Method and apparatus for regulating a delivery of a broadcast-multicast service in a packet data communication system

• US 7,415,241 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2005
• Issued: 08/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kelley, Sean S., Oprescu-Surcobe, Valentin, Smetana, Joseph R., Payne, William A. III
• Primary Examiner(s): GESESSE, TILAHUN
• Application Number:
  US11/135,564
• Publication Number:
  US 20050282571A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,184 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3.01, 455/3.05, 455/3.06, 455/503, 455/414.4, 455/66.1, 455/453, 455/519, 370/338, 370/321
• US Class Current: 455/3.05
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/10 Flow control between communication endpoints
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• 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 76/10 Connection setup

Abstract

A communication system provides one or more of congestion information and subscriber information to a broadcast applications server when the server receives a request to start a broadcast-multicast service in a coverage area. By providing the one or more of congestion information and subscriber information to the server, the server is able to make an informed, intelligent decision concerning blocking, unblocking, downgrading, or upgrading a broadcast-multicast flow of multiple broadcast-multicast flows requested for delivery to, or currently delivered to, the coverage area via a serving base station, and/or whether to add a new broadcast-multicast flow to the broadcast-multicast flows delivered to the coverage area.

Claims

1. A method for providing a broadcast-multicast service comprising:

receiving at least one request to start service for a plurality of broadcast-multicast flows in a coverage area of a same base station;

receiving information concerning congestion in the coverage area;

determining one or more of blocking a broadcast-multicast flow of the plurality of broadcast-multicast flows, unblocking a broadcast-multicast flow of the plurality of broadcast-multicast flows, downgrading a broadcast-multicast flow of the plurality of broadcast-multicast flows, upgrading a broadcast-multicast flow of the plurality of broadcast-multicast flows, and adding a new broadcast-multicast flow for delivery in the coverage area based on the received congestion information;

in response to determining to block a broadcast-multicast flow, blocking a transmission of the broadcast-multicast flow in the coverage area;

in response to determining to unblock a broadcast-multicast flow, unblocking a transmission of the broadcast-multicast flow in the coverage area;

in response to determining to downgrade a broadcast-multicast flow, downgrading a broadcast-multicast flow prior to transmitting the broadcast-multicast flow in the coverage area; and

in response to determining to upgrade a broadcast-multicast flow, upgrading a broadcast-multicast flow prior to transmitting the broadcast-multicast flow in the coverage area; and

in response to determining to add a new broadcast-multicast flow, adding a new broadcast-multicast flow in the coverage area.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in response to determining to add a new broadcast-multicast flow for delivery in the coverage area, requesting a new broadcast-multicast flow from a broadcast-multicast content provider.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving at least one request comprises receiving at least one request to start service from at least one subscriber to one or more broadcast-multicast flows of the plurality of broadcast-multicast flow.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving at least one request comprises:

determining, by a first network element, the presence of a subscriber to a broadcast-multicast flow of the plurality of broadcast-multicast flows;

in response to determining the presence of the subscriber, generating a request to start service for an associated broadcast-multicast flow;

conveying the request to start service to a second network element; and

receiving, by the second network element, the request.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving information concerning congestion in a coverage area comprises:

requesting information on one or more of an availability of RF resources and channel conditions; and

