MBMS Service Continuity Across MBSFN Areas

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is no effective solution in existing technologies for ensuring service continuity of multimedia broadcast multicast services (MBMS) when user equipment (UE) moves between different cells within different Single Frequency Network (MBSFN) areas.

Innovation Solution

The UE acquires and continues receiving the specified MBMS by determining the MBMS condition in the target cell, either using configuration parameters from the source cell if the MBMS is not carried in the target cell's MBSFN areas, or selecting MBSFN areas based on a predetermined strategy if the MBMS is partially carried, to maintain service continuity during cell reselection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If UE reads resource configuration information of MBMS in target cell after cell reselection, then service continuity can be maintained when cells belong to same MBSFN area, but service interruption occurs when cells belong to different MBSFN areas

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice continuityVSAvoidadaptability to different MBSFN areas
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The network pre-configures multiple MBSFN area identities and corresponding MBMS resource configuration information in the UE before cell reselection. When UE moves to target cell, it can immediately use the pre-configured information to maintain service continuity without needing to read new configuration from target cell, thus solving the problem of service interruption when moving between different MBSFN areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes the MBMS resource configuration information universal across multiple MBSFN areas by having the network configure the same MBMS service parameters for multiple MBSFN area identities. This allows UE to use the same configuration information regardless of which MBSFN area it moves to, enabling seamless service continuity across different MBSFN areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If UE uses MBMS resource configuration information from source cell after entering target cell, then service continuity is maintained within same MBSFN area, but service reception fails when target cell does not carry the MBMS

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice continuityVSAvoidMBMS service availability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where UE monitors whether the MBMS service is actually being transmitted in the target cell after cell reselection. If UE detects that the MBMS service is not available in target cell, it triggers a service interruption procedure and notifies the network, allowing the network to provide updated configuration or alternative service delivery, thus preventing information loss while maintaining service continuity where possible.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2755408B1Method and device for receiving multimedia broadcast multicast service
Publication Date: 2018.12.26 ZTE CORP
  • EP2755408B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2755408B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2755408B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided are a method and device for receiving a multimedia broadcast multicast service. The method includes: UE receiving a specified MBMS which is carried in one or more MBSFN areas to which a source cell where the UE is currently located belongs; after the UE performs cell reselection and resides in a target cell, in the case that the UE determines that one or more MBSFN areas to which the target cell belongs is different from one or more MBSFN areas to which the source cell belongs, the UE acquiring a condition of one or more MBMSs which are carried in the one or more MBSFN areas to which the target cell belongs; and the UE continuing receiving the specified MBMS in the target cell according to the acquired MBMS condition. The adoption of the technical solution provided in the present invention solves the technical problem in the related art that there is no solution to the continuity of receiving the same service when UE moves in different cells among different MBSFNs, thus being capable of keeping the continuity of an MBMS service when the UE moves among different MBSFNs.