Base Station MBSFN Suspension Notification Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS) technologies face challenges in timely notification to user equipment (UE) when suspending service data transmission in MBSFN mode due to limitations in existing congestion management solutions, leading to potential service interruptions and inefficient resource utilization.

Innovation Solution

The proposed solution involves using additional indication information within MAC data packets to notify UE of service data suspension in a more flexible and timely manner, allowing for dynamic adjustment of transmission times and utilizing existing network elements to minimize network impact, thereby enabling synchronous notification across multiple base stations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If service data is transmitted in MBSFN manner, then broadcast multicast efficiency is improved, but when traffic exceeds MBSFN capacity, service data is discarded and notification to UE is not timely

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebroadcast multicast efficiencyVSAvoidservice data transmission reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The base station sends indication information to UE in advance before suspending MBSFN transmission, allowing UE to prepare for the suspension. This preliminary notification ensures that UE is informed before the actual suspension occurs, maintaining service continuity and avoiding data loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts transmission mode by switching from MBSFN to unicast based on traffic conditions. The base station monitors service data traffic and dynamically decides when to suspend MBSFN transmission and notify UE, enabling flexible adaptation to changing network conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Loss of time

If notification time is set too early, then UE has sufficient time to prepare, but system response time increases and stability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenotification lead timeVSAvoidsystem stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The notification time is configured as a configurable parameter that can be adjusted according to different scenarios. The base station determines the appropriate notification time based on current network conditions and service requirements, optimizing the balance between UE preparation time and system response speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If existing notification methods are used, then network complexity is minimized, but notification timeliness is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenotification system complexityVSAvoidnotification delay
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Indication information is introduced as an intermediary mechanism to notify UE of MBSFN suspension. This indication information is carried in downlink messages from base station to UE, providing a dedicated and efficient notification path that does not require complex system changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3547722B1Multimedia broadcast multicast communication method and corresponding base station
Publication Date: 2022.03.16 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3547722B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3547722B1 patent drawingFigure 2-1~2-2
  • EP3547722B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

The present invention relates to a multimedia broadcast multicast communication method, an apparatus, and a system. The method includes: receiving, by a base station, first indication information at a first time, where the first indication information is used to indicate that transmitting service data in a multimedia broadcast multicast service MBSFN manner is to be suspended; and sending, by the base station, second indication information to user equipment UE according to the first indication information, so that the UE suspends, at a second time according to the second indication information, receiving the service data in the MBSFN manner. The first time is earlier than the second time, and duration between the first time and the second time is less than a multicast control channel MCCH modification period. Because the duration between the first time and the second time is less than a multicast control channel modification period, the user equipment is notified in a more timely manner to suspend transmitting the service data in the MBSFN manner.