MBMS MAC Control Element Dynamic Scheduling Handling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current MBMS systems face inefficiencies in dynamic scheduling information handling, particularly when not all services have data for transmission in a scheduling period, leading to incorrect mapping between Ending Point Index fields and services, resulting in sub-optimal service delivery and resource allocation.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for generating a MAC Control Element that includes fields indicating the ending point of sub-frames for each MBMS service on an MCH, with a specific value set for services with no data transmission, ensuring accurate representation of scheduling periods and enabling correct service reception by UEs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the MBMS service list is transmitted periodically on MCCH without updates, then the control channel maintains stable periodic transmission, but the service list becomes outdated when services end, leading to incorrect mapping between EPI fields and active services

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveperiodic transmission stabilityVSAvoidservice list outdated information
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the network monitor is configured to detect whether an MBMS service has ended by monitoring service announcements. When a service end is detected, the network monitor triggers an update to the MBMS service list on the MCCH, ensuring the service list reflects current active services. This feedback loop prevents the service list from becoming outdated while maintaining the periodic transmission structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the network transmits dynamic scheduling information for all services in the service list, then complete scheduling coverage is achieved, but unnecessary scheduling overhead occurs when some services have no data for transmission

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescheduling information completenessVSAvoidscheduling transmission overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by selectively transmitting dynamic scheduling information only for services that have data available for transmission. The network determines which services require scheduling information based on data availability, and transmits EPI fields only for those services. This reduces unnecessary scheduling overhead and energy consumption while maintaining complete scheduling coverage for active services.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Measurement precision

If the EPI field size is increased to accommodate more sub-frame indices, then the ending point precision is improved, but the MAC control element size increases, reducing transmission efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveending point index precisionVSAvoidMAC control element transmission efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the EPI field size based on the actual scheduling period length. When the scheduling period is short, a smaller EPI field size is used; when the scheduling period is long, a larger EPI field size is allocated. This adaptive parameter adjustment ensures sufficient precision for indicating ending points while optimizing MAC control element transmission efficiency by avoiding unnecessarily large field sizes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2262290B8Method and apparatus for handling MBMS dynamic scheduling information
Publication Date: 2018.03.07 INNOVATIVE SONIC CORPORATION

AI summary

A method for handling MBMS dynamic scheduling information in a network terminal of a wireless communication system is disclosed. The method includes steps of generating a MAC Control Element for carrying an MBMS dynamic scheduling information, the MAC Control Element containing at least one fields, each corresponding to one MBMS service transmitted on an MCH, for indicating an ending point of sub-frames used by the corresponding MBMS services in a scheduling period of the MCH (402); and setting a first field to a specific value to indicate there is no sub-frame scheduled for the corresponding MBMS service in the scheduling period when the corresponding MBMS service has no data for transmission in the scheduling period (404).