Channel synchronization method, system and device in multicast broadcast single frequency network

• US 8,824,350 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2010
• Issued: 09/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Datang Mobile Communications Equipment Company Limited (China Information Communication Technology Group Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: China Academy of Telecom Technology (China Information Communication Technology Group Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Zhang, Dajun, Yang, Xiaodong, Liang, Jing
• Primary Examiner(s): Kang, Suk Jin
• Application Number:
  US13/320,442
• Publication Number:
  US 20120134314A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,573 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/312
• 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 48/12 using downlink control channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/30 Resource management for broadcast services

Abstract

A channel synchronization method, system and device in the multicast broadcast single frequency network are disclosed, which relate to wireless communication filed and are used to solve the problem of unable to ensure the base station to synchronously send the multi-points control channel (MCCH) message in the multicast broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) region in the prior art. The specific scheme is: the network device in the MBSFN obtains multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS) service information and confirms the time resource and the frequency resource that bears MBMS service information. The network device sends the MBMS service information, the time resource and the frequency resource information to the base station in the MBSFN. The base station utilizing the time resource and the frequency resource sends the MBMS service information to the terminal via MBMS point to MCCH. Consequently the purpose that the base station synchronously sends the MBMS service message in the MBSFN is achieved.

Claims

1. A channel synchronization method in a Multi Broadcast Single Frequency Network (MBSFN), comprising:

a network device in the MBSFN acquiring Multimedia Broadcast and Multicast Service (MBMS) service information including an MBMS point-to-multipoint Control Channel (MCCH) message from the MBMS service information, the network device adding the MCCH message, information on time at which the MCCH message is transmitted by base stations in the MBSFN to user equipments, and MCCH configuration information to one of a MBSFN MCCH Information message and a MBSFN Multicast Channel (MCH) Information message, wherein the MBMS service information is carried in the MCCH message, and the MCCH configuration information comprises an MCCH scheduling repetition interval and/or information on an MCCH message modulation pattern;

the network device transmitting the one of the MBSFN MCCH Information message and the MBSFN MCH Information message to the base stations in the MBSFN via an interface; and

the base stations in the MBSFN transmitting one of the MCCH message carried in the MBSFN MCCH Information message and the MBSFN MCH Information message to the user equipments over a MCCH according to the information on time and the MCCH configuration information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein if the network device is an MBMS Coordinator Entity (MCE), then the network device acquiring the MBMS service information comprises:

the MCE receiving an MBMS session initiation message transmitted from a core network device and extracting the MBMS service information carried in the MBMS session initiation message; and

the network device transmitting the MBSFN MCH Information message to the base stations in the MBSFN via the interface comprises;

the MCE transmitting the MBSFN MCH Information message to the respective base stations in the MBSFN via the interface.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein if the network device is a primary base station in the MBSFN, then the network device acquiring the MBMS service information comprises:

the primary base station receiving an MBMS session initiation message transmitted from a core network device and extracting the MBMS service information carried in the MBMS session initiation message; and

the network device transmitting the MBSFN MCCH Information message to the base stations in the MBSFN via the interface comprises;

the primary base station transmitting the MBSFN MCCH Information message to the others base stations than the primary base station in the MBSFN via the interface.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein if the network device is an Operation and Management (O&

M) entity, then the network device acquiring the MBMS service information comprises;

the O&

M entity searching stored MCCH configuration information for the MBMS service information; and

the network device transmitting the MBSFN MCCH Information message and the MBSFN MCH Information message to the base stations in the MBSFN via the interface comprises;

the O&

M entity transmitting one of the MBSFN MCCH Information message and the MBSFN MCH Information message to the respective base stations in the MBSFN via the interface.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the information on time comprises a frame number of a radio frame in which the MCCH message is scheduled.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein when the MCCH configuration information comprises the MCCH scheduling repetition interval,

the base stations, after transmitting the MCCH message to the user equipments and upon reception of one of the MBSFN MCCH Information message and the MBSFN MCH Information message transmitted again from the network device, each selects a time resource closest to the current time and in the MCCH scheduling repetition interval according to the information on time carried in one of the MBSFN MCCH Information and the MBSFN MCH Information message received again and transmits a further MCCH message carried in one of the MBSFN MCCH Information message and the MBSFN MCH Information message received again to the user equipments over the time resource.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein when the MCCH configuration information comprises the information on a MCCH message modulation pattern,

the base stations modulate the MCCH message according to the MCCH message modulation pattern prior to transmission of the MCCH message.

