Multicast transmission in packet based cellular networks

• US 7,903,593 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2002
• Issued: 03/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Runcom Technologies Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Runcom Technologies Ltd.
• Inventors: Fuchs, Meir, Arye, Ram, Rosenbaum, Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Bhattacharya, Sam
• Application Number:
  US10/487,516
• Publication Number:
  US 20040266440A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,120 Days
• Field of Search: 370/230, 370/232, 370/236, 370/310, 370/312, 370/335, 370/432, 455/416, 455/445, 455/518
• US Class Current: 370/310
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1836 with heterogeneous network architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/185 with management of multicast group membership
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1877 Measures taken prior to transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/02 Arrangements for increasing efficiency of notification or paging channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/30 Resource management for broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation

Abstract

A method of transmitting data packets to a cellular mobile unit, comprising: establishing a data transfer path for providing data from a data network gateway to a base station controller, for a first mobile station identity; and transmitting data received along the established path to at least one mobile station having at least one second identity different from the first identity.

Claims

1. A multicast support unit, comprising:

an input interface adapted to receive messages exchanged between mobile stations and a cellular packet support node;

a filter adapted to identify in messages received by the input interface, not directed to the multicast support unit, messages which indicate an intent of a mobile unit to receive multicast data; and

a controller adapted to instruct a mobile unit, indicated in a message identified by the filter, to receive a specific multicast channel.

2. A unit according to claim 1, wherein the multicast support unit is adapted to be positioned between a base station controller and a base transceiver station.

3. A unit according to claim 1, wherein the input interface serves also as an input interface of a packet control unit.

4. A unit according to claim 1, wherein the multicast support unit is adapted to be positioned between a base station controller and a packet control unit.

5. A unit according to claim 1, wherein the filter is adapted to identify messages which indicate an intent to receive multicast data and include at least one field that identifies a specific multicast service.

6. A unit according to claim 1, wherein the messages that indicate the intent comprise messages having IP headers.

7. A unit according to claim 1, wherein the messages that indicate the intent comprise PDP context messages.

8. A unit according to claim 1, wherein the filter is adapted to identify messages directed to a mobile unit, that indicate the intent to receive multicast data.

9. A unit according to claim 1, wherein the filter is adapted to identify messages transmitted from a mobile unit, that indicate the intent to receive multicast data.

10. A unit according to claim 1, wherein the filter is adapted to identify messages according to a value of at least one header field.

11. A unit according to claim 1, wherein the filter is adapted to identify messages according to a value in the payload of the message.

12. A unit according to claim 1, wherein the controller is adapted to establish the multicast channel responsive to identifying the message that indicates an intent to receive multicast data.

13. A unit according to claim 1, wherein the controller is adapted to instruct the mobile unit to move to a multicast channel that was established before the message was identified.

14. A unit according to claim 1, wherein the controller is adapted to instruct the mobile unit to tune to a different cell responsive to the identified message.

15. A unit according to claim 1, wherein the filter is adapted to identify messages which indicate an intent of a mobile unit to receive multicast data transmitted between the mobile unit and a server external to a land mobile network servicing the mobile unit, through the serving GPRS support node.

16. A unit according to claim 1, wherein the filter is adapted to identify messages which indicate an intent of a mobile unit to receive multicast data transmitted on a previously established unicast context.

17. A method of establishing a terrestrial mobile connection, comprising:

receiving a message indicating the intent of a mobile unit to receive multicast data, by an intercepting unit to which the message was not directed; and

generating an instruction to the mobile unit to receive a multicast channel, responsive to receiving the message.

18. A method according to claim 17, comprising determining whether the message indicating the intent relates to a specific group of data connections.

19. A method according to claim 17, wherein the message indicating the intent comprises a context request message.

20. A method according to claim 17, wherein the message indicating the intent comprises a context acknowledge message.

21. A method according to claim 17, wherein generating the instruction is performed by a packet control unit (PCU).

22. A method according to claim 17, wherein generating the instruction is performed by an entity separate from a packet control unit (PCU), which entity does not have control of the PCU.

23. A method according to claim 22, wherein generating the instruction is performed by an entity connected between the PCU and a respective BSC.

24. A method according to claim 22, wherein generating the instruction is performed by an entity located between a BSC related to the PCU and mobile units serviced by the BSC.