Method for discovering a broadcast multicast services (BCMCS) controller in a packet data network

• US 7,388,855 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2004
• Issued: 06/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Madour, Lila
• Primary Examiner(s): D'Agosta; Stephen M
• Application Number:
  US10/986,821
• Publication Number:
  US 20050117542A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,310 Days
• Field of Search: 370/338, 370/231, 370/322, 370/329, 455/450, 455451-453, 455/466, 709/217, 709/226, 709/312
• US Class Current: 370/338
• 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 61/5014 using dynamic host configuration protocol [DHCP] or bootstrap protocol [BOOTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5084 Providing for device mobility network addressing or numbering for mobility support in wireless networks H04W8/26; mobile IP H04W80/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• 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 76/40 for selective distribution or broadcast

Abstract

A method and a packet data network for providing broadcast/multicast services (BCMCS) to a mobile terminal (MT). The method receives at a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server from the MT, for requesting an IP address of a primary BCMCS controller that serves the packet data network. The method retrieves the IP address of the primary BCMCS controller and responds to the MT with a response message from the DHCP server to the MT, the response message includes the IP address of the primary BCMCS controller. Next, the MT uses the IP address of the primary BCMCS controller and sends a Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) request message from the MT to the primary BCMCS controller for requesting BCMCS services, the HTTP request message including a location information and an access type indicator of the MT. Afterwards, a list of available BCMCS programs is provided to the MT.

Claims

1. A method for providing broadcast/multicast services (BCMCS) to a mobile terminal (MT) in a packet data network the method comprising steps of:

receiving at a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server from the MT, a request message for requesting an IP address of a primary BCMCS controller that serves the packet data network;

retrieving at the DHCP server the IP address of the primary BCMCS controller;

sending a response message from the DHCP server to the MT, the response message including the IP address of the primary BCMCS controller;

sending, based on the IP address of the primary BCMCS controller, a request message for requesting BCMCS services from the MT to the primary BCMCS controller, the request message including a location information and an access type indicator of the MT;

determining at the primary BSMCS controller whether the primary BCMCS controller serves a zone where the MT is located;

if the primary BCMCS controller serves the zone in which MT is requesting BCMCS services, providing a list of available BCMCS programs to the MT;

if the primary BCMCS controller serves a zone different from the zone where the MT is requesting BCMCS services;

retrieving, from a list of IP addresses of secondary BCMCS controllers stored in a database of the primary BCMCS and based on the received location information and the access type indicator, a secondary BCMCS controller that serves the zone where the MT is located and that can provide BCMCS services to the MT; and

forwarding the request message for BCMCS services from the primary BCMCS controller to the secondary BCMCS controller.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of forwarding further comprises the steps of:

retrieving a list of available BCMCS program from a BCMCS content provider; and

providing the list of programs to the MT in a reply message responsive to the reception of the forwarded request message for BCMCS services.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the secondary BCMCS is collocated to the primary BCMCS.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the request message sent from the MT to the BCMCS is a Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) request message.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the reply message sent from the primary BCMCS to the MT is a HTTP reply message.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the packet data network is one of a Code Division Multiple Access 2000 (CDMA2000) network, a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) or a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) network.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the reply message sent from the secondary BCMCS to the MT is a HTTP reply message.

8. A packet data network for providing broadcast/multicast services (BCMCS) to a mobile terminal (MT), the packet data network comprising:

a primary BCMCS controller for providing BCMCS services to the MT, the primary BCMCS controller comprising;

a service logic for receiving request message from the MT for requesting BCMCS services, the request message including a location information and an access type indicator of the MT;

a database for storing a list of IP addresses of secondary BCMCS controllers;

a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server comprising a service logic for receiving from the MT an information request message, the information request message being sent for requesting an IP address of the primary BCMCS controller, and sending a DHCP response message to the MT, the DHCP response message including the IP address of the primary BCMCS controller;

wherein the service logic of the primary BCMCS determines whether the primary BCMCS controller serves a zone where the MT is located;

if the primary BCMCS controller serves the zone in which MT is requesting BCMCS services provides, the service logic provides to the MT a list of available BCMCS programs; and

if the primary BCMCS controller serves a zone different from the zone where the MT is requesting BCMCS services, the service logic of the primary BCMCS retrieves, based on the received location information and the access type indicator of the MT, a secondary BCMCS controller that serves the zone where the MT is located and that can provide BCMCS services to the MT and forwards from to the secondary BCMCS controller the request message.

9. The packet data network of claim 8, wherein the secondary BCMCS controller retrieves a list of available BCMCS programs from a BCMCS content provider and provides the list of programs to the MT in reply message responsive to the reception of the forwarded request message for receiving BCMCS services.

10. The packet data network of claim 8, wherein the DHCP server further comprises a database for storing the IP address of primary BCMCS controllers.

11. The packet data network of claim 8, wherein the request message sent from the MT to the BCMCS is a Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) request message.

12. The packet data network of claim 8, wherein the reply message sent from the primary BCMCS to the MT is a HTTP reply message.

13. The packet data network of claim 8, wherein the packet data network is one of a Code Division Multiple Access 2000 (CDMA2000) network, a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) or a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) network.

14. The packet data network of claim 9, wherein the reply message sent from the secondary BCMCS to the MT is a HTTP reply message.