8. A network device, comprising:

an information acquisition unit configured to acquire Multimedia Broadcast and Multicast Service (MBMS) service information;

a resource determination unit configured to compose a MBMS point-multipoint Control Channel (MCCH) message from the MBMS service information, the resource determination unit configured to add the MCCH message, information on time at which the MCCH message is transmitted by base stations in an MBSFN to user equipments, and MCCH configuration information to one of a Multi Broadcast Single Frequency Network (MBSFN) MCCH Information message and a MBSFN Multicast Channel (MCH) Information message, wherein the MBMS service information is carried in the MCCH message, and the MCCH configuration information comprises an MCCH scheduling repetition interval and/or information on an MCCH message modulation pattern; and

an information transmission unit configured to transmit one of the MBSFN MCCH Information message and the MBSFN MCH Information message to the base stations in the MBSFN via an interface so that the base stations in the MBSFN transmit the MCCH message carried in one of the MBSFN MCCH Information message and the MBSFN MCH Information message to the user equipments over an MCCH according to the information on time and the MCCH configuration information.

9. The network device of claim 8, wherein the information acquisition unit comprises

a reception unit configured to receive an MBMS session initiation message transmitted from a core network device;

and

an extraction unit configured to extract the MBMS service information carried in the MBMS session initiation message.

10. The network device of claim 8, wherein the information acquisition unit comprises:

a storage unit configured to store configured MCCH configuration information; and

a search unit configured to search the storage unit for the MBMS service information.

11. The network device of claim 8, wherein the information on time comprises a frame number of a radio frame in which the MCCH message is scheduled.

12. The network device of claim 9, wherein the information on time comprises a frame number of a radio frame in which the MCCH message is scheduled.

13. The network device of claim 10, wherein the information on time comprises a frame number of a radio frame in which the MCCH message is scheduled.

14. A base station, comprising:

an information reception unit configured to receive one of a Multi Broadcast Single Frequency Network (MBSFN) Multimedia Broadcast and Multicast Service (MBMS) point-to-multipoint Control Channel (MCCH) information message and a MBSFN Multicast Channel (MCH) Information message transmitted from a network device in a MBSFN where the base station resides, wherein one of the MBSFN MCCH Information message and the MBSFN MCH Information message carries an MCCH message, information on time at which the MCCH message is transmitted by base stations in the MBSFN to user equipments, and MCCH configuration information, wherein the MCCH configuration information comprises an MCCH scheduling repetition interval and/or information on an MCCH message modulation pattern; and

a message transmission unit configured to transmit one of the MCCH message carried in the MBSFN MCCH Information message and the MBSFN MCH Information message to a user equipment over an MCCH according to the information on time and the MCCH configuration information.

15. The base station of claim 14, wherein when the MCCH configuration information comprises the MCCH scheduling repetition interval, and after the message transmission unit transmits the MCCH message, the information reception unit is further configured:

to receive one of the MBSFN MCCH Information message and the MBSFN MCH Information message transmitted again from the network device; and

the message transmission unit is further configured;

to select a time resource closest to the current time and in the MCCH scheduling repetition interval according to the information on time carried in one of the MBSFN MCCH Information message and the MBSFN MCH Information message received again and to transmit a further MCCH message carried in one of the MBSFN MCCH Information message and the MBSFN MCH Information message received again to the user equipment over the time resource.

16. The base station of claim 14, wherein when the MCCH configuration information comprises the information on a MCCH message modulation pattern,

the message transmission unit is further configured:

to modulate the MCCH message according to the MCCH message modulation pattern prior to transmission of the MCCH message.