MBMS Service Provisioning via Dynamic Unicast Broadcast Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS) in LTE systems faces challenges in providing services due to inaccurate user interest determination, leading to insufficient provision of multimedia services even when sufficient users are interested, as existing mechanisms fail to account for inactive devices and do not support unicast transmission effectively.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method to determine user interest by counting both active and inactive devices, allowing unicast communication when interest is below a threshold and switching to multicast or broadcast when interest exceeds the threshold, with mechanisms for mobile devices and base stations to indicate interest and manage radio bearers accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If broadcast mode is used for MBMS service provision, then service coverage is improved, but service provision is withheld when insufficient users are detected due to inaccurate counting mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The network performs preliminary counting of interested users before initiating MBMS service provision. The counting mechanism proactively queries user equipment about their interest in MBMS services, and the network stores this interest information for future service decisions, ensuring accurate user interest assessment before service delivery
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where user equipment responds to network queries by indicating their interest in MBMS services. The network uses this feedback information to accurately determine the number of interested users, which then informs the decision to provision services via broadcast or unicast modes
2Reliability
If unicast communication is implemented for MBMS service delivery, then service provision is ensured for individual users, but system complexity increases due to lack of existing mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically selects between unicast and broadcast communication modes based on the number of interested users. When the number of interested users is below a threshold, unicast mode is used to ensure reliable service delivery. When the number exceeds the threshold, broadcast mode is activated. This dynamic adaptation reduces system complexity by avoiding unnecessary unicast setup while ensuring service reliability when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the communication mode parameter (unicast vs. broadcast) based on the count of interested users. By monitoring the user interest count and comparing it against a threshold, the system switches between different transmission modes, simplifying the decision-making process while ensuring appropriate service delivery for different user scenarios
3Ease of operation
If existing MBMS counting mechanisms are used, then service provision is simplified, but user interest is undercounted leading to insufficient service provision
Solution Approach 1:
The improved counting mechanism uses feedback from user equipment to accurately determine interest in MBMS services. The network sends queries to user equipment, and the equipment responds with interest indications. This feedback loop ensures accurate counting while maintaining operational simplicity through standardized signaling procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The counting mechanism is integrated into the existing MBMS service management framework, serving multiple functions: it counts interested users, determines service delivery mode (unicast or broadcast), and triggers appropriate service provision procedures. This multi-functionality maintains ease of operation while improving counting accuracy
Data Source
AI summary
A communication system is described in which an MBMS service is provided by unicast or broadcast/multicast communication in dependence on whether the number of mobile communication devices indicating an interest in receiving the service is below or above a broadcast threshold. An improved procedure for counting the number of mobile communication devices interested in receiving the MBMS service is also disclosed.