Method and device for forwarding MBMS contents

• US 8,983,450 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2007
• Issued: 03/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Solutions and Networks GmbH & Co. KG (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Solutions and Networks GmbH & Co. KG (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Breuer, Volker, Martos-Riano, Demian
• Primary Examiner(s): Figueroa, Marisol
• Application Number:
  US12/312,373
• Publication Number:
  US 20100330980A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,702 Days
• Field of Search: 370/312, 370/315, 455/11.1, 455/13.1, 455/16, 455/422.1
• US Class Current: 455/422.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2606 Arrangements for base station coverage control, e.g. by using relays in tunnels
• 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 16/26 Cell enhancers or enhancement, e.g. for tunnels, building shadow
• 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 84/047 using dedicated repeater stations

Abstract

In a radio communication system, a first network-based radio station transmits information destined for a plurality of subscriber stations. A second network-based radio station transmits messages destined for individual subscriber stations and the second network-based radio station receives by radio the information transmitted by the first network-based radio station and transmits the same.

Claims

1. A method for operating a radio communication system, comprising:

receiving, from a first network-end radio station via a radio interface, group information intended for a plurality of subscriber stations at a second network-end radio station;

transmitting, from the second network-end radio station, messages intended for individual subscriber stations; and

transmitting, by the second-network-end radio station, the group information received from the first network-end radio station to an individual subscriber station, where the second network-end radio station takes into account information received from the individual subscriber station when transmitting the group information.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the individual subscriber station receives and combines the information transmitted by the first network-end radio station and by the second network-end radio station.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising receiving the information at the first network-end radio station, via conduction from a network-end device, prior to said transmitting of the information.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first network-end radio station and the second network-end radio station use a same radio frequency for transmitting the information.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, further comprising controlling said transmitting of the information by the second network-end radio station by at least one of the first network-end radio station, the second network-end radio station and a control device connected to the first network-end radio station and the second network-end radio station.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said controlling comprises at least one of

determining a transmission power to be used by the second network-end radio station for said transmitting of the information,

determining radio resources to be used by the second network-end radio station for said transmitting of the information,

determining a transmission direction to be used by the second network-end radio station for said transmitting of the information, and

determining a type and/or scope of the information to be transmitted by the second network-end radio station.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said controlling is effected using at least one communication that is received by the second network-end radio station and originates from a subscriber station.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising carrying out a synchronization, by the second network-end radio station using the information transmitted by the first network-end radio station, between the first network-end radio station and the second network-end radio station.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, further comprising transmitting by the second network-end radio station notification information to subscriber stations concerning the possibility of said transmitting of the information by the second network-end radio station.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising transmitting, by the first network-end radio station, messages intended for individual subscriber stations.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said transmitting by the second network-end radio station of the information is in a direction towards the first network-end radio station.

12. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said transmitting by the second network-end radio station of the information is directed in a direction away from the first network-end radio station.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising:

transmitting, by a third network-end radio station, messages intended for individual subscriber stations;

receiving by the third network-end radio station via radio the information transmitted by the second network-end radio station; and

transmitting the information by the third network-end radio station.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the information is MBMS information.

17. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmitting selectively sends the information to the individual subscriber terminal based on the information received from the individual subscriber station.

15. A network-end radio station for a radio communication system, comprising:

means for transmitting messages intended for individual subscriber stations;

means for receiving, via a radio interface, group information, the group information intended for a plurality of subscriber stations; and

means for transmitting the group information received to an individual subscriber station,

wherein the network-end radio station takes into account information received from the individual subscriber station in association with transmission of the group information.

18. The network-end radio station as claimed in claim 15, wherein the means for transmitting selectively sends the information to the individual subscriber terminal based on the information received from the individual subscriber station.

16. A radio communication system, having subscriber stations and first and second network-end radio stations, comprising:

a first network-end station configured to;

transmit group information intended for a plurality of the subscriber stations; and

a second network-end station configured to;

transmit messages intended for individual subscriber stations,

receive, via a radio interface, the group information transmitted by the first network-end radio station, and

transmit the group information received to an individual subscriber station, where the second network-end radio station takes into account information received from the individual subscriber station when transmitting the group information.

19. The radio communication system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the means for transmitting selectively sends the information to the individual subscriber terminal based on the information received from the individual subscriber station.