MBMS Bearer Timing Synchronization for MCPTT QoE
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current MCPTT solutions over LTE lack accurate timing for user plane readiness, leading to uncertainties in starting or stopping MBMS data delivery, which can result in gaps between bearer activation and user plane readiness, affecting Quality of Experience (QoE) for users.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves extending the definition of MBMS-Bearer-Response and MBMS-Bearer-Event-Notification AVPs to include MBMS-Data-Transfer-Start and MBMS-Data-Transfer-Stop AVPs, allowing the GCS AS to receive precise timing information for user plane readiness, ensuring synchronized data delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If MBMS bearer activation is performed without precise timing information, then the bearer can be established quickly, but the user plane readiness time is uncertain causing gaps in data delivery
Solution Approach 1:
The network node determines and communicates the user plane readiness time in advance before actual data transmission begins. This allows the communication service node to prepare data for transmission ahead of time, eliminating gaps between bearer activation and user plane readiness. The readiness time is calculated based on network processing requirements and communicated to the service node beforehand.
2Measurement precision
If precise timing information is provided for user plane readiness, then data delivery synchronization is improved, but the complexity of bearer management increases
Solution Approach 1:
A dedicated timing management mechanism is introduced as an intermediary between the network node and communication service node. The network node calculates user plane readiness time based on network processing requirements and communicates this timing information through standardized interface messages. This intermediary timing management layer simplifies the overall system by centralizing timing calculations rather than distributing complexity across multiple nodes.
3Speed
If the MBMS bearer establishment process is simplified, then activation speed increases, but accurate timing information for user plane readiness may be lost
Solution Approach 1:
The bearer establishment process is segmented into distinct phases: control plane signaling for bearer activation and user plane setup. The user plane readiness time determination is separated as an independent calculation that occurs parallel to the main bearer activation流程. This segmentation allows the bearer to be activated quickly through streamlined control plane procedures while simultaneously calculating and communicating precise timing information without adding delays to the activation process.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A SC informs a communication service (CS) node (e.g., GCS AS) of a data transfer start time for the bearer (i.e., the user plane ready time for the bearer). Additionally, in some embodiments, the SC informs the communication service node (e.g., GCS AS) as to a data transfer stop time for the bearer. This provides a distinct advantage because the CS node will now have information as to when it should start (and stop) data delivery, thereby leading to a higher quality of experience (QoE) of MBMS delivery.