Edge MBMS Service Data Transmission Latency Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing edge multimedia broadcast/multicast service (MBMS) data transmission methods incur high latency and waste core network bandwidth due to the detour of the forwarding plane from the network edge to the core network and back, which fails to meet real-time requirements and leads to bandwidth pressure.

Innovation Solution

Deploying an edge Broadcast/Multicast Service Center (BM-SC) and an edge Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service Gateway (MBMS GW) on the network edge, with the central BM-SC on the core network, creating a control-plane bearer context and user-plane bearer context separately, allowing direct data forwarding to user equipment via the edge BM-SC and MBMS GW, thereby avoiding core network extension.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the forwarding plane is extended from the network edge to the core network and back, then the service data can be transmitted through the existing core network infrastructure, but the data transmission latency increases and real-time requirements cannot be met

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice data transmission reliabilityVSAvoiddata transmission latency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the MBMS service into control-plane functions (remaining at core network) and user-plane functions (deployed at network edge). This segmentation allows control signaling to be managed centrally while user data flows locally through edge BM-SC and edge MBMS GW, eliminating the need to extend the forwarding plane to the core network and thus reducing transmission latency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a new network dimension by deploying edge BM-SC and edge MBMS GW at the network edge, creating a parallel data transmission path that bypasses the core network for user-plane traffic. This dimensional change enables local data forwarding while maintaining core network control, resolving the latency issue without sacrificing reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If the forwarding plane is extended from the network edge to the core network and back, then the service data can be transmitted through the core network, but the core network bandwidth is wasted and bandwidth pressure increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice data transmission reliabilityVSAvoidcore network bandwidth waste
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting control-plane and user-plane functions, the patent enables user-plane data to be transmitted locally through edge infrastructure, preventing unnecessary traversal of core network bandwidth. Only control-plane signaling utilizes core network resources, significantly reducing bandwidth waste while maintaining transmission reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The edge BM-SC and edge MBMS GW perform self-service by handling user-plane data transmission locally without requiring core network involvement. This self-service capability eliminates the detour through the core network, conserving bandwidth resources while ensuring reliable local data delivery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3316601B1Data transmission method for edge MBMS service and relevant device
Publication Date: 2020.02.26 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3316601B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3316601B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3316601B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention discloses a data transmission method for an edge MBMS service and a related device. The method is applied to an MBMS service data transmission system. The system includes a central BM-SC located on a core network and an edge BM-SC and an MBMS GW that are located on a network edge. The method includes: creating, by the central BM-SC, a control-plane bearer context; sending, by the central BM-SC, a session start request to the edge BM-SC, so that the edge BM-SC creates a user-plane bearer context; receiving, by the central BM-SC, a session start response sent by the edge BM-SC; and delivering, by the central BM-SC, a service key to the edge BM-SC, so that the edge BM-SC encrypts data of the edge MBMS service by using the service key and sends data to UE via the MBMS GW. According to the present invention, a data transmission latency of the edge MBMS service can be reduced, and less core network bandwidth is used for data transmission of the edge MBMS service.