Distributed MBMS Architecture with Centralized Resource Management

The patent merges the scheduling and segmentation and reassembly (SAR) functions from multiple independent base stations into a centralized radio resource management function. This consolidation enables coordinated control across cells, allowing mobile stations to perform macro-diversity by combining signals from multiple cells while maintaining the operational simplicity of distributed base station architecture.

The patent introduces a centralized radio resource management function as an intermediary between the distributed base stations and the mobile stations. This intermediary coordinates the scheduling and SAR functions across multiple cells, enabling macro-diversity capability without requiring each base station to independently manage all coordination functions, thus limiting the increase in overall system complexity.

The patent implements dynamic radio bearer configuration based on real-time user status information. The centralized radio resource management function determines whether to establish individual point-to-point radio bearers or use point-to-multipoint broadcast/multicast radio bearers based on the number of active users in each cell, allowing the system to adapt to varying traffic conditions and optimize network resource utilization.