Method and system for a multicast service initiation in a communication system

• US 20050169203A1
• Filed: 04/01/2005
• Published: 08/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Wang, Jun, Chen, Tao, Sinnarajah, Ragulan, Leung, Nikolai K.N.
• Granted Patent: US 8,243,644 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/312
• 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 72/30 Resource management for broadcast services

Abstract

Method and a system for multicast service notification in cellular telephone system to enable the cellular telephone systems to provide both multicast and point-to-point services are disclosed. Several embodiments describe the signaling interaction between an access network and subscriber stations belonging to a multicast group to allow the access network to properly notify the subscriber stations of a the multicast service. Such a signaling further allows the subscriber stations to recognize the multicast service notification to participate in the multicast service.

Claims

1. A method for a multicast service notification in a communication system, comprising:

determining a multicast group identifier; and

including the multicast group identifier in at least one periodically repeated message on a first channel.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said determining a multicast group identifier comprises:

receiving the multicast group identifier from an entity of the communication system.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said determining a multicast group identifier comprises:

receiving an identity of subscriber stations belonging to a multicast group; and

determining the multicast group identifier in accordance with the identity of the subscriber stations.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an end indicator for a multicast service for subscriber stations identified by the multicast group identifier; and

removing the multicast group identifier from the periodically repeated message on the first channel if the multicast group identifier is included in every periodically repeated message.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an end indicator for a multicast service for subscriber stations identified by the multicast group identifier; and

including the end indicator into a signal conveyed over a second channel, if the multicast group identifier is not included in every periodically repeated message.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said including the end indicator into a signal conveyed over a second channel comprises:

including the end indicator into a signal conveyed over a channel conveying the multicast service.

7. A method for a multicast service notification of a subscriber station in a communication system, comprising:

monitoring a periodically repeated message on a channel; and

decoding the periodically repeated message to determine if a multicast service notification was included in the periodically repeated message.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising:

receiving a channel conveying the multicast service.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, further comprising:

receiving an end indicator over the channel conveying the multicast service; and

discontinuing reception of the channel conveying the multicast service.

10. The method as claimed in claim 8, further comprising:

receiving an end indicator over a second channel; and

discontinuing reception of the channel conveying the multicast service.

11. An apparatus for a multicast service notification in a communication system, comprising:

a processor; and

a storage medium coupled to the processor and containing a set of instructions executable by the processor to;

determine a multicast group identifier; and

include the multicast group identifier in at least one periodically repeated message on a first channel.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said processor determines a multicast group identifier by processing a set of instructions to:

receive the multicast group identifier from an entity of the communication system.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said processor determines a multicast group identifier by processing a set of instructions to:

receive an identity of subscriber stations belonging to a multicast group; and

determine the multicast group identifier in accordance with the identity of the subscriber stations.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said processor is further configured to:

receive an end indicator for a multicast service for subscriber stations identified by the multicast group identifier; and

remove the multicast group identifier from the periodically repeated message on the first channel if the multicast group identifier is included in every periodically repeated message.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said processor is further configured to:

receive an end indicator for a multicast service for subscriber stations identified by the multicast group identifier; and

include the end indicator into a signal conveyed over a second channel, if the multicast group identifier is not included in every periodically repeated message.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein said processor includes the end indicator into a signal conveyed over a second channel by processing a set of instructions to:

include the end indicator into a signal conveyed over a channel conveying the multicast service.

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said processor and said storage medium are disposed in a base station.

18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the multicast group identifier is received from an entity of the communication system different from the base station.

19. A apparatus for a multicast service notification in a communication system, comprising:

a subscriber station configured to;

monitor a periodically repeated message on a channel; and

decode the periodically repeated message to determine if a multicast service notification was included in the periodically repeated message.

20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein said subscriber station is further configured to:

receive a channel conveying the multicast service.

21. The apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein said subscriber station is further configured to:

receive an end indicator over the channel conveying the multicast service; and

discontinue reception of the channel conveying the multicast service.

22. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein said subscriber station is further configured to:

receive an end indicator over a second channel; and

discontinue reception of the channel conveying the multicast service.