Arranging content for broadcast in a wireless communication system

• US 9,106,430 B1
• Filed: 02/24/2012
• Issued: 08/11/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Zhou, Yu, Vivanco, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Lamont, Benjamin
• Application Number:
  US13/404,371
• Time in Patent Office: 1,264 Days
• Field of Search: 370/312, 370/390, 370/432, 455/456.1, 455/518, 709/203, 709/219, 709/245, 725/62, 725/87, 725/97
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/185 with management of multicast group membership
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1859 adapted to provide push services, e.g. data channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26616 for merging a unicast channel into a multicast channel, e.g. in a VOD application, when a client served by unicast channel catches up a multicast channel to save bandwidth data multicast over packet-switching network H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6131 involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6405 Multicasting data broadcast and multicast in packet switching networks H04L12/18
• 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

Abstract

In systems and methods of arranging content for broadcast in a wireless communication system, a request is received from a plurality of wireless devices, each associated with a user profile, for content associated with content characteristics. A plurality of content for each of the plurality of wireless devices is generated according to the associated user profile. The plurality of content is arranged according to the content characteristics for broadcasting to the plurality of wireless devices in a multicast transmission.

Claims

1. A method of arranging content for broadcast in a wireless communication system, comprising:

receiving a request for content associated with content characteristics from a plurality of wireless devices each associated with a user profile;

generating a plurality of content for each of the plurality of wireless devices according to the associated user profile;

determining a similarity criteria for the plurality of content based on the content characteristics for each of the plurality of content;

arranging the plurality of content according to the content characteristics for broadcasting to the plurality of wireless devices in a multicast transmission, wherein arranging the content comprises ordering the plurality of content from most similar to least similar according to the determined similarity criteria;

scheduling a first content and a second content in a first time slot for broadcasting to at least two of the plurality of wireless devices in a multicast transmission when the similarity criteria for the first content and the second content meets a similarity threshold, wherein the multicast scheduling is performed prior to transmitting the first content and the second content;

scheduling a third content in the first time slot for unicasting to one of the plurality of wireless devices in a unicast transmission when the similarity criteria for the third content fails to meet a similarity threshold, wherein the unicast scheduling is performed prior to transmitting the third content;

transmitting the scheduled multicast transmission and the scheduled unicast transmission over the first time slot; and

predicting future content having similarity criteria based on the arranged plurality of content, the user profiles, and a location for at least one wireless device that received one of the multicast or unicast transmission.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein arranging further comprises scheduling the plurality of content according to the determined similarity criteria for broadcasting in a multicast transmission.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

synchronizing a broadcast of the plurality of content to each of a plurality of wireless devices by a unicast transmission to at least one of the plurality of wireless devices.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

arranging the future content according to the similarity criteria for broadcasting to the plurality of wireless devices in a multicast transmission; and

transmitting a first future content and a second future content in a multicast transmission when the similarity criteria for the first future content and the second future content meets a similarity threshold.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

redetermining the similarity criteria when a second request for content is received from one of the plurality of wireless devices.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

redetermining the similarity criteria when a status change of one of the plurality of wireless devices is detected.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

scheduling a first future content and a second future content in a second time slot for broadcasting to at least two of the plurality of wireless devices in a multicast transmission when the similarity criteria for the first future content and the second future content meets a similarity threshold;

transmitting the first future content and the second future content in a multicast transmission over the second time slot.

8. A processing node of a wireless communication system, the processing node comprising:

a processor and a communication interface, wherein the processing node is configured to;

receive a request for content associated with content characteristics from a plurality of wireless devices each associated with a user profile;

generate a plurality of content for each of the plurality of wireless devices according to the associated user profile;

determine a similarity criteria for the plurality of content based on the content characteristics for each of the plurality of content; and

arrange the plurality of content according to the content characteristics for broadcasting to the plurality of wireless devices in a multicast transmission, wherein arranging the content comprises ordering the plurality of content from most similar to least similar according to the determined similarity criteria;

schedule a first content and a second content in a first time slot for broadcasting to at least two of the plurality of wireless devices in a multicast transmission when the similarity criteria for the first content and the second content meets a similarity threshold, wherein the broadcast scheduling is performed prior to transmitting the first content and the second content;

schedule a third content in the first time slot for unicasting to one of the plurality of wireless devices in a unicast transmission when the similarity criteria for the third content fails to meet a similarity threshold, wherein the unicast scheduling is performed prior to transmitting the third content; and

transmit the scheduled multicast transmission and the scheduled unicast transmission over the first time slot; and

predict future content having similarity criteria based on the arranged plurality of content, the user profiles, and a location for at least one wireless device that received one of the multicast or unicast transmission.

9. The processing node of claim 8, further configured to schedule the plurality of content according to the determined similarity criteria for broadcasting in a multicast transmission.

10. The processing node of claim 8, further configured to:

synchronize the multicast transmission of the plurality of content to each of the plurality of wireless devices by a unicast transmission to at least one of the plurality of wireless devices.

11. The processing node of claim 8, further configured to:

arrange the future content according to the similarity criteria for broadcasting to the plurality of wireless devices in a multicast transmission; and

transmit a first future content and a second future content in a multicast transmission when the similarity criteria for the first future content and the second future content meets a similarity threshold.

12. The processing node of claim 8, further configured to:

redetermine the similarity criteria when a second request for content is received from one of the plurality of wireless devices.

13. The processing node of claim 8, further configured to:

redetermine the similarity criteria when a status change of one of the plurality of wireless devices is detected.

14. The processing node of claim 8, further configured to:

schedule a first future content and a second future content in a second time slot for broadcasting to at least two of the plurality of wireless devices in a multicast transmission when the similarity criteria for the first future content and the second future content meets a similarity threshold;

transmit the first future content and the second future content in a multicast transmission over the second time slot.