Supporting a multicast session within a wireless communications network

• US 8,630,219 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2008
• Issued: 01/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Song, Bongyong, Santhanam, Arvind
• Primary Examiner(s): Thompson, Jr., Otis L
• Application Number:
  US12/235,417
• Publication Number:
  US 20090080364A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,940 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/312
• 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 4/10 Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-On-Call services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/10 using broadcasted information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/30 Resource management for broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/45 for Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-to-Talk over cellular [PoC] services

Abstract

Methods of supporting a multicast session within a wireless communications network are provided. An access terminal adjusts a monitoring rate of a downlink control channel either (i) after transmitting a multicast registration message in a sector that is not supporting a given multicast session or (ii) after receiving an announce message announcing the given multicast session. An access network anticipates the monitoring rate adjustment, and sends a message advertising the given multicast session (e.g., a broadcast overhead message (BOM)) based on the adjusted monitoring rate. Further, the announce message sent by the access network can be sent on the downlink control channel, and can be sent based on expected paging cycles, or monitoring rates, of the downlink control channel at one or more access terminals within the network prior to the monitoring rate adjustment.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring a downlink control channel, comprising:

adjusting a rate at which an access terminal monitors the downlink control channel in expectation of receiving a message advertising a given multicast session, wherein the message advertising the given multicast session is a periodic message and wherein the adjusting is performed in expectation of receiving the message at an asynchronous or aperiodic time that is earlier than and deviates from a next periodic transmission of the message; and

receiving the message advertising the given multicast session on the downlink control channel.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting, from the access terminal, a multicast registration message to an access network, the multicast registration message requesting registration of the access terminal to the given multicast session,

wherein the adjusting step is performed after the transmitting step, and the receiving step receives the message advertising the given multicast session from the access network in response to the multicast registration message.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein a wireless communication protocol associated with the given multicast session designates a given control channel capsule on the downlink control channel for messages that advertise multicast sessions, and the asynchronous or aperiodic time corresponds to an earlier control channel capsule than the given control channel capsule.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the earlier control channel capsule is a next available control channel capsule on the downlink control channel after the access network receives the multicast registration message.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving, from the access network, an announce message announcing the given multicast session,

wherein the transmitting step bundles the multicast registration message with an acknowledgment message acknowledging the announce message.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

waiting a given period to receive the message advertising the given multicast session,

wherein the transmitting step is performed if the message advertising the given multicast session is not received within the given period.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein a wireless communication protocol associated with the given multicast session designates a given control channel capsule on the downlink control channel for messages that advertise multicast sessions, and the given period is at least equal to a period between successive instances of the given control channel capsule.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the waiting step is performed upon entry of the access terminal into a new sector.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from an access network, an announce message announcing a given multicast session to a plurality of access terminals,

wherein the adjusting step is performed in response to the announce message.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting step increases the rate at which the access terminal monitors the downlink control channel.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

resetting, after the receiving step, the adjusted rate to a rate at which the access terminal monitors the downlink control channel prior to the adjusting step.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the message advertising the given multicast session further indicates a manner in which the access terminal can tune to the given multicast session on a downlink broadcast channel.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the message advertising the given multicast session is a broadcast overhead message (BOM) that lists a broadcast multicast service (BCMCS) flow identifier of the given multicast session in association with an interlace-multiplex (IM) pair upon which multicast media for the given multicast session is being carried on the downlink broadcast channel.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the message advertising the given multicast session is a broadcast overhead message (BOM) that is received on a first carrier and indicates a second carrier that is hosting the given multicast session.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the message is configured to advertise that multicast media traffic associated with the given multicast session is currently being carried on a downlink broadcast channel along with physical-layer tuning instructions that notify the access terminal with regard to how to tune to the multicast media traffic on the downlink broadcast channel.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the downlink control channel is a broadcast multicast service (BCMCS) control channel.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the downlink control channel has a 256-slot control channel cycle.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the message corresponds to a periodic scheduling message that is transmitted at a given periodic interval of the downlink control channel to advertise which multicast sessions are being carried in a given sector, further comprising:

detecting that the downlink control channel is either (i) not transmitting the periodic scheduling message, or (ii) is transmitting the periodic scheduling message without advertising the given multicast session; and

transmitting a reverse-link registration message to prompt a current serving sector to carry the given multicast session in response to the detection,

wherein the adjusting step occurs in response to the transmission of the reverse-link registration message.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the expectation is of receiving the message advertising the given multicast session in the asynchronous or aperiodic time that precedes the next periodic transmission of the message based on the given periodic interval.

