MNO Uplink Channel for Broadcast Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Broadcast technologies, such as low power television (LPTV) and satellite communications, lack an uplink mechanism to provide feedback to broadcasters, limiting their ability to monitor and improve their services.
Innovation Solution
A Mobile Network Operator (MNO) allocates physical resource blocks (PRBs) for an uplink channel to receive communications from user equipment (UE) receiving a broadcast, allowing feedback to be provided to the broadcast provider.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If broadcast technologies (LPTV, satellite communications) are used for downlink only, then broadcast coverage is achieved, but feedback mechanism is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an MNO (mobile network operator) as an intermediary entity that provides the uplink channel. The MNO acts as a mediator between the broadcast provider and the users, enabling feedback communication without requiring the broadcast provider to build its own complex uplink infrastructure. The MNO's existing network infrastructure serves as the intermediary channel for feedback transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the MNO's network infrastructure multi-functional by using it for both downlink broadcast transmission and uplink feedback communication. The same MNO network that originally served only for broadcast delivery is now extended to also handle feedback channels, allowing one system to perform multiple functions (broadcast delivery + feedback reception) without requiring separate dedicated systems for each function.
2Adaptability or versatility
If uplink channel is added to broadcast system, then feedback capability is improved, but network complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The MNO's network infrastructure is designed to serve multiple purposes: it continues to provide downlink broadcast services while simultaneously enabling uplink feedback communication. This multi-functionality approach allows the network to gain feedback capability without proportionally increasing complexity, as the same infrastructure handles both transmission directions.
Solution Approach 2:
By using the MNO as an intermediary that already has established network infrastructure, the broadcast provider can add feedback capability without building complex uplink systems from scratch. The MNO's existing network elements (base stations, core network) serve as the intermediary platform that enables feedback without requiring the broadcast provider to deploy complex new infrastructure.
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein are device(s) of a mobile network operator (MNO) configured to allocate one or more physical resource blocks (PRBs) for an uplink channel to receive a communication from a user equipment (UE) that is receiving a broadcast of broadcast content over a downlink channel. The communication from the UE is associated with the broadcast content or with the transmission of the broadcast content. The device(s) of the MNO then receive the communication from the UE over the uplink channel and provide information based on the communication to a broadcast provider that provided the broadcast content for broadcast over the downlink channel.