MBMS Bearer Allocation in 3GPP Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
3GPP compliant systems, such as LTE, face limitations in Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service (MBMS) mechanisms, particularly in efficiently allocating pre-established MBMS bearers across communication groups, leading to resource wastage and suboptimal performance compared to legacy systems.
Innovation Solution
An infrastructure device in a 3GPP compliant system selects and assigns pre-established MBMS bearers to communication groups based on the location of group members within MBMS service areas, optimizing resource usage by only activating bearers where group members are present, and updates the resource management database to manage these assignments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pre-established MBMS bearers are allocated to communication groups in 3GPP compliant systems, then media stream transport capability is provided, but resource wastage occurs when bearers are allocated in service areas without group members
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by determining group member locations within specific MBMS service areas and selectively allocating bearers only to those service areas where members are present. This ensures resources are concentrated where needed rather than uniformly distributed, resolving the contradiction between providing transport capability and avoiding resource wastage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by determining the locations of group members before allocating MBMS bearers. The infrastructure device queries member locations and uses this information to make informed allocation decisions, preventing wasteful bearer activation in service areas without members while ensuring adequate coverage where members exist.
2Reliability
If MBMS bearers are established a priori in each MBMS service area, then service coverage is ensured, but the limited number of bearers cannot accommodate a plethora of communication groups
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies dynamics by making MBMS bearer allocation dynamic rather than static. Bearers are not permanently assigned to all service areas but are selectively allocated based on real-time group member locations. This dynamic approach allows the limited number of bearers to serve multiple communication groups across different service areas at different times, increasing system versatility while maintaining coverage where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system achieves universality by enabling each MBMS bearer to serve multiple communication groups across multiple service areas throughout its operational lifetime. A single bearer can be allocated to different groups in different service areas at different times, maximizing the utilization of limited bearer resources and supporting a larger number of communication groups than the number of physical bearers.
3Reliability
If legacy narrowband systems are used for point-to-multipoint transport, then performance requirements are met, but 3GPP compliant systems like LTE cannot realistically be used due to MBMS mechanism shortcomings
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies parameter changes by modifying how MBMS bearers are allocated and managed in 3GPP compliant systems. By changing the allocation parameters from static, uniform distribution to dynamic, location-based assignment, the system achieves performance levels comparable to legacy narrowband systems while maintaining the advantages of 3GPP architecture and LTE compatibility.
Data Source
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AI summary
An infrastructure device in a 3GPP compliant system performs a method to allocate MBMS bearers. The 3GPP compliant system includes a RAN partitioned into a plurality MBMS services areas, wherein each MBMS service area has a plurality of pre-established MBMS bearers for transporting media streams. The infrastructure device: receives a request to transmit a media stream to a communication group; selects a set of the MBMS service areas for transporting the media stream; determines an available MBMS bearer in each selected MBMS service area to assign to transport the media stream; and identifies the assigned MBMS bearers to members of the communication group. In addition, a UE performs a method for MBMS service area location update in the 3GPP compliant system. Accordingly, the UE: determines a 3GPP MBMS service area in which the UE is currently located; and identifies the 3GPP MBMS service area to an infrastructure device.