in response to requesting information, receiving information on one or more of an availability of RF resources in a coverage area where the plurality of broadcast-multicast flows are to be provided and channel conditions in the coverage area.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving information concerning congestion in the coverage area comprises receiving information on one or more of congestion levels and bandwidth availability in a coverage area where the plurality of broadcast-multicast flows are to be provided.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising allocating a bandwidth to a broadcast-multicast flow of the plurality of broadcast-multicast flows that is different than a bandwidth associated with the broadcast-multicast flow.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein determining one or more of blocking, unblocking, downgrading, and upgrading a broadcast-multicast flow of the plurality of broadcast-multicast flows, and adding a new broadcast-multicast flow based on the received congestion information comprises determining one or more of blocking, unblocking, downgrading, and upgrading a broadcast-multicast flow based on the received congestion information and further based on a transmission parameter associated with each broadcast-multicast flow of the plurality of broadcast-multicast flows.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the transmission parameter associated with each broadcast-multicast flow of the plurality of broadcast-multicast flows comprises one or more of a bandwidth requirement and a class of service associated with the broadcast-multicast flow.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising assigning a quality of service to a broadcast-multicast flow of the plurality of broadcast-multicast flows that is different than a quality of service associated with the broadcast-multicast flow.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in response to receiving information concerning congestion in the coverage area, adjusting a transmission parameter of one or more currently transmitted broadcast-multicast flows.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in response to receiving information concerning congestion in the coverage area, blocking the transmission of one or more currently transmitted broadcast-multicast flows.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in response to receiving information concerning congestion in the coverage area, unblocking the transmission of one or more currently transmitted broadcast-multicast flows.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving preferences associated with each broadcast-multicast flow of the plurality of broadcast-multicast flows and wherein determining one or more of blocking, unblocking, downgrading, upgrading, and adding a broadcast-multicast flow comprises determining one or more of blocking unblocking, downgrading, upgrading, and adding a broadcast-multicast flow based on the received congestion information and further based on the received preferences.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein determining one or more of blocking, unblocking, downgrading, upgrading, and adding a broadcast-multicast flow of the plurality of broadcast-multicast flows comprises determining one or more of unblocking, downgrading, upgrading and adding a broadcast-multicast based on the received congestion information and further based on a maximization of an operational goal.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the maximization of an operational goal comprises one or more of a maximization of a number of broadcast-multicast flows provided in the coverage area, a maximization of a number of mobile stations provided broadcast-multicast flows, and a maximization of a revenue associated with the determined one or more broadcast-multicast flows.

17. A method for providing a broadcast-multicast service comprising:

receiving at least one request to start service for a plurality of broadcast-multicast flows in a coverage area of a same base station;

receiving preference information associated with the plurality of broadcast-multicast flows;

determining one or more of blocking a broadcast-multicast flow of the plurality of broadcast-multicast flows, unblocking a broadcast-multicast flow of the plurality of broadcast-multicast flows, downgrading a broadcast-multicast flow of the plurality of broadcast-multicast flows, upgrading a broadcast-multicast flow of the plurality of broadcast-multicast flows, and adding a new broadcast-multicast flow for delivery in the coverage area based on the received preference information;

in response to determining to block, blocking a transmission of a broadcast-multicast flow in the coverage area;

in response to determining to unblock, unblocking a transmission of a broadcast-multicast flow in the coverage area;

in response to determining to downgrade, downgrading a broadcast-multicast flow prior to transmission in the coverage area;

in response to determining to upgrade, upgrading a broadcast-multicast flow prior to transmission in the coverage area; and

in response to determining to add, adding a new broadcast-multicast flow in the coverage area.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising, in response to determining to add a new broadcast-multicast flow for delivery in the coverage area, requesting a new broadcast-multicast flow from a broadcast-multicast content provider.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein receiving requests comprises receiving one or more requests to start service from one or more subscribers to one or more broadcast-multicast flows of the plurality of broadcast-multicast flows.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein receiving requests comprises receiving requests from a network element of a wireless network to start service for a plurality of broadcast-multicast flows.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one request comprises a listing of the plurality of broadcast-multicast flows and further comprises an indication of an order of preference of the listed broadcast-multicast flows.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising maintaining an order of preference of the plurality of broadcast-multicast flows in a mobile station and wherein the at least one request and the preference information are received from the mobile station.

23. The method of claim 17, further comprising maintaining an order of preference of the plurality of broadcast-multicast flows in a network element and in association with a mobile station and wherein receiving preference information comprises conveying, to the network element, a request for preference information that identifies the mobile station and, in response to conveying the request, receiving an indication of an order of preference of the plurality of broadcast-multicast flows.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein determining one or more of blocking, unblocking downgrading, upgrading, and adding a broadcast-multicast flow comprises determining one or more of blocking unblocking downgrading, upgrading, and adding a broadcast-multicast flow based on the received preference information and further based on a maximization of an operational goal.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the maximization of an operational goal comprises one or more of a maximization of a number of broadcast-multicast flows provided in the coverage area, a maximization of a number of mobile stations provided broadcast-multicast flows, and a maximization of a revenue associated with the determined one or more broadcast-multicast flows.

