Method and system for controlling the distribution of multimedia broadcast service

• US 8,958,373 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2010
• Issued: 02/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Terry, Stephen E.
• Primary Examiner(s): HALIYUR, VENKATESH N
• Application Number:
  US12/974,574
• Publication Number:
  US 20110149829A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,519 Days
• Field of Search: 370328-503, 455 134-574
• US Class Current: 370/329
• 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 16/10 Dynamic resource partitioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/04 Error control
• 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 28/16 Central resource management; Negotiation of resources or communication parameters, e.g. negotiating bandwidth or QoS [Quality of Service]
• 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 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/34 TPC management, i.e. sharing limited amount of power among users or channels or data types, e.g. cell loading
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/30 Resource management for broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/51 based on terminal or device properties
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/006 in the downlink, i.e. towards the terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/40 for selective distribution or broadcast

Abstract

A wireless multi-cell communication system and method of controlling the distribution of multimedia broadcast services (MBMS) are disclosed. The system includes at least one network, e.g., a Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN), which distributes the MBMS to one or more wireless receive/transmit units (WTRUs). In one embodiment, the MBMS are activated and deactivated based on whether periodic cell updates are provided for a particular cell. In another embodiment, MBMS transmission is terminated when receipt of the MBMS are confirmed. In yet another embodiment, the MBMS are segmented to reduce the resources used by the network and/or the WTRUs during MBMS distribution.

Claims

1. A method, performed by a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), the method comprising:

receiving a first multimedia broadcast/multicast service (MBMS) transmission from a first cell;

storing the first MBMS transmission;

receiving a second MBMS transmission from a second cell, wherein the second MBMS transmission is received at a different transmission time than the first MBMS transmission; and

combining the first MBMS transmission and the second MBMS transmission based on received information from a network, wherein the received information includes an MBMS combining schedule and a transmission time difference.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first MBMS transmission is received over a secondary common control physical channel (S-CCPCH).

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the second MBMS transmission is received over a secondary common control physical channel (S-CCPCH).

4. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a first multimedia broadcast/multicast service (MBMS) transmission from a first cell;

memory configured to store the first MBMS transmission;

the receiver further configured to receive a second MBMS transmission from a second cell, wherein the second MBMS transmission is received at a different transmission time than the first MBMS transmission; and

a processor configured to combine the first MBMS transmission and the second MBMS transmission based on received information from a network, wherein the received information includes an MBMS combining schedule and a transmission time difference.

5. The WTRU of claim 4 wherein the first MBMS transmission is received over a secondary common control physical channel (S-CCPCH).

6. The WTRU of claim 4 wherein the second MBMS transmission is received over a secondary common control physical channel (S-CCPCH).

7. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) comprising:

circuitry configured to receive a first multimedia broadcast/multicast service (MBMS) transmission over a first secondary common control physical channel (S-CCPCH) from a first Node-B;

the circuitry further configured to receive a second MBMS transmission over a second S-CCPCH from a second Node-B;

the circuitry further configured to receive MBMS information, wherein the MBMS information includes an MBMS combining schedule and a transmission time difference; and

the circuitry is further configured to combine the first MBMS transmission and the second MBMS transmission, wherein the combining is based on the MBMS combining schedule and the transmission time difference.

8. A method, performed by a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), the method comprising:

receiving a first multimedia broadcast/multicast service (MBMS) transmission over a first secondary common control physical channel (S-CCPCH) from a first Node-B;

receiving a second MBMS transmission over a second S-CCPCH from a second Node-B;

receiving MBMS information, wherein the MBMS information includes an MBMS combining schedule and a transmission time difference; and

combining the first MBMS transmission and the second MBMS transmission, wherein the combining is based on the MBMS combining schedule and the transmission time difference.