System and method for resource selection during group communication broadcast

• US 9,680,924 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2015
• Issued: 06/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kodaypak, Rajendra Prasad
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Jae Y
• Application Number:
  US14/851,904
• Publication Number:
  US 20170078371A1
• Time in Patent Office: 641 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/101 based on network conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1034 Reaction to server failures by a load balancer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• 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 72/04 Wireless resource allocation

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, receiving a request to initiate a multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS) to wirelessly distribute media content to mobile user equipment within a target geographical region using a common radio channel An efficiency metric is obtained, in response to the request, for each broadcast multicast service center (BMSC). The efficiency metric is evaluated for each of the BMSCs and one of the BMSCs is selected based on the evaluation result. Establishment of an MBMS bearer service is facilitated using the selected BMSC, and a first media content item is disseminated to the mobile user equipment within the target geographical region using the common radio channel by way of the MBMS bearer service. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising;

receiving a request to initiate a multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS) to wirelessly distribute media content to mobile user equipment within a target geographical region using a common radio channel;

obtaining, in response to the request, an efficiency metric for each broadcast multicast service center (BMSC) of a plurality of BMSCs available to process the media content for distribution to the mobile user equipment within the target geographical region;

evaluating the efficiency metric for each of the plurality of BMSCs to obtain an evaluation result, wherein the efficiency metric is based on measured parameters related to the BMSCs;

selecting a BMSC of the plurality of BMSCs to obtain a selected BMSC based on the evaluation result; and

facilitating establishment of an MBMS bearer service using the selected BMSC, wherein a first media content item is disseminated to the mobile user equipment within the target geographical region using the common radio channel by way of the MBMS bearer service.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the efficiency metric comprises one of resource utilization metrics, associated wireless serving areas, proximity to a group communication service processor providing the first media content item, loading metrics, latency factors, round trip time latency measurements or any combination thereof.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the plurality of BMSCs are accessible by way of a communication network, the efficiency metrics further comprising characteristics of network connections to the plurality of BMSCs.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of BMSCs are accessible by way of a communication network, wherein the operations further comprise:

detecting a failure of one of the communication network, the selected BMSC, or both; and

responsive to the detecting of the failure;

selecting an alternative BMSC of the plurality of BMSCs to obtain a selected alternative BMSC based on the evaluation result; and

facilitating establishment of an alternative MBMS bearer service using the selected alternative BMSC.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the selecting of the BMSC comprises selecting a subset of the plurality of BMSCs to obtain a selected subset of BMSCs based on the evaluation result,

wherein the facilitating of the establishment of the MBMS bearer service comprises facilitating a plurality of MBMS bearer services using the selected subset of BMSCs.

6. The system of claim 1, the plurality of BMSCs are connected to a group communication service application server (GCS-AS) through a signaling controller.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the signaling controller is based on a diameter protocol, and wherein the plurality of BMSCs comprises a plurality of geographically diverse groups of redundant BMSCs.

8. A method, comprising:

determining, by a system comprising a processor, that a request has been made to initiate a multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS) to wirelessly distribute media content to mobile user equipment within a target geographical region using a common radio channel;

obtaining, by the system, in response to the determining that the request has been made, an efficiency parameter for each broadcast multicast service center (BMSC) of a plurality of BMSCs available to process the media content for distribution to the mobile user equipment within the target geographical region;

evaluating, by the system, the efficiency parameter for each of the plurality of BMSCs to obtain an evaluation result, wherein the efficiency parameter is based on measured parameters related to the BMSCs;

selecting, by the system, a BMSC of the plurality of BMSCs to obtain a selected BMSC based on the evaluation result; and

facilitating, by the system, establishment of an MBMS bearer service using the selected BMSC, wherein a first media content item is disseminated to the mobile user equipment within the target geographical region using the common radio channel by way of the MBMS bearer service.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the efficiency parameter comprises one of resource utilization metrics, associated wireless serving areas, proximity to a group communication service processor providing the first media content item, loading metrics, latency factors, round trip time latency measurements or any combination thereof.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the plurality of BMSCs are accessible by way of a communication network, the efficiency parameter further comprising characteristics of network connections to the plurality of BMSCs, and

wherein the plurality of BMSCs comprises a plurality of geographically diverse groups of redundant BMSCs.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the plurality of BMSCs are accessible by way of a communication network, wherein the method further comprises:

detecting, by the system, a failure of one of the communication network, the selected BMSC, or both; and

responsive to the detecting of the failure;

selecting, by the system, an alternative BMSC of the plurality of BMSCs to obtain a selected alternative BMSC based on the evaluation result; and

facilitating, by the system, establishment of an alternative MBMS bearer service using the selected alternative BMSC.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the selecting of the BMSC comprises selecting a subset of the plurality of BMSCs to obtain a selected subset of BMSCs based on the evaluation result,

wherein the facilitating of the establishment of the MBMS bearer service comprises facilitating a plurality of MBMS bearer services using the selected subset of BMSCs.

13. The method of claim 8, the plurality of BMSCs are connected to a group communication service application server (GCS-AS) through a signaling controller.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the signaling controller is based on a diameter protocol.

15. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising:

receiving a notification of a request to initiate a multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS) to wirelessly distribute media content to mobile user equipment within a target geographical region using a common radio channel;

determining, in response to the notification, an operational parameter for each broadcast multicast service center (BMSC) of a plurality of BMSCs available to process the media content for distribution to the mobile user equipment within the target geographical region;

evaluating the operational parameter for each of the plurality of BMSCs to obtain an evaluation result, wherein the operational parameter is based on measured parameters related to the BMSCs;

identifying a BMSC of the plurality of BMSCs to obtain a selected BMSC based on the evaluation result; and

facilitating establishment of an MBMS bearer service using the selected BMSC, wherein a first media content item is disseminated to the mobile user equipment within the target geographical region using the common radio channel by way of the MBMS bearer service.

16. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the operational parameter comprises one of resource utilization metrics, associated wireless serving areas, proximity to a group communication service processor providing the first media content item, loading metrics, latency factors, round trip time latency measurements or any combination thereof.

17. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the plurality of BMSCs comprises a plurality of geographically diverse groups of redundant BMSCs, and

wherein the plurality of BMSCs are accessible by way of a communication network, the operational parameter further comprising characteristics of network connections to the plurality of BMSCs.

18. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the plurality of BMSCs are accessible by way of a communication network, wherein the operations further comprise:

detecting a failure of one of the communication network, the selected BMSC, or both; and

responsive to the detecting of the failure;

selecting an alternative BMSC of the plurality of BMSCs to obtain a selected alternative BMSC based on the evaluation result; and

facilitating establishment of an alternative MBMS bearer service using the selected alternative BMSC.

19. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the identifying of the BMSC comprises selecting a subset of the plurality of BMSCs to obtain a selected subset of BMSCs based on the evaluation result,

wherein the facilitating of the establishment of the MBMS bearer service comprises facilitating a plurality of MBMS bearer services using the selected subset of BMSCs.

20. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 15, the plurality of BMSCs are connected to a group communication service application server (GCS-AS) through a diameter signaling controller.