Broadcast Service Delivery Switching for Continuity in Wireless Networks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently switching between point-to-point and point-to-multipoint delivery mechanisms for broadcast and multicast services while ensuring service continuity, which can strain battery life and impact signal accuracy and reliability.

Innovation Solution

A cellular base station acquires context information from a wireless device and configures it to switch between point-to-multipoint and point-to-point delivery types for broadcast or multicast services, providing configuration and service continuity information to ensure seamless transitions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If point-to-multipoint delivery is used for broadcast and multicast services, then network spectrum use efficiency is improved, but service reliability and availability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork spectrum use efficiencyVSAvoidservice reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic switching between point-to-multipoint and point-to-point delivery modes based on service requirements, device capabilities, and network conditions. The base station can flexibly change the delivery mode for different wireless devices or different service sessions, allowing the system to optimize between spectrum efficiency and service reliability in real-time according to actual needs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If switching between delivery types is performed, then service availability and reliability are improved, but device complexity and battery consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice availabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables the wireless device to autonomously determine its capability to support point-to-point delivery and self-report this capability to the base station. The device also autonomously switches between delivery modes based on configuration received from the base station, reducing the need for complex network-side control and minimizing switching overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs capability assessment and configuration preparation in advance before actual service delivery. The base station determines the appropriate delivery mode beforehand based on pre-acquired device context information and capability reports, and configures the device accordingly before service starts, avoiding complex real-time switching during service operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If context information is acquired and configuration is performed for switching, then service continuity is maintained, but signaling overhead and processing time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice continuityVSAvoidswitching time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs capability assessment and configuration preparation in advance before actual service delivery. The base station determines the appropriate delivery mode beforehand based on pre-acquired device context information and capability reports, and configures the device accordingly before service starts, avoiding complex real-time switching during service operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and utilizes existing context information that the wireless device already maintains for other purposes (such as packet sequence numbers for retransmission handling). By reusing this pre-existing context information for the switching process, the patent avoids the need to collect and process additional switching-specific information, reducing signaling overhead and processing time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP4277382B1Point to point and point to multipoint switching with service continuity for broadcast and multicast service
Publication Date: 2026.03.18 APPLE INC
  • EP4277382B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4277382B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4277382B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

This disclosure relates to techniques for supporting switching between point to point and point to multipoint delivery with service continuity for broadcast and multicast services in a wireless communication system. A cellular base station and a wireless device may establish a wireless link. The cellular base station may provide information configuring an over the air delivery type with which to receive a broadcast or multicast service, which may be received by the wireless device. The cellular base station may transmit the service using the configured delivery type, and the wireless device may correspondingly receive the service. The cellular base station may provide information configuring the wireless device to switch to a different over the air delivery type, with service continuity. The cellular base station may then transmit the service using that delivery type, and the wireless device may correspondingly receive the service.