content on the shared channel to the one or more subscriber-stations.

5. Logic circuitry of multiple interconnected electrically conductive elements configured to perform operations to operate a base station in a wireless communications network, the operations comprising:

providing broadcast content to wireless subscriber-stations over providing broadcast content to one or more wireless subscriber-stations over one or more communication channels each having one of the following types;

a shared channel for use by multiple subscriber-stations, an individual channel dedicated for use by an individual subscriber-station;

in response to a first type of a network condition changes, changing the type of communications channel used to provide the broadcast content to one or more subscriber-stations by;

notifying the one or more wireless subscriber-stations of providing the broadcast content from a shared channel to an individual channel;

analyzing responses from the one or more wireless subscriber-stations to determine interest by a wireless subscriber-station in continuing to receive the broadcast content;

assigning an individual channel to each wireless subscriber-station that indicated an interest in continuing to receive the broadcast content; and

resuming broadcast of the broadcast content to each wireless subscriber-station on each assigned individual channel; and

in response to a second type of a network condition change, changing the type of communication channel used to provide the broadcast content to one or more subscriber-stations by;

informing a first subscriber-station of the one or more subscriber-stations of the subject base station'"'"'s intent to release the individual channel used to provide the broadcast content and to provide the broadcast content on a shared channel;

releasing the individual channel of the first subscriber-station;

determining if there are any remaining subscriber-stations of the one or more subscriber-stations to inform and release;

if there are no remaining subscriber-stations to inform and release, transmitting the broadcast content on the shared channel to the one or more subscriber-stations.