Base Station Relay for MBMS Continuity

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Radio terminals cannot receive multicast or broadcast signals for MBMS data when they move from macro base stations that support MBMS to femto base stations that do not support MBMS, resulting in service disruptions.

Innovation Solution

A wireless communication system where a serving radio base station receives contents-related information from a non-serving radio base station and transmits it to the radio terminal, allowing the terminal to continue receiving MBMS data even when it switches to a femto base station that does not support MBMS, using a gap pattern to manage signal reception.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a radio terminal serves a femto base station that does not support MBMS, then the terminal can maintain service connectivity in the femto cell area, but the terminal cannot receive MBMS data

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice connectivityVSAvoidMBMS data reception

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The serving base station acts as an intermediary that receives MBMS-related information from non-serving base stations and forwards it to the radio terminal. This allows the terminal to access MBMS data information even when connected to a femto base station that does not support MBMS, resolving the contradiction between maintaining service connectivity and receiving MBMS data

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by having the serving base station proactively acquire and store MBMS-related information from neighboring base stations before the terminal needs it. When the terminal requests MBMS information, the serving base station can immediately provide the pre-acquired information, ensuring continuous service without interruption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If the radio terminal moves from macro base station to femto base station, then the terminal can access femto cell coverage, but MBMS service is disrupted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecell access flexibilityVSAvoidMBMS service continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the serving base station continuously monitors the terminal's service status and the capabilities of neighboring base stations. When the terminal moves to a femto cell, the serving base station receives feedback about MBMS availability from non-serving base stations and adjusts the information provided to the terminal accordingly, maintaining service continuity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The serving base station performs preliminary acquisition of MBMS-related information from neighboring base stations before the terminal actually needs it. This pre-preparation ensures that when the terminal moves to a femto cell, MBMS information is already available and can be immediately provided, preventing service disruption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Loss of information

If the serving base station transmits MBMS-related information to the radio terminal, then the terminal can receive MBMS data, but the network complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveMBMS data availabilityVSAvoidnetwork structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The serving base station performs multiple functions: it provides normal terminal serving functions plus it also acts as an information relay for MBMS-related data from non-serving base stations. This multi-functionality approach avoids adding separate dedicated components, thereby limiting the increase in network complexity while still enabling MBMS data availability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The serving base station autonomously acquires MBMS-related information from non-serving base stations and manages the distribution to the terminal without requiring complex centralized control. The base station self-manages the information collection and forwarding process, reducing the need for additional network management complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS10638454B2Wireless communication system, communication control method, radio base station, radio terminal, and storage medium

Publication Date: 2020.04.28 NEC CORP

AI summary

Even when a radio terminal cannot receive contents data from a serving base station, the radio terminal can receive the contents data from other base station. A wireless communication system includes a radio terminal, a serving radio base station to which the radio terminal serves, and a non-serving radio base station to which the radio terminal does not serve. The serving radio base station receives, from the non-serving radio base station, contents-related information concerning contents data to be broadcasted or multicasted by said non-serving radio base station, and transmits the received contents-related information to the radio terminal.