Public Safety UE Caching MBMS Data via Alternative Networks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Public safety personnel may miss critical MBMS broadcast alerts and real-time data due to lack of continuous LTE coverage or non-MBMS capable devices, leading to incomplete information dissemination during emergencies.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method where public safety user equipment can cache and relay MBMS data via alternative networks, such as Wi-Fi or VANET, to ensure all personnel receive vital information, even if they were outside LTE coverage or not MBMS capable, by designating devices as intermediate or peer caches to propagate data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If MBMS broadcast services are delivered only through LTE network coverage, then network infrastructure complexity is reduced, but information delivery reliability deteriorates when personnel are outside coverage areas

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation delivery reliabilityVSAvoidnetwork infrastructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces user equipment as intermediary nodes that cache and relay MBMS data. These devices act as mediators between the core network and other users, particularly those outside LTE coverage. The cached data is redistributed through alternative networks (Wi-Fi, VANET), enabling reliable information delivery without extending LTE infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary caching of MBMS data in user equipment before the actual delivery is needed. By pre-storing broadcast content in local caches, the system ensures that data is available for redistribution even when the original LTE broadcast is not accessible, thereby improving reliability without requiring continuous network coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Area of stationary object

If alternative networks (Wi-Fi, VANET) are used for data propagation, then coverage area is expanded, but network complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoverage areaVSAvoidnetwork complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal data propagation mechanism that operates across multiple network types (LTE, Wi-Fi, VANET). The same user equipment and caching logic function across different network infrastructures, allowing the system to expand coverage area by leveraging existing alternative networks without requiring dedicated infrastructure for each network type.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Loss of information

If all public safety personnel are equipped with MBMS-capable devices, then information completeness is improved, but device cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation completenessVSAvoiddevice cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables non-MBMS capable devices to obtain information services through the caching and redistribution mechanism. User equipment that does have MBMS capability serves itself and others by caching data and making it available through alternative networks, allowing information completeness without requiring every device to have expensive MBMS hardware.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

MBMS-capable user equipment acts as an intermediary that bridges the gap between the MBMS broadcast system and non-MBMS capable devices. These intermediary devices receive, cache, and redistribute data to personnel with basic devices, ensuring information completeness without requiring universal MBMS device deployment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Reliability

If MBMS data is cached in user equipment, then data availability is improved, but device storage requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata availabilityVSAvoiddevice storage requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements partial caching where user equipment stores only the portions of MBMS data that are most likely to be requested or most critical for public safety operations. This selective caching approach improves data availability for key information while minimizing the storage burden on individual devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS9344872B2Method and apparatus for propagating public safety multicast and broadcast services among public safety personnel

Publication Date: 2016.05.17 MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

Public safety user equipment (PS UE) that establishes a first wireless communication channel over a primary network to at least one multimedia multicast or broadcast service management entity and establishes one or more alternative wireless communication channels over one or more alternative networks (310). The public safety user equipment receives at least one multimedia multicast or broadcast service message over the first wireless communication channel (320). Then, the PS UE extracts data contained in the multimedia multicast or broadcast service message and storing the data in a local cache (330). The PS UE receives a cache request from the one or more user equipment over one or more alternative wireless communication channels (340) and then the PS UE transmits the stored data to the one or more PS user equipment (350).