Multicast Service Carrier Segmentation for NB-IoT Terminals
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Solution Overview
Problem
NB-IoT terminals cannot receive multicast services on non-anchor carriers, limiting their functionality and efficiency in multi-carrier operations.
Innovation Solution
The method involves transmitting multicast service information on both anchor and non-anchor carriers, including multicast control channels and updating indications, allowing terminals to select the appropriate carrier for service reception, thereby reducing load on the anchor carrier and simplifying terminal complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If multicast service is transmitted only on anchor carrier, then terminal complexity is reduced, but multicast service efficiency and network capacity are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the carrier function by dividing multicast service transmission across two types of carriers: anchor carriers for control channel transmission and non-anchor carriers for data channel transmission. This segmentation allows the terminal to receive control information on anchor carriers while receiving multicast data on non-anchor carriers, thereby improving multicast service efficiency without significantly increasing terminal complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables non-anchor carriers to serve multiple functions: they carry both NB-PDCCH/NB-PDSCH for unicast services and NB-MCCH/NB-MTCH for multicast services. This multi-functionality increases network capacity and multicast service efficiency while avoiding the need for dedicated multicast carriers that would further complicate terminal operations.
2Productivity
If multicast service is transmitted on non-anchor carriers, then network capacity and service efficiency are improved, but terminal complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments carrier roles into anchor carriers (for control) and non-anchor carriers (for data), allowing multicast control channels to remain on anchor carriers while multicast data channels are transmitted on non-anchor carriers. This segmentation improves network capacity by utilizing additional carriers without requiring terminals to process multicast control information on multiple carriers simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The anchor carrier acts as an intermediary that provides control information (NB-MCCH) about multicast services transmitted on non-anchor carriers. Terminals first acquire multicast service information on the anchor carrier, then use this information to receive multicast data on non-anchor carriers, thereby simplifying terminal operations while enabling efficient multicast service delivery.
3Ease of operation
If anchor carrier handles all multicast control channels, then terminal operations are simplified, but anchor carrier load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the load by transmitting multicast control channels (NB-MCCH) on anchor carriers while transmitting multicast data channels (NB-MTCH) on non-anchor carriers. This segmentation reduces anchor carrier load by offloading data transmission to non-anchor carriers, while terminals maintain simplified operations by receiving control information primarily on anchor carriers.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and an apparatus for transmitting a multicast service and a method and an apparatus for receiving a multicast service are provided. The method for receiving a multicast service includes receiving information about the multicast service transmitted by a network side on carriers, the carriers being an anchor carrier and/or non-anchor carriers; selecting a target carrier from the carriers according to the information about the multicast service, wherein the target carrier is the anchor carrier or the non-anchor carrier.