26. The method of claim 17, wherein receiving preference information comprises preference information being available at a network gateway and conveyed by the gateway to a broadcast application server.

27. The method of claim 17, wherein receiving preference information comprises retrieving preference information by a broadcast application server from a database.

28. A broadcast applications server comprising a processor that receives at least one request to start service for a plurality of broadcast-multicast flows in a coverage area of a same base station, receives information concerning congestion in the coverage area, determines one or more of blocking a broadcast-multicast flow of the plurality of broadcast-multicast flows, unblocking a broadcast-multicast flow of the plurality of broadcast-multicast flows, downgrading a broadcast-multicast flow of the plurality of broadcast-multicast flows, upgrading a broadcast-multicast flow of the plurality of broadcast-multicast flows, and adding a new broadcast-multicast flow for delivery in the coverage area based on the received congestion information, in response to determining to block a broadcast-multicast flow, blocks a transmission of the broadcast-multicast flow in the coverage area, in response to determining to unblock a broadcast-multicast flow, unblocks a transmission of the broadcast-multicast flow in the coverage area, in response to determining to downgrade a broadcast-multicast flow, downgrades a broadcast-multicast flow prior to transmission of the broadcast-multicast flow in the coverage area, and in response to determining to upgrade a broadcast-multicast flow, upgrades a broadcast-multicast flow prior to transmission of the broadcast-multicast flow in the coverage area, and in response to determining to add a new broadcast-multicast flow, adds a new broadcast-multicast flow in the coverage area.

29. The broadcast applications server of claim 28, wherein the processor, in response to determining to add a new broadcast-multicast flow for delivery in the coverage area, conveys a request for a new broadcast-multicast flow from a broadcast-multicast content provider.

30. The broadcast applications server of claim 28, wherein the processor receives at least one request by receiving at least one request to start service from at least one subscriber to one or more broadcast-multicast flows of the plurality of broadcast-multicast flows.

31. The broadcast applications server of claim 28, wherein the processor receives at least one request by receiving at least one request from a network element of a wireless network to start service for a plurality of broadcast-multicast flows.

32. The broadcast applications server of claim 28, wherein the processor receives information congestion in the coverage area in a coverage area by requesting information on one or more of an availability of RF resources and channel conditions and, in response to requesting information, receiving information on one or more of an availability of RF resources in a coverage area where the plurality of broadcast-multicast flows are to be provided and channel conditions in the coverage area.

33. The broadcast applications server of claim 28, wherein the processor receives information concerning congestion in the coverage area in the coverage area by receiving information on one or more of congestion levels and bandwidth availability in a coverage area where the plurality of broadcast-multicast flows are to be provided.

34. The broadcast applications server of claim 28, wherein the processor further allocates a bandwidth to a broadcast-multicast flow of the plurality of broadcast-multicast flows that is different than a bandwidth associated with the broadcast-multicast flow.

35. The broadcast applications server of claim 28, wherein the processor determines one or more of blocking, unblocking, downgrading, upgrading, and adding a broadcast-multicast flow by determining one or more of blocking, unblocking, downgrading, upgrading, and adding a broadcast-multicast flow of the plurality of broadcast-multicast flows based on the received congestion information and further based on a quality of service associated with each broadcast-multicast flow of the plurality of broadcast-multicast flows.

36. The broadcast applications server of claim 35, wherein the quality of service associated with each broadcast-multicast flow of the plurality of broadcast-multicast flows comprises one or more of a bandwidth requirement and a class of service associated with the broadcast-multicast flow.

37. The broadcast applications server of claim 35, wherein the processor further assigns a quality of service to a broadcast-multicast flow of the plurality of broadcast-multicast flows that is different than a quality of service associated with the broadcast-multicast flow.

38. The broadcast applications server of claim 28, wherein the processor further, in response to receiving information congestion in the coverage area, adjusts a transmission parameter of one or more currently transmitted broadcast-multicast flows.

39. The broadcast applications server of claim 28, wherein the processor further, in response to receiving information congestion in the coverage area, blocks the transmission of one or more currently transmitted broadcast-multicast flows.

40. The broadcast applications server of claim 28, wherein the processor further, in response to receiving information congestion in the coverage area, unblocks the transmission of one or more currently transmitted broadcast-multicast flows.

