# US 11,310,633 B2 · Multicast control device, multicast control method, and non-transitory computer readable medium > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,310,633 B2 - Document ID: US11310633B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/981,023 - Filed: 2019-02-08 - Published: 2021-02-18 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2018-03-16 - Assignees: NEC Corporation - Applicants: NEC Corporation - Inventors: Akira Kamei; Toru Yamada; Kyoji Hirata; Masahiro Serizawa; Satoshi Hasegawa; Masashi Shimoma - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11310633B2 ## CPC - H04W 4/06: Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services - H04W 4/50: Service provisioning or reconfiguring - H04L 43/16: Threshold monitoring - H04W 8/20: Transfer of user or subscriber data - H04W 84/042: {Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems} - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract A multicast control device capable of reducing the distribution time of multicast data is provided. A multicast control device (10) according to the present disclosure includes a determination unit (11) configured to determine whether the number of communication terminals joining a multicast service exceeds a predetermined threshold, and a session control unit (12) configured to start a multicast session for a plurality of communication terminals joining the multicast service when it is determined that the number of communication terminals joining the multicast service exceeