PTT Group Regrouping Using Existing MBMS Bearers
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for regrouping push-to-talk (PTT) groups in mobile communications networks, such as LTE, incur significant latency due to the need to create new Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service (MBMS) services and assign new Temporary Multicast Group Identities (TMGIs, which can result in poor user experience, especially in mission-critical scenarios.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves regrouping PTT groups without modifying the Multicast Control Channel (MCCH) by using existing MBMS services and bearers, allowing for seamless data communication among the regrouped groups, and employing a master and slave approach or replacement solution to avoid duplication of data delivery and reduce signaling overhead.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If new MBMS services and TMGIs are created for regrouping PTT groups, then group reconfiguration is achieved, but latency increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing MBMS services and bearers before regrouping is needed. When regrouping occurs, the system can immediately assign existing bearers to new groups without creating new services, thus eliminating the time-consuming service creation process while maintaining the ability to reconfigure groups as needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes existing MBMS services and bearers universal by allowing them to serve multiple PTT groups. Instead of dedicating specific services to specific groups, the same service infrastructure can be dynamically assigned to different group combinations, enabling flexible regrouping without additional service creation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If MCCH modification is performed for regrouping, then group information is updated, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential regrouping information from the complex MCCH modification process. Instead of modifying the entire MCCH structure, the system extracts only the necessary group assignment information and transmits it through streamlined signaling, reducing the overhead associated with full MCCH updates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the regrouping signaling into separate, targeted messages rather than requiring a comprehensive MCCH modification. This allows the system to update only the specific group information that has changed, rather than retransmitting or modifying the entire control channel structure.
3Loss of time
If existing MBMS services and bearers are reused for regrouping, then latency is reduced, but data delivery duplication may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the network monitors and tracks the assignment of existing MBMS bearers to regrouped PTT groups. This feedback system detects potential duplication scenarios and triggers appropriate corrective actions, ensuring that data is delivered exactly once to each intended recipient while maintaining the efficiency of bearer reuse.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic management of MBMS bearer assignments, where the system can flexibly reassign bearers to different group configurations based on current needs. This dynamic approach allows the network to optimize bearer utilization across varying group structures while maintaining reliability through real-time assignment tracking and adjustment.
Data Source
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AI summary
A network node communicates data of a first push-to-talk (PTT) group using a first multimedia broadcast/multicast service (MBMS) bearer, and data of a second PTT group using a second MBMS bearer. Responsive to a regrouping of the first PTT group and the second PTT group to form a regrouped PTT group, the network node communicates data of the regrouped PTT group using at least one of the first and second MBMS bearers.