MBS Handover Context Transfer for Continuous NR Multicast Reception
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems lack support for continuous multicast and broadcast services (MBS) during mobility in New Radio (NR) systems, particularly for user equipments (UEs) in RRC_CONNECTED, RRC_IDLE, or RRC_INACTIVE states, leading to service disruptions and battery life issues.
Innovation Solution
A method and network node for providing continuous MBS services by determining UE involvement in a MBS session, obtaining MBS context, and transmitting PTM configuration information to enable seamless reception across network nodes during mobility, allowing UEs to maintain service continuity without transitioning to RRC_CONNECTED state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If point-to-point transmission is used for MBS services in NR systems, then service delivery is possible, but service continuity during mobility is not supported
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by enabling the transmission mode to switch between point-to-point and point-to-multipoint based on UE mobility state. When UE is stationary, point-to-point is used; when UE becomes mobile and handover occurs, the system dynamically switches to point-to-multipoint to maintain service continuity, making the system adaptable to changing mobility conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the transmission parameter from point-to-point to point-to-multipoint mode when mobility is detected. This parameter change allows the system to maintain MBS service continuity during handover by utilizing pre-configured PTM resources at the target gNB, resolving the contradiction between reliable service delivery and mobility support.
2Reliability
If UEs transition to RRC_CONNECTED state to receive MBS services, then service reception is possible, but battery life is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring PTM resources and MBS context at potential target gNBs before handover occurs. When UE needs to handover, the service can continue using pre-established resources without requiring full RRC connection establishment, thus reducing energy consumption while maintaining service reception capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by replicating MBS context and PTM configuration information at the target gNB before handover. This allows the UE to quickly acquire service parameters without establishing a full RRC connection, enabling service reception with minimal energy expenditure by avoiding the power-intensive connection setup process.
3Reliability
If handover procedure is performed for mobile UEs, then network connectivity is maintained, but MBS service continuity is disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring PTM resources and transferring MBS context to the target gNB before the actual handover executes. This allows the UE to seamlessly switch to the target cell with immediate service continuity, eliminating the service interruption that normally occurs during handover while maintaining network connectivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the target gNB as an intermediary that receives and stores MBS context and PTM configuration in advance. During handover, this pre-prepared information acts as a mediator that enables the UE to quickly acquire service parameters without service interruption, resolving the contradiction between maintaining connectivity and avoiding service disruption.
4Reliability
If PTM configuration information is acquired at target network node, then service continuity is enabled, but additional signaling is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the MBS context transfer with the existing handover signaling procedure. The PTM configuration information is combined with the handover command message, allowing the target gNB to deliver both handover instructions and MBS service parameters in a single signaling exchange, thus enabling service continuity while minimizing additional signaling overhead.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method, a user equipment, UE, a network node, and a computer program product for transmission of multicast and broadcast services, MBS, to a user equipment, UE, in a wireless communication network. The method is performed by a target network node in the wireless communication network. The method includes determining that the UE is involved in a MBS session with a source network node. Upon determining that the UE is involved in the MBS session with the source network node, the method includes obtaining a MBS context of the UE related to the MBS session. Further, the method includes determining provisioning of a Point-To-Multipoint, PTM, configuration information associated with the MBS session to be acquired by the UE for enabling continuous reception of MBS data from the target network node. Corresponding network node, UE, and computer program products are also disclosed.