20. The method of claim 1,

wherein the message corresponds to a periodic scheduling message that is transmitted at a given periodic interval of the downlink control channel to advertise which multicast sessions are being carried in a given sector, and

wherein the receiving step receives the message based on the rate adjustment at the asynchronous or aperiodic time that precedes the next periodic transmission of the message based on the given periodic interval.

21. A method of scheduling a message advertising a given multicast session, comprising:

receiving, from an access terminal, a multicast registration message, the multicast registration message requesting registration of the access terminal to a given multicast session;

determining when to send the message advertising the given multicast session based on a first rate that the access terminal is expected to monitor a downlink control channel after the receiving step, wherein the message advertising the given multicast session is a periodic message and wherein the first rate is different than a second rate that the access terminal is expected to monitor the downlink control channel before the receiving step; and

transmitting the message advertising the given multicast session to the access terminal on the downlink control channel at an asynchronous or aperiodic time that is earlier than and deviates from a next periodic transmission of the message based on the determining step.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

transmitting an announce message to a plurality of access terminals to announce the given multicast session,

wherein the receiving step receives the multicast registration message in response to the announce message.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein a conservative paging cycle based on a least common multiplier (LCM) of paging cycles including the second rate is used to schedule the transmission of the announce message,

wherein the first rate is higher than the second rate, and

wherein a paging cycle based on the first rate is used to schedule the transmission of the message advertising the given multicast session.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein a wireless communication protocol associated with the given multicast session designates a given control channel capsule on the downlink control channel for messages that advertise multicast sessions, and the asynchronous or aperiodic time corresponds to an earlier control channel capsule than the given control channel capsule.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the earlier control channel capsule is a next available control channel capsule on the downlink control channel after the receiving step receives the multicast registration message.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the receiving step receives, along with the multicast registration message, an acknowledgment message acknowledging the announce message.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein the multicast registration message is received in response to the access terminal entering into a new sector.

28. The method of claim 21, wherein the message advertising the given multicast session further indicates a manner in which the access terminal can tune to the given multicast session on a downlink broadcast channel.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the message advertising the given multicast session is a broadcast overhead message (BOM) that lists a broadcast multicast service (BCMCS) flow identifier of the given multicast session in association with an interlace-multiplex (IM) pair upon which multicast media for the given multicast session is being carried on the downlink broadcast channel.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the message advertising the given multicast session is a broadcast overhead message (BOM) that is received on a first carrier and indicates a second carrier that is hosting the given multicast session.

31. The method of claim 21,

wherein the message corresponds to a periodic scheduling message that is transmitted at a given periodic interval of the downlink control channel to advertise which multicast sessions are being carried in a given sector, and

wherein the transmitting step transmits the message at the asynchronous or aperiodic time that precedes the next periodic transmission of the message based on the given periodic interval in response to the determination that the access terminal is expected to monitor the downlink control channel based on the first rate instead of the second rate.

32. An access terminal, comprising:

means for adjusting a rate at which the access terminal monitors a downlink control channel in expectation of receiving a message advertising a given multicast session, wherein the message advertising the given multicast session is a periodic message and wherein the adjusting is performed in expectation of receiving the message at an asynchronous or aperiodic time that is earlier than and deviates from a next periodic transmission of the message; and

means for receiving the message advertising the given multicast session on the downlink control channel.

33. The access terminal of claim 32, further comprising:

means for transmitting a multicast registration message to an access network, the multicast registration message requesting registration of the access terminal to the given multicast session,

wherein the means for adjusting adjusts the rate after the means for transmitting transmits the multicast registration message, and the means for receiving receives the message advertising the given multicast session from the access network in response to the multicast registration message.

34. The access terminal of claim 33, further comprising:

means for receiving, from the access network, an announce message announcing the given multicast session,

wherein the means for transmitting bundles the multicast registration message with an acknowledgment message acknowledging the announce message.

35. The access terminal of claim 33, further comprising:

means for waiting a given period to receive the message advertising the given multicast session,

wherein the means for transmitting transmits the multicast registration message if the message advertising the given multicast session is not received within the given period.

36. The access terminal of claim 32, further comprising:

means for receiving, from an access network, an announce message announcing a given multicast session to a plurality of access terminals,

wherein the means for adjusting adjusts the rate in response to the announce message.

37. The access terminal of claim 32, further comprising:

means for resetting, after the means for receiving receives the message, the adjusted rate to a rate at which the access terminal monitors the downlink control channel prior to the adjustment.

38. The access terminal of claim 32, wherein the message advertising the given multicast session further indicates a manner in which the access terminal can tune to the given multicast session on a downlink broadcast channel.

39. An access network, comprising:

means for receiving, from an access terminal, a multicast registration message, the multicast registration message requesting registration of the access terminal to a given multicast session;

means for determining when to send a message advertising the given multicast session based on a first rate that the access terminal is expected to monitor a downlink control channel after the means for receiving receives the multicast registration message, wherein the message advertising the given multicast session is a periodic message and wherein the first rate is different than a second rate that the access terminal is expected to monitor the downlink control channel before the means for receiving receives the multicast registration message; and

means for transmitting the message advertising the given multicast session to the access terminal on the downlink control channel at an asynchronous or aperiodic time that is earlier than and deviates from a next periodic transmission of the message based on the determination of the means for determining.

40. The access network of claim 39, further comprising:

means for transmitting an announce message to a plurality of access terminals to announce the given multicast session,

wherein the means for receiving receives the multicast registration message in response to the announce message.

41. The access network of claim 40, wherein a conservative paging cycle based on a least common multiplier (LCM) of paging cycles including the second rate is used to schedule the transmission of the announce message,

wherein the first rate is higher than the second rate, and

wherein a paging cycle based on the first rate is used to schedule the transmission of the message advertising the given multicast session.

42. The access network of claim 39, wherein the multicast registration message is received in response to the access terminal entering into a new sector.

43. The access network of claim 39, wherein the message advertising the given multicast session further indicates a manner in which the access terminal can tune to the given multicast session on a downlink broadcast channel.

44. An access terminal, comprising:

logic configured to adjust a rate at which the access terminal monitors a downlink control channel in expectation of receiving a message advertising a given multicast session, wherein the message advertising the given multicast session is a periodic message and wherein the adjusting is performed in expectation of receiving the message at an asynchronous or aperiodic time that is earlier than and deviates from a next periodic transmission of the message; and

logic configured to receive the message advertising the given multicast session on the downlink control channel.

45. The access terminal of claim 44, further comprising:

logic configured to transmit a multicast registration message to an access network, the multicast registration message requesting registration of the access terminal to the given multicast session,

wherein the logic configured to adjust adjusts the rate after the logic configured to transmit transmits the multicast registration message, and the logic configured to receive receives the message advertising the given multicast session from the access network in response to the multicast registration message.

46. The access terminal of claim 45, further comprising:

logic configured to receive, from the access network, an announce message announcing the given multicast session,

wherein the logic configured to transmit bundles the multicast registration message with an acknowledgment message acknowledging the announce message.

47. The access terminal of claim 45, further comprising:

logic configured to wait a given period to receive the message advertising the given multicast session,

wherein the logic configured to transmit transmits the multicast registration message if the message advertising the given multicast session is not received within the given period.

48. The access terminal of claim 44, further comprising:

logic configured to receive, from an access network, an announce message announcing a given multicast session to a plurality of access terminals,

wherein the logic configured to adjust adjusts the rate in response to the announce message.

49. The access terminal of claim 44, further comprising:

logic configured to reset, after the logic configured to receive receives the message, the adjusted rate to a rate at which the access terminal monitors the downlink control channel prior to the adjustment.

50. The access terminal of claim 44, wherein the message advertising the given multicast session further indicates a manner in which the access terminal can tune to the given multicast session on a downlink broadcast channel.

51. An access network, comprising:

logic configured to receive, from an access terminal, a multicast registration message, the multicast registration message requesting registration of the access terminal to a given multicast session;

logic configured to determine when to send a message advertising the given multicast session based on a first rate that the access terminal is expected to monitor a downlink control channel after the logic configured to receive receives the multicast registration message, wherein the message advertising the given multicast session is a periodic message and wherein the first rate is different than a second rate that the access terminal is expected to monitor the downlink control channel before the logic configured to receive receives the multicast registration message; and

logic configured to transmit the message advertising the given multicast session to the access terminal on the downlink control channel at an asynchronous or aperiodic time that is earlier than and deviates from a next periodic transmission of the message based on the determination of the logic configured to determine.

52. The access network of claim 51, further comprising:

logic configured to transmit an announce message to a plurality of access terminals to announce the given multicast session,

wherein the logic configured to receive receives the multicast registration message in response to the announce message.

53. The access network of claim 52, wherein a conservative paging cycle based on a least common multiplier (LCM) of paging cycles including the second rate is used to schedule the transmission of the announce message,

wherein the first rate is higher than the second rate, and

wherein a paging cycle based on the first rate is used to schedule the transmission of the message advertising the given multicast session.

54. The access network of claim 51, wherein the multicast registration message is received in response to the access terminal entering into a new sector.

55. The access network of claim 51, wherein the message advertising the given multicast session further indicates a manner in which the access terminal can tune to the given multicast session on a downlink broadcast channel.

56. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions, which, when executed by an access terminal within a wireless communications system, cause the access terminal to perform operations, the instructions comprising:

program code to adjust a rate at which the access terminal monitors a downlink control channel in expectation of receiving a message advertising a given multicast session, wherein the message advertising the given multicast session is a periodic message and wherein the adjusting is performed in expectation of receiving the message at an asynchronous or aperiodic time that is earlier than and deviates from a next periodic transmission of the message; and

program code to receive the message advertising the given multicast session on the downlink control channel.

57. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 56, further comprising:

program code to transmit a multicast registration message to an access network, the multicast registration message requesting registration of the access terminal to the given multicast session,

wherein the program code to adjust adjusts the rate after the program code to transmit transmits the multicast registration message, and the program code to receive receives the message advertising the given multicast session from the access network in response to the multicast registration message.

58. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 57, further comprising:

program code to receive, from the access network, an announce message announcing the given multicast session,

wherein the program code to transmit bundles the multicast registration message with an acknowledgment message acknowledging the announce message.

59. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 56, further comprising:

program code to wait a given period to receive the message advertising the given multicast session,

wherein the program code to transmit transmits the multicast registration message if the message advertising the given multicast session is not received within the given period.

60. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 56, further comprising:

program code to receive, from an access network, an announce message announcing a given multicast session to a plurality of access terminals,

wherein the program code to adjust adjusts the rate in response to the announce message.

61. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 56, further comprising:

program code to reset, after the program code to receive receives the message, the adjusted rate to a rate at which the access terminal monitors the downlink control channel prior to the adjustment.

62. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 56, wherein the message advertising the given multicast session further indicates a manner in which the access terminal can tune to the given multicast session on a downlink broadcast channel.

63. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions, which, when executed by an access network within a wireless communications system, cause the access network to perform operations, the instructions comprising:

program code to receive, from an access terminal, a multicast registration message, the multicast registration message requesting registration of the access terminal to a given multicast session;

program code to determine when to send a message advertising the given multicast session based on a first rate that the access terminal is expected to monitor a downlink control channel after the program code to receive receives the multicast registration message, wherein the message advertising the given multicast session is a periodic message and wherein the first rate is different than a second rate that the access terminal is expected to monitor the downlink control channel before the program code to receive receives the multicast registration message; and

program code to transmit the message advertising the given multicast session to the access terminal on the downlink control channel at an asynchronous or aperiodic time that is earlier than and deviates from a next periodic transmission of the message based on the determination of the program code to determine.

64. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 63, further comprising:

program code to transmit an announce message to a plurality of access terminals to announce the given multicast session,

wherein the program code to receive receives the multicast registration message in response to the announce message.

65. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 64, wherein a conservative paging cycle based on a least common multiplier (LCM) of paging cycles including the second rate is used to schedule the transmission of the announce message,

wherein the first rate is higher than the second rate, and

wherein a paging cycle based on the first rate is used to schedule the transmission of the message advertising the given multicast session.

66. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 63, wherein the multicast registration message is received in response to the access terminal entering into a new sector.

67. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 63, wherein the message advertising the given multicast session further indicates a manner in which the access terminal can tune to the given multicast session on a downlink broadcast channel.

68. A method of monitoring a downlink control channel, comprising:

adjusting a rate at which an access terminal monitors the downlink control channel in expectation of receiving a message advertising a given multicast session; and

receiving the message advertising the given multicast session on the downlink control channel,

wherein the adjusting occurs responsive to an uplink transmission configured to prompt an access network to transmit the message on the downlink control channel, and

wherein the adjusted rate permits the access network to transmit the message in response to the uplink transmission on the downlink control channel to the access terminal at an earlier point in time relative to the rate prior to the adjusting.