MBMS Schedule Information Delivery for Mobile Client Power Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Services (MBMS) lack detailed timing and location information, leading to unnecessary power consumption in mobile clients as they continuously monitor for MBMS bearers, even when no content is being received, due to the absence of schedule information in FLUTE delivery sessions.

Innovation Solution

A method is introduced to deliver schedule information for MBMS User Services, described as reoccurring events or start/stop lists, which can be delivered out-of-band or in-band with MBMS data, allowing mobile clients to pause MBMS reception and reduce power consumption by providing timing and location information, enabling them to deactivate monitoring when no content is imminent.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If mobile clients continuously monitor the MBMS Control Channel (MCCH) for active MBMS bearers, then they can receive MBMS content when it is broadcasted, but power consumption increases and operating time is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveMBMS content reception reliabilityVSAvoidmobile client power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by providing schedule information to mobile clients before the actual MBMS content transmission. The schedule information includes time windows (startTime and endTime) when files will be broadcasted, allowing clients to prepare in advance and activate reception only during these predetermined periods, thus avoiding continuous monitoring and reducing power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention implements periodic action by transitioning from continuous MCCH monitoring to periodic monitoring based on scheduled time windows. Mobile clients monitor the MCCH only during specific time intervals when MBMS content is expected to be transmitted, as indicated by the schedule information. This periodic monitoring approach maintains content reception reliability while significantly reducing overall power consumption compared to continuous monitoring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Use of energy by moving object

If schedule information is added to enable power efficient monitoring, then mobile clients can reduce power consumption by deactivating MCCH monitoring when bearers are not active, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemobile client power consumptionVSAvoidMBMS system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies segmentation by separating the MBMS service information into distinct components: the existing FLUTE delivery session parameters and the new schedule information with time window parameters (startTime, endTime). This segmentation allows the schedule information to be added as an independent element that enhances power efficiency without fundamentally altering or complicating the existing MBMS system architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The schedule information acts as an intermediary between the MBMS network and mobile clients. It provides a simple mechanism that bridges the gap between continuous monitoring requirements and power saving needs, enabling clients to make informed decisions about when to activate or deactivate monitoring based on the provided time window information, thus reducing system complexity while achieving power efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of time

If the FLUTE File Delivery Table (FDT) includes time window parameters, then file delivery timing can be specified, but the FDT structure becomes more complex and timing information for跨 FLUTE flows cannot be properly described

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent delivery timing informationVSAvoidFDT structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the timing information requirements from the FDT structure and places them in a separate, dedicated schedule information component. Instead of embedding time window parameters directly within the FDT, the schedule information is provided as distinct data that references the same MBMS content delivery events. This extraction simplifies the FDT structure while still providing comprehensive timing information for跨 FLUTE flows through the separate schedule mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS11228456B2Technique for delivering schedule information for an MBMS user service

Publication Date: 2022.01.18 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

AI summary

Delivering schedule information for MBMS User Services. A method implementation of this technique comprises the steps of providing schedule information that describes a schedule for an MBMS User Service in the form re-occurring events. Additionally, or in the alternative, the schedule may be described in the form of start/stop lists. A User Service Description (USD) and the schedule information, which is linked to the USD (e.g., via an identifier such as a URI), are then delivered to a mobile client.