Multicast Carrier Switching via Preemptive Channel Allocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wireless communication systems face inefficiencies and performance degradation due to the need for access terminals with active traffic channels to switch carriers to join multicast sessions, resulting in channel outages and delays.
Innovation Solution
The system implements a preemptive traffic channel allocation mechanism, where the RAN allocates a traffic channel on the carrier where the multicast session is held, even if the access terminal is currently using a different carrier, thereby reducing the need for access terminals to explicitly request and wait for a new channel, minimizing channel outages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If access terminals with active traffic channels switch carriers to join multicast sessions, then multicast session participation is enabled, but channel outage time increases and system performance degrades
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary carrier allocation by assigning the second carrier (multicast session carrier) to the access terminal before the terminal needs to join the multicast session. This advance preparation eliminates the need for carrier switching at the moment of session joining, thereby preventing channel outage and reducing the time loss associated with carrier transitions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If access terminals switch carriers to join multicast sessions, then multicast session participation is enabled, but system performance degrades
Solution Approach 1:
The RAN proactively allocates the traffic channel on the multicast session carrier in advance, ensuring that when the access terminal needs to join the multicast session, the carrier is already assigned and configured. This preliminary action prevents performance degradation that would otherwise occur during carrier switching operations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If access terminals explicitly request new channels to join multicast sessions, then multicast session participation is enabled, but channel allocation delay increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of waiting for the access terminal to explicitly request a channel assignment, the RAN performs the carrier allocation in advance based on the terminal's expression of interest in the multicast session. This preliminary channel allocation eliminates the delay that would otherwise occur during the explicit request and assignment process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by having the RAN automatically perform carrier allocation based on multicast session information and terminal interest, without requiring the access terminal to go through the explicit channel request and waiting process. The terminal simply indicates interest in the multicast session, and the system handles the carrier allocation automatically.
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments directed to switching carriers to join a multicast session in a wireless communications network are provided. A request to register for an announced multicast session (e.g., a push to talk (PTT) session) is sent from an access terminal to an access network (520). The access terminal has a traffic channel on a first carrier. The access network determines whether the announced multicast session is being carried on the first carrier. The access network transmits a traffic channel assignment message allocating the access terminal a traffic channel on a second carrier (530) if the determining step determines that the given multicast session is not being carried on the first carrier and is being carried on the second carrier. Thus, the access terminal need not send a connection request to be allocated a traffic channel on the second carrier.