MBMS dual receiver

• US 7,885,663 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2007
• Issued: 02/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Park, Sung Jun, Lee, Young Dae, Fischer, Patrick, Chun, Sung Duck, Jung, Myung Cheul
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; David Q
• Application Number:
  US11/671,984
• Publication Number:
  US 20070191020A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,463 Days
• Field of Search: 370/328, 370/329, 370/338, 455/452.2, 455/552.1, 455/553.1, 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/550.1, 455/3.01, 455/2.01
• US Class Current: 455/452.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/30 Resource management for broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/00 Connection management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/10 adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points

Abstract

A method for communicating between a network and a dual receiver UE includes receiving first signaling from a first network node at a first frequency, and receiving second signaling via a PtM control channel from a second network node at a second frequency. The method further includes receiving a request from the second network node at the second frequency, such that the request is carried on the PtM control channel, and transmitting to the first network node a response to the request from the second network node. An alternative method includes receiving communications from a first network node, and identifying that the first network node lacks uplink capabilities. This method may further include identifying that the first network node provides a MBMS service, and receiving the MBMS service from the first network node despite the identification of the lack of uplink capabilities.

Claims

1. A method of receiving a multimedia broadcast/multicast service (MBMS) in a mobile communication system, said mobile communication system including a network having at least one cell, a first user equipment (UE) and a second UE, said method comprising:

receiving, in said second UE, a first indicator from said network through a broadcast control channel (BCCH) that is a logical channel located between a radio link control (RLC) layer and a medium access control (MAC) layer;

identifying, by said second UE, that a specific cell of said at least one cell lacks uplink capabilities based on said received first indicator, wherein said first indicator indicates an operation of said specific cell in a multimedia broadcast/multicast service (MBMS) only frequency; and

receiving, in said second UE, an MBMS service on said MBMS only frequency from said specific cell despite said identification of said lack of uplink capabilities.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, in said second UE, a second indicator from said network, wherein said second indicator indicates that said second UE is permitted to receive said MBMS service, and said receiving of said MBMS service is performed in response to said receiving of said second indicator.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said second UE comprises a dual receiver.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, in said second UE, system information from another cell of said at least one cell, wherein said system information indicates that said other cell has both uplink and downlink capabilities.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising:

receiving, in said second UE, frequency information from said other cell, said frequency information indicating a transmission frequency of said specific cell.

6. The method according to claim 4, further comprising:

receiving, in said second UE, at least one identity from said specific cell, wherein said at least one identity identifies said second network other cell.

7. The method according to claim 4, wherein said specific cell and said other cell are managed by a single base station.

8. The method according to claim 4, wherein said specific cell and said other cell are separately managed by distinct base stations.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, in said second UE, a list of at least one different cell which transmits at a frequency different than said specific cell and which provides cell coverage which overlaps at least a portion of cell coverage provided by said specific cell.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

identifying, by said second UE, that said specific cell provides said MBMS service.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said second UE is capable of selecting said specific cell using said first indicator to receive said MBMS service while said first UE is not capable of selecting said specific cell due to said first UE'"'"'s inability to identify said specific cell.

12. A method of providing a multimedia broadcast/multicast service (MBMS) in a mobile communication system, said mobile communication system including a network having at least one cell and at least one user equipment (UE), said method comprising:

transmitting a first indicator from said network to said a least one user equipment, said first indicator transmitted through a broadcast control channel (BCCH) that is a logical channel located between a radio link control (RLC) layer and a medium access control (MAC) layer, wherein said first indicator indicates that a specific cell of said at least one cell lacks uplink capabilities, wherein said first indicator is used to indicate an operation of said specific cell in a multimedia broadcast/multicast service (MBMS) only frequency; and

providing an MBMS service on said MBMS only frequency from said specific cell to said at least one UE despite said indication of said lack of uplink capabilities.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said at least one UE comprises a first UE and a second UE, and said second UE is capable of selecting said specific cell using said first indicator to receive said MBMS service while said first UE is not capable of selecting said specific cell due to said first UE'"'"'s inability to identify said specific cell.

14. The method according to claim 12, further comprising:

transmitting frequency information to said at least one UE from a another cell of said at least one cell, said frequency information indicating a transmission frequency of said specific cell.

15. The method according to claim 12, further comprising:

transmitting a list of at least one different cell which transmits at a frequency different than said specific cell and which provides cell coverage which overlaps at least a portion of cell coverage provided by said specific cell.

16. The method according to claim 13, further comprising:

transmitting at least one identity from said specific cell to said at least one UE, wherein said at least one identity identifies another cell of said at least one cell.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein said specific cell and said other cell are managed by a single base station.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein said specific cell and said other cell are separately managed by distinct base stations.

19. The method according to claim 12, further comprising:

transmitting a second indicator from said specific cell to said at least one UE, wherein said second indicator indicates that said at least one UE is permitted to receive said MBMS service.