Regulating broadcast overhead messages within a wireless communications network

• US 8,824,351 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2013
• Issued: 09/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Song, Bongyong
• Primary Examiner(s): Kao, Jutai
• Application Number:
  US13/749,591
• Publication Number:
  US 20130136051A1
• Time in Patent Office: 586 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/312
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/06 Optimizing the usage of the radio link, e.g. header compression, information sizing , discarding information system modifying transmission characteristic according to link quality by modifying frame length H04L1/0007; dynamic adaptation of the packet size for flow control or congestion control H04L47/365
• 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 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/30 Resource management for broadcast services

Abstract

Aspects of regulating broadcast overhead messages within a wireless communications network are disclosed. In an example, an access network periodically sends a message advertising an announced multicast session on each of a plurality of carriers, the message indicating that the announced multicast session is being carried on a target carrier among the plurality of carriers. The access network determines whether to cease transmission of the periodic message within each non-target carrier based on a number of times the periodic message has been sent in each of the plurality of carriers, and ceases transmission of the periodic message within each non-target carrier based on the determining step.

Claims

1. A method of advertising a multicast session within a wireless communications network, comprising:

determining, at an access terminal, that an access network has ceased transmission, on a carrier to which the access terminal is currently tuned, of a periodic message advertising an announced multicast session that is being carried on a target carrier other than the carrier to which the access terminal is currently tuned;

sending, to the access network, a request for the access network to retransmit the periodic message; and

receiving at least one re-transmission of the periodic message.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the request is a broadcast multicast service (BCMCS) flow registration message for the announced multicast session.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the periodic message is a broadcast overhead message (BOM) that is sent on a downlink control channel.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the receiving receives the at least one re-transmission of the periodic message in a slot earlier than a slot reserved for BOMs on the downlink control channel.

5. An access terminal, comprising:

means for determining that an access network has ceased transmission, on a carrier to which the access terminal is currently tuned, of a periodic message advertising an announced multicast session that is being carried on a target carrier other than the carrier to which the access terminal is currently tuned;

means for sending, to the access network, a request for the access network to retransmit the periodic message; and

means for receiving at least one re-transmission of the periodic message.

6. The access terminal of claim 5, wherein the request is a broadcast multicast service (BCMCS) flow registration message for the announced multicast session.

7. The access terminal of claim 6, wherein the periodic message is a broadcast overhead message (BOM) that is sent on a downlink control channel.

8. The access terminal of claim 7, wherein the means for receiving receives the at least one re-transmission of the periodic message in a slot earlier than a slot reserved for BOMs on the downlink control channel.

9. An access terminal, comprising:

logic configured to determine that an access network has ceased transmission, on a carrier to which the access terminal is currently tuned, of a periodic message advertising an announced multicast session that is being carried on a target carrier other than the carrier to which the access terminal is currently tuned;

logic configured to send, to the access network, a request for the access network to retransmit the periodic message; and

logic configured to receive at least one re-transmission of the periodic message.

10. The access terminal of claim 9, wherein the request is a broadcast multicast service (BCMCS) flow registration message for the announced multicast session.

11. The access terminal of claim 10, wherein the periodic message is a broadcast overhead message (BOM) that is sent on a downlink control channel.

12. The access terminal of claim 11, wherein the logic configured to receive the at least one re-transmission of the periodic message in a slot earlier than a slot reserved for BOMs on the downlink control channel.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including program code stored thereon, the program code configured to operate within a wireless communications system including an access terminal, comprising:

program code to determine that an access network has ceased transmission, on a carrier to which the access terminal is currently tuned, of a periodic message advertising an announced multicast session that is being carried on a target carrier other than the carrier to which the access terminal is currently tuned;

program code to send, to the access network, a request for the access network to retransmit the periodic message; and

program code to receive at least one re-transmission of the periodic message.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the request is a broadcast multicast service (BCMCS) flow registration message for the announced multicast session.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the periodic message is a broadcast overhead message (BOM) that is sent on a downlink control channel.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the program code to receive receives the at least one re-transmission of the periodic message in a slot earlier than a slot reserved for BOMs on the downlink control channel.