MBMS Capability Signaling for Carrier Aggregation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobile communication networks, particularly in MBMS (Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service) deployments, face challenges in providing service continuity and flexibility in configuring serving cells due to limitations in reporting MBMS reception status and capabilities, especially in multi-frequency environments, which affects MBMS service continuity and unicast performance.
Innovation Solution
The method involves the user equipment (UE) sending an information element to the base station detailing the combination of bands it supports for carrier aggregation, allowing the network to derive MBMS reception capabilities and configure serving cells accordingly, enabling MBMS service continuity and flexibility in serving cell configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the network configures serving cells based on limited UE capability information, then the configuration process is simple, but MBMS service continuity and reception quality deteriorate in multi-frequency deployments
Solution Approach 1:
The UE sends capability information indicating whether it supports MBMS reception on any carrier configurable as a serving cell before the network configures serving cells. This preliminary action enables the network to make informed configuration decisions that ensure MBMS service continuity from the outset, rather than attempting to maintain continuity after configuration errors occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The UE provides feedback to the network about its MBMS reception capabilities through the sent information element. This feedback mechanism allows the network to adapt its serving cell configuration to the UE's actual capabilities, ensuring that the UE can receive MBMS services continuously across frequency changes without requiring complex post-configuration adjustments.
2Device complexity
If the network uses fixed serving cell configurations, then the network control is simplified, but flexibility in configuring serving cells for different UE capabilities is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The network transitions from fixed serving cell configurations to dynamic configurations based on UE capability feedback. The sent information element enables the network to adaptively determine serving cell configurations tailored to each UE's MBMS reception capabilities, allowing optimal configuration without increasing network control complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The network changes the configuration parameters of serving cells based on the UE's capability information. By receiving the information element about MBMS reception support, the network can modify its configuration approach to match UE capabilities, achieving versatility while maintaining simple control through standardized information exchange.
3Loss of information
If the UE does not provide detailed MBMS capability information, then the information exchange is minimal, but the network cannot optimally configure serving cells for MBMS reception
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential capability information needed for MBMS serving cell configuration - specifically whether the UE supports MBMS reception on any carrier configurable as a serving cell. This extracted information is sufficient for optimal configuration without requiring comprehensive UE capability details, thus minimizing information exchange overhead while ensuring reliable MBMS reception.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the network supports multiple frequency bands with different carrier combinations, then service coverage is improved, but the complexity of managing UE capabilities across bands increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sent information element provides a universal capability indication that applies across all frequency bands and carrier combinations. Instead of managing separate capability information for each band, the UE's indication of MBMS reception support on any configurable serving cell creates a universal capability statement that simplifies management across diverse frequency deployments while maintaining broad service coverage.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to methods in a mobile communication network, in a base station of a mobile communication network and in a terminal. The invention further relates to corresponding devices for implementing the nodes. In one embodiment a method in a terminal for supporting of a Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service, MBMS, for the terminal is provided. The method comprising the step: the terminal sending (S801), to a base station, an information element informing the base station of a combination of bands, which the terminal supports for carrier aggregation; wherein the terminal supports MBMS reception for any carrier configurable as a serving cell for the terminal (1001) according to the information element.