41. The broadcast applications server of claim 28, wherein the processor further receives preferences associated with each broadcast-multicast flow of the plurality of broadcast-multicast flows and wherein the processor determines one or more of blocking, unblocking, downgrading, upgrading, and adding a broadcast-multicast by determining one or more of blocking, unblocking, downgrading, upgrading, and adding a broadcast-multicast flow of the plurality of broadcast-multicast flows based on the received congestion information and further based on the received preferences.

42. The broadcast applications server of claim 28, wherein the processor determines one or more of blocking, unblocking, downgrading, upgrading, and adding a broadcast-multicast flow by determining one or more of blocking, unblocking, downgrading, upgrading, and adding a broadcast-multicast flow based on the received congestion information and further based on a maximization of an operational goal.

43. The broadcast applications server of claim 42, wherein the maximization of an operational goal comprises one or more of a maximization of a number of broad broadcast-multicast cast flows provided in the coverage area, a maximization of a number of mobile stations provided to broadcast-multicast flows, and a maximization of a revenue associated with the determined one or more broadcast-multicast flows.

44. A broadcast applications server comprising a processor that receives at least one request to start service for a plurality of broadcast-multicast flows in a coverage area of a same base station, receives preference information associated with the plurality of broadcast-multicast flows, determines one or more of blocking a broadcast-multicast flow of the plurality of broadcast-multicast flows, unblocking a broadcast-multicast flow of the plurality of broadcast-multicast flows, downgrading a broadcast-multicast flow of the plurality of broadcast-multicast flows, upgrading a broadcast-multicast flow of the plurality of broadcast-multicast flows or unblocking a broadcast-multicast flow of the plurality of broadcast-multicast flows, and adding a new broadcast-multicast flow for delivery in the coverage area based on the received preference information, in response to determining to block a broadcast-multicast flow, blocks a transmission of a broadcast-multicast flow in the coverage area, in response to determining to unblock a broadcast-multicast flow, unblocks a transmission of a broadcast-multicast flow in the coverage area, in response to downgrade a broadcast-multicast flow, downgrades a broadcast-multicast flow prior to transmitting the broadcast-multicast flow in the coverage area, and in response to determining to upgrade a broadcast-multicast flow, upgrades a broadcast-multicast flow prior to transmitting the broadcast-multicast flow in the coverage area.

45. The broadcast applications server of claim 44, wherein the processor, in response to determining to add a new broadcast-multicast flow for delivery in the coverage area, conveys a request for a new broadcast-multicast flow from a broadcast-multicast content provider.

46. The broadcast applications server of claim 44, wherein the processor receives requests by receiving one or more requests to start service from one or more subscribers to one or more broadcast-multicast flow of the plurality of broadcast-multicast flows.

47. The broadcast applications server of claim 44, wherein the processor receives requests by receiving requests from a network element of a wireless network to start service for a plurality of broadcast-multicast flows.

48. The broadcast applications server of claim 44, wherein the at least one request comprises a listing of the plurality of broadcast-multicast flows and further comprises an indication of an order of preference of the listed broadcast-multicast flows.

49. The broadcast applications server of claim 48, further comprising at least one memory device and wherein the processor further stores, in the at least one memory device, an order of preference of the plurality of broadcast-multicast flows in a mobile station and wherein the at least one request and the preference information are received from the mobile station.

50. The broadcast applications server of claim 44, wherein the processor determines one or more of blocking, unblocking, downgrading, upgrading, and adding a broadcast-multicast flow by determining one or more of blocking, unblocking, downgrading, upgrading, and adding a broadcast-multicast based on the received preference information and further based on a maximization of an operational goal.

51. The broadcast applications server of claim 50, wherein the maximization of an operational goal comprises one or more of a maximization of a number of broadcast-multicast flows provided in the coverage area, a maximization of a number of mobile stations provided broadcast-multicast flows, and a maximization of a revenue associated with the determined one or more broadcast-multicast flows.

52. The broadcast applications server of claim 44, wherein the broadcast applications server receives preference information from a network gateway.

53. The broadcast applications server of claim 52, wherein the broadcast applications server receives preference information by retrieving the preference information from a database.