Application layer related group priority access using eMBMS and LTE priority access

• US 9,591,460 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2013
• Issued: 03/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Anchan, Kirankumar
• Primary Examiner(s): Kassim, Khaled
• Application Number:
  US14/012,905
• Publication Number:
  US 20140064176A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,287 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 74/006 in the downlink, i.e. towards the terminal

Abstract

The disclosure relates to dynamically controlling group priority access to a wireless network for a plurality of subscriber devices. An aspect transmits, on a broadcast/multicast interface, a priority group list indicating a priority state of at least one communications group of subscriber devices, wherein a subscriber device is barred from performing channel access procedures when at least one group identifier of the priority group list does not match at least one group identifier of a list of group identifiers of the subscriber device. An aspect receives, on a broadcast/multicast interface, a priority group list indicating a priority state of at least one communications group of subscriber devices, and bars channel access procedures when at least one group identifier of the priority group list does not match at least one group identifier of a list of group identifiers of the subscriber device.

Claims

1. A method for dynamically controlling access priority to a wireless network for a plurality of subscriber devices for members of a group call, comprising:

transmitting, on a broadcast/multicast interface, a priority group list indicating a priority state of at least one communications group of subscriber devices, wherein the at least one communications group of subscriber devices comprises a group of subscribers that participate in one or more group calls among the group of subscribers;

updating the priority group list when a group call among the at least one communications group of subscriber devices is being initiated, wherein a subscriber device belonging to the at least one communications group of subscriber devices does not perform channel access barring procedures when at least one group identifier of the priority group list matches at least one group identifier of a list of group identifiers of the subscriber device; and

subsequent to the group call among the at least one communications group of subscriber devices being initiated and in response to completion of a group call setup including bearer assignment for each subscriber device in the at least one communications group of subscriber devices, further updating the priority group list to indicate that channel access is available to subscriber devices not included in the at least one communications group of subscriber devices.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the list of group identifiers comprises a group identifier bitmask, and wherein the at least one group identifier of the list of group identifiers comprises a bit of the group identifier bitmask.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the priority group list comprises a priority channel bitmask, and wherein the at least one group identifier of the priority group list comprises a bit of the priority channel bitmask.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the broadcast/multicast interface comprises a multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS) channel or an application programming interface (API).

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one communications group of subscriber devices comprises a high priority group of subscriber devices.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the updating comprises:

setting a bit assigned to the at least one communications group of subscriber devices in the priority group list to 1.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

updating the priority group list after setup procedures for the group call among the at least one communications group of subscriber devices have been completed.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

transmitting the priority group list in response to the updating.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the updating comprises:

setting a bit assigned to the at least one communications group of subscriber devices in the priority group list to 0.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a list of group identifiers to each of the plurality of subscriber devices.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the list of group identifiers identifies the at least one communications group of subscriber devices to which the subscriber device belongs.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a long term evolution (LTE) access class to each of the plurality of subscriber devices.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein an application server assigns the LTE access class or a user assigns the LTE access class when initiating the group call among the at least one communications group of subscriber devices.

60. The method of claim 1, wherein the group call among the at least one communications group of subscriber devices is a group call among a first communication group of subscriber devices, wherein a second subscriber device belonging to the first communication group of subscriber devices is barred from channel access when no group identifier of the priority group list matches any group identifier of a second list of group identifiers of the second subscriber device.

14. A method for determining priority access to a wireless network at a subscriber device for a group call, comprising:

receiving, on a broadcast/multicast interface, a priority group list indicating a priority state of at least one communications group of subscriber devices, wherein the at least one communications group of subscriber devices comprises a group of subscribers that participate in one or more group calls among the group of subscribers;

receiving a first update of the priority group list when a group call among the at least one communications group of subscriber devices is being initiated;

barring channel access procedures when at least one group identifier of the first update of the priority group list does not match at least one group identifier of a list of group identifiers of the subscriber device; and

subsequent to the group call among the at least one communications group of subscriber devices being initiated and in response to completion of a group call setup including bearer assignment for each subscriber device in the at least one communications group of subscriber devices, receiving a second update of the priority group list that indicates that channel access is available to subscriber devices not included in the at least one communications group of subscriber devices.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the broadcast/multicast interface comprises a multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS) channel.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the list of group identifiers comprises a group identifier bitmask, and wherein the at least one group identifier of the list of group identifiers comprises a bit of the group identifier bitmask.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the priority group list comprises a priority channel bitmask, and wherein the at least one group identifier of the priority group list comprises a bit of the priority channel bitmask.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the barring comprises:

determining whether or not the priority group list indicates a priority group call restriction.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

determining whether or not the at least one group identifier of the priority group list matches the at least one group identifier of the list of group identifiers of the subscriber device when the priority group list indicates the priority group call restriction.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

permitting the channel access procedures when the at least one group identifier of the priority group list matches the at least one group identifier of the list of group identifiers.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

determining a priority level associated with the priority group list,

wherein permitting the channel access procedures is based on the priority level and the subscriber device'"'"'s long term evolution (LTE) access class.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

permitting the channel access procedures when the priority group list does not indicate a priority group call restriction.

23. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving a long term evolution (LTE) access class.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein an application server assigns the LTE access class or a user assigns the LTE access class when initiating the group call among the at least one communications group of subscriber devices.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the barring is performed regardless of the LTE access class.

26. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving the list of group identifiers from an application server.

27. The method of claim 14, wherein the list of group identifiers identifies at least one communications group to which the subscriber device belongs.

28. An apparatus for dynamically controlling access priority to a wireless network for a plurality of subscriber devices for members of a group call, comprising:

a communications interface configured to transmit, on a broadcast/multicast interface, a priority group list indicating a priority state of at least one communications group of subscriber devices, wherein the at least one communications group of subscriber devices comprises a group of subscribers that participate in one or more group calls among the group of subscribers; and

at least one processor configured to;

update the priority group list when a group call among the at least one communications group of subscriber devices is being initiated, wherein a subscriber device belonging to the at least one communications group of subscriber devices does not perform channel access barring procedures when at least one group identifier of the priority group list matches at least one group identifier of a list of group identifiers of the subscriber device; and

further update, subsequent to the group call among the at least one communications group of subscriber devices being initiated and in response to completion of a group call setup including bearer assignment for each subscriber device in the at least one communications group of subscriber devices, the priority group list to indicate that channel access is available to subscriber devices not included in the at least one communications group of subscriber devices.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the list of group identifiers comprises a group identifier bitmask, and wherein the at least one group identifier of the list of group identifiers comprises a bit of the group identifier bitmask.

30. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the priority group list comprises a priority channel bitmask, and wherein the at least one group identifier of the priority group list comprises a bit of the priority channel bitmask.

31. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the broadcast/multicast interface comprises a multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS) channel.

32. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the broadcast/multicast interface comprises an application programming interface (API).

33. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the at least one communications group of subscriber devices comprises a high priority group of subscriber devices.

34. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the at least one processor being configured to update comprises the at least one processor being configured to:

set a bit assigned to the at least one communications group of subscriber devices in the priority group list to 1.

35. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

update the priority group list after setup procedures for the group call among the at least one communications group of subscriber devices have been completed.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the communications interface is further configured to:

transmit the priority group list in response to the update after the setup procedures have been completed.

37. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the at least one processor being configured to update comprises the at least one processor being configured to:

set a bit assigned to the high priority group of subscriber devices in the priority group list to 0.

38. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the communications interface is further configured to:

transmit a list of group identifiers to each of the plurality of subscriber devices.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the list of group identifiers identifies at least one communications group to which the subscriber device belongs.

40. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the communications interface is further configured to:

transmit a long term evolution (LTE) access class to each of the plurality of subscriber devices.

41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein an application server assigns the LTE access class or a user assigns the LTE access class when initiating the group call among the at least one communications group of subscriber devices.

42. An apparatus for determining priority access to a wireless network at a subscriber device for a group call, comprising:

a transceiver configured to receive, on a broadcast/multicast interface, a priority group list indicating a priority state of at least one communications group of subscriber devices, wherein the at least one communications group of subscriber devices comprises a group of subscribers that participate in one or more group calls among the group of subscribers;

the transceiver further configured to receive a first update of the priority group list when a group call among the at least one communications group of subscriber devices is being initiated; and

at least one processor configured to bar channel access procedures when at least one group identifier of the first update of the priority group list does not match at least one group identifier of a list of group identifiers of the subscriber device,

wherein the transceiver is further configured to receive, subsequent to the group call among the at least one communications group of subscriber devices being initiated and in response to completion of a group call setup including bearer assignment for each subscriber device in the at least one communications group of subscriber devices, a second update of the priority group list that indicates that channel access is available to subscriber devices not included in the at least one communications group of subscriber devices.

43. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the broadcast/multicast interface comprises a multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS) channel.

44. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the list of group identifiers comprises a group identifier bitmask, and wherein the at least one group identifier of the list of group identifiers comprises a bit of the group identifier bitmask.

45. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the priority group list comprises a priority channel bitmask, and wherein the at least one group identifier of the priority group list comprises a bit of the priority channel bitmask.

46. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the at least one processor being configured to bar comprises the at least one processor being configured to:

determine whether or not the priority group list indicates a priority group call restriction.

47. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

determine whether or not the at least one group identifier of the priority group list matches the at least one group identifier of the list of group identifiers of the subscriber device when the priority group list indicates the priority group call restriction.

48. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

permit channel access procedures when the at least one group identifier of the priority group list matches the at least one group identifier of the list of group identifiers.

49. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

determine a priority level associated with the priority group list,

wherein the channel access procedures being permitted is based on the priority level and the subscriber device'"'"'s long term evolution (LTE) access class.

50. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

permit the channel access procedures when the priority group list does not indicate a priority group call restriction.

51. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the transceiver is further configured to:

receive a long term evolution (LTE) access class.

52. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein an application server assigns the LTE access class or a user assigns the LTE access class when initiating the group call among the at least one communications group of subscriber devices.

53. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the at least one processor bars the channel access procedures regardless of the LTE access class.

54. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the transceiver is further configured to:

receive the list of group identifiers from an application server.

55. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the list of group identifiers identifies at least one communications group to which the subscriber device belongs.

56. An apparatus for dynamically controlling access priority to a wireless network for a plurality of subscriber devices for members of a group call, comprising:

means for transmitting, on a broadcast/multicast interface, a priority group list indicating a priority state of at least one communications group of subscriber devices, wherein the at least one communications group of subscriber devices comprises a group of subscribers that participate in one or more group calls among the group of subscribers;

means for updating the priority group list when a group call among the at least one communications group of subscriber devices is being initiated, wherein a subscriber device belonging to the at least one communications group of subscriber devices does not perform channel access barring procedures when at least one group identifier of the priority group list matches at least one group identifier of a list of group identifiers of the subscriber device; and

means for further updating, subsequent to the group call among the at least one communications group of subscriber devices being initiated and in response to completion of a group call setup including bearer assignment for each subscriber device in the at least one communications group of subscriber devices, the priority group list to indicate that channel access is available to subscriber devices not included in the at least one communications group of subscriber devices.

57. An apparatus for determining priority access to a wireless network at a subscriber device for a group call, comprising:

means for receiving, on a broadcast/multicast interface, a priority group list indicating a priority state of at least one communications group of subscriber devices, wherein the at least one communications group of subscriber devices comprises a group of subscribers that participate in one or more group calls among the group of subscribers;

means for receiving a first update of the priority group list when a group call among the at least one communications group of subscriber devices is being initiated;

means for barring channel access procedures when at least one group identifier of the first update of the priority group list does not match at least one group identifier of a list of group identifiers of the subscriber device; and

means for receiving, subsequent to the group call among the at least one communications group of subscriber devices being initiated and in response to completion of a group call setup including bearer assignment for each subscriber device in the at least one communications group of subscriber devices, a second update of the priority group list that indicates that channel access is available to subscriber devices not included in the at least one communications group of subscriber devices.

58. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for dynamically controlling access priority to a wireless network for a plurality of subscriber devices for members of a group call, comprising:

at least one instruction to transmit, on a broadcast/multicast interface, a priority group list indicating a priority state of at least one communications group of subscriber devices, wherein the at least one communications group of subscriber devices comprises a group of subscribers that participate in one or more group calls among the group of subscribers;

at least one instruction to update the priority group list when a group call among the at least one communications group of subscriber devices is being initiated, wherein a subscriber device belonging to the at least one communications group of subscriber devices does not perform channel access barring procedures when at least one group identifier of the priority group list matches at least one group identifier of a list of group identifiers of the subscriber device; and

at least one instruction to further update, subsequent to the group call among the at least one communications group of subscriber devices being initiated and in response to completion of a group call setup including bearer assignment for each subscriber device in the at least one communications group of subscriber devices, the priority group list to indicate that channel access is available to subscriber devices not included in the at least one communications group of subscriber devices.

59. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for determining priority access to a wireless network at a subscriber device for a group call, comprising:

at least one instruction to receive, on a broadcast/multicast interface, a priority group list indicating a priority state of at least one communications group of subscriber devices, wherein the at least one communications group of subscriber devices comprises a group of subscribers that participate in one or more group calls among the group of subscribers;

at least one instruction to receive an updated priority group list when a group call among the at least one communications group of subscriber devices is being initiated;

at least one instruction to bar channel access procedures when at least one group identifier of the priority group list does not match at least one group identifier of a list of group identifiers of the subscriber device; and

at least one instruction to receive, subsequent to the group call among the at least one communications group of subscriber devices being initiated and in response to completion of a group call setup including bearer assignment for each subscriber device in the at least one communications group of subscriber devices, a second update of the priority group list that indicates that channel access is available to subscriber devices not included in the at least one communications group of subscriber devices.