Method and apparatus for reinforcement of broadcast transmissions in MBSFN inactive areas

• US 8,391,878 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2007
• Issued: 03/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Tenny, Nathan Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): DOAN, KIET M
• Application Number:
  US12/444,578
• Publication Number:
  US 20100056166A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,946 Days
• Field of Search: 455/466, 455/502, 455/445, 455/456.1, 455/422.1, 455/561, 455/412.2, 455/435.1, 455/403, 455/522, 370/330, 370/395.52, 370/312, 370/468, 370/342, 370/328, 370/352, 370/335
• US Class Current: 455/450
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/42 Arrangements for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/67 Common-wave systems, i.e. using separate transmitters operating on substantially the same frequency
• 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 method for a wireless communication system includes broadcasting that a first service is available in a first MBSFN and a second service is available in a second MBSFN. The method includes supporting a service not broadcasted as available. For example, supporting the first service with the second MBSFN and/or supporting the second service with the first MBSFN. The supporting or reinforcing can be done by echoing. The echoing is scheduled along with the owned service.

Claims

1. A method for reusing idled radio resources in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

reusing idled radio resources in a multicast/broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) inactive area including a plurality of cells to contribute to MBSFN transmission in an area adjacent the plurality of cells; and

carrying additional transmissions in at least one of the plurality of cells,

wherein the carrying additional transmissions in at least one of the plurality of cells comprises transmitting a service that the MBSFN does not advertise as having.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the carrying additional transmissions in at least one of the plurality of cells comprises transmitting both a service that the MBSFN does not advertise as having and a service that the MBSFN does advertise as having.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the carrying additional transmissions in at least one of the plurality of cells comprises transmitting a service that the MBSFN does not advertise as having but that the adjacent MBSFN does advertise as having.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the carrying additional transmissions in at least one of the plurality of cells comprises transmitting a multimedia broadcast and multicast service (MBMS) service that the MBSFN does not advertise as having.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the carrying additional transmissions in at least one of the plurality of cells comprises transmitting a multimedia broadcast and multicast service (MBMS) service that the MBSFN does not advertise as having but that the adjacent MBSFN does advertise as having.

12. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 1, wherein the codes include codes for causing the computer to:

carry the additional transmissions in at least one of the plurality of cells by transmitting both a service that the MBSFN does not advertise as having and a service that the MBSFN does advertise as having.

6. An apparatus for reusing idled radio resources in a wireless communication system, the apparatus comprising:

means for reusing an idled radio resource in a multicast/broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) inactive area including a plurality of cells to contribute to MBSFN transmission in an area adjacent the plurality of cells; and

means for carrying additional transmissions in each of the plurality of cells,

wherein the means for carrying additional transmissions transmits a service that the MBSFN does not advertise as having.

7. The apparatus for reusing idled radio recourses in a wireless communication system of claim 6, wherein the means for carrying additional transmissions transmits both a service that the MBSFN does not advertise as having and a service that the MBSFN does advertise as having.

8. The apparatus for reusing idled radio recourses in a wireless communication system of claim 6, wherein the means for carrying additional transmissions transmits a service that the MBSFN does not advertise as having but that the adjacent MBSFN does advertise as having.

9. The apparatus for reusing idled radio recourses in a wireless communication system of claim 6, wherein the means for carrying additional transmissions transmits a multimedia broadcast and multicast service (MBMS) service that the MBSFN does not advertise as having.

10. The apparatus for reusing idled radio recourses in a wireless communication system of claim 6, wherein the means for carrying additional transmissions transmits a multimedia broadcast and multicast service (MBMS) service that the MBSFN does not advertise as having but that the adjacent MBSFN does advertise as having.

11. A non-transitory computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium including codes stored thereon for causing a computer to:

reuse an idled radio resource in a multicast/broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) inactive area including a plurality of cells to contribute to MBSFN transmission in an area adjacent the plurality of cells,

wherein the codes include codes for causing the computer to;

carry additional transmissions in at least one of the plurality of cells,

carry the additional transmissions in at least one of the plurality of cells by transmitting a service that the MBSFN does not advertise as having.

13. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 11, wherein the codes include codes for causing the computer to:

carry the additional transmissions in at least one of the plurality of cells by transmitting a service that the MBSFN does not advertise as having but that the adjacent MBSFN does advertise as having.

14. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 11, wherein the codes include codes for causing the computer to:

carry the additional transmissions in at least one of the plurality of cells by transmitting a multimedia broadcast and multicast service (MBMS) service that the MBSFN does not advertise as having.

15. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 11, wherein the codes include codes for causing the computer to:

carry the additional transmissions in at least one of the plurality of cells by transmitting a multimedia broadcast and multicast service (MBMS) service that the MBSFN does not advertise as having but that the adjacent MBSFN does advertise as having.

16. An apparatus for reusing idled radio resources in a wireless communication system, the apparatus comprising:

a memory;

a processor coupled to the memory, the processor configured to;

reuse an idled radio resource in a multicast/broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) inactive area including a plurality of cells to contribute to MBSFN transmission in an area adjacent the plurality of cells; and

carry additional transmissions in each of the plurality of cells,

wherein the processor is configured to carry the additional transmissions in each of the plurality of cells by transmitting a service that the MBSFN does not advertise as having.

17. The apparatus for reusing idled radio recourses in a wireless communication system of claim 16, wherein the processor is configured to carry the additional transmissions in each of the plurality of cells by transmitting both a service that the MBSFN does not advertise as having and a service that the MBSFN does advertise as having.

18. The apparatus for reusing idled radio recourses in a wireless communication system of claim 16, wherein the processor is configured to carry the additional transmissions in each of the plurality of cells by transmitting a service that the MBSFN does not advertise as having but that the adjacent MBSFN does advertise as having.

19. The apparatus for reusing idled radio recourses in a wireless communication system of claim 16, wherein the processor is configured to carry the additional transmissions in each of the plurality of cells by transmitting a multimedia broadcast and multicast service (MBMS) service that the MBSFN does not advertise as having.

20. The apparatus for reusing idled radio recourses in a wireless communication system of claim 16, wherein the processor is configured to carry the additional transmissions in each of the plurality of cells by transmitting a multimedia broadcast and multicast service (MBMS) service that the MBSFN does not advertise as having but that the adjacent MBSFN does advertise as having.