MBMS Scheduling Period Decoupling for LTE UE Reception

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Solution Overview

Problem

In the LTE system, user equipment (UE) faces challenges in accurately acquiring scheduling information for Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Services (MBMS) when scheduling periods and resource allocation periods are inconsistent, leading to inefficiencies in service reception and power management.

Innovation Solution

A method is introduced where the lower layer network element schedules MBMS data and generates scheduling information for each multicast radio interface channel, ensuring that resource allocation and scheduling period information is accurately conveyed to the UE, with the scheduling period being an integer multiple of the resource allocation period, and the border aligning with the resource allocation period, allowing for synchronized data transmission across base stations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the scheduling period is made flexible to adapt to different service requirements, then service adaptability is improved, but UE complexity in acquiring and processing scheduling information increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice adaptabilityVSAvoidUE complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The scheduling information is segmented into two distinct parts: scheduling period information and resource allocation information. The scheduling period information indicates the periodicity at which scheduling information is transmitted, while the resource allocation information provides detailed resource assignments within each scheduling period. This segmentation allows the UE to separately process timing patterns and resource details, reducing overall complexity while maintaining flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The scheduling period information is provided in advance to the UE, allowing it to pre-calculate and store the timing pattern for receiving scheduling information. By establishing the periodicity beforehand, the UE can efficiently anticipate when scheduling information will be transmitted without continuous monitoring, reducing processing complexity while supporting flexible service requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If scheduling information is transmitted frequently to ensure accurate UE reception, then reception reliability is improved, but network resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereception reliabilityVSAvoidnetwork resource consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The scheduling information is transmitted periodically according to the indicated scheduling period, rather than continuously or at fixed intervals unrelated to service needs. This periodic transmission ensures the UE receives updated scheduling information reliably while allowing the network to conserve resources by transmitting only when necessary, balancing reception reliability with resource efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Adaptability or versatility

If the scheduling period is decoupled from the resource allocation period, then scheduling flexibility is improved, but UE difficulty in accurately acquiring scheduling information increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescheduling flexibilityVSAvoidUE difficulty in acquiring scheduling information
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The information structure is segmented into distinct scheduling period information and resource allocation information fields. The scheduling period information explicitly indicates the timing periodicity, while resource allocation information provides detailed resource assignments. This clear segmentation allows the UE to independently process timing and resource details, eliminating confusion that would arise from coupled periods and reducing acquisition difficulty.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The scheduling period information acts as an intermediary that bridges the decoupled scheduling period and resource allocation period. By explicitly indicating the scheduling period timing pattern, this intermediary information enables the UE to correctly interpret and associate resource allocations with their corresponding time periods, even when the periods differ in length, thus reducing acquisition difficulty while maintaining flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3606201B1Multimedia broadcast multicast service scheduling and transmission method and system
Publication Date: 2021.04.07 ZTE CORP
  • EP3606201B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3606201B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3606201B1 patent drawing

AI summary

A method for scheduling and transmitting a MBMS includes: for each multicast radio interface channel, a lower layer network element scheduling a MBMS born by the multicast radio interface channel according to a scheduling period of the multicast radio interface channel, wherein data of the MBMS are scheduled and scheduling information is generated in a Multicast/Broadcast over Single Frequency Network (MBSFN) subframe resource occupied by the multicast radio interface channel in a resource allocation period corresponding to the scheduling period; and said lower layer network element sending to a user equipment a signaling indicating resource allocation information and scheduling period information of each multicast radio interface channel, and sending the data of the MBMS and said scheduling information to the user equipment. The present invention further provides a system for scheduling and transmitting a MBMS and a lower layer network element for supporting scheduling and transmitting a MBMS. By the present invention, the UE is able to accurately receive the scheduling information in the case that the scheduling period and the resource allocation period are inconsistent.