MBMS Broadcast Timing Control Without SYNC Protocol Entities
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing MBMS synchronization process is complex due to the need for SYNC protocol entities at the data source and base stations, which add time stamps to data packets, complicating the synchronization mechanism.
Innovation Solution
A main control unit determines the sending time of data packets without adding time stamps, sending time information to secondary units to ensure synchronized transmission, allowing for more accurate and flexible data transmission without the need for SYNC protocol entities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If SYNC protocol entities are added to the data source and base stations to add time stamps to data packets, then MBMS synchronization can be achieved, but the synchronization process becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the time stamping function from the data source and base stations by introducing a centralized synchronization entity that generates and distributes timing information. This removes the need for SYNC protocol entities at each base station, simplifying the overall system while maintaining synchronization capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a synchronization entity as an intermediary between the data source and base stations. This intermediary generates timing information and distributes it to base stations, eliminating the need for complex SYNC protocol entities at each location while ensuring synchronized transmission.
2Reliability
If time stamps are added to each data packet by the data source, then base stations can deduce transmission time, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the synchronization entity generate and distribute timing information in advance before actual data transmission. Base stations receive and store this timing information beforehand, allowing them to transmit data at the correct times without needing to process time stamps with each data packet, thereby reducing signaling overhead.
3Reliability
If base stations deduce transmission time based on time stamps, then synchronized broadcast can be achieved, but the process requires complex protocol entities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables base stations to self-configure their transmission timing by receiving timing information from the synchronization entity. Instead of requiring complex SYNC protocol entities to negotiate and coordinate timing, each base station independently configures its transmission based on the received timing information, simplifying the system architecture.
Data Source
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AI summary
This application provides a communication method and apparatus, and relates to the communication field, and in particular, to the multimedia broadcast multicast service MBMS field. The communication method includes: A main control unit receives a first data packet sent by a core network device. The main control unit sends first data included in the first data packet and first time information of the first data to a secondary unit. The secondary unit sends the first data to a terminal based on sending time indicated by the first time information. In embodiments of this application, the main control unit determines the sending time of the first data. Therefore, no SYNC protocol entity needs to be added to a data source and base stations, so that a synchronous transmission process is simplified. Further, the first data may be a part or all of data in the first data packet. Therefore, compared with a time stamp added by the data source to the first data packet, the first time information of the first data may be subdivided into the part of the data in the first data packet, has a smaller granularity, and is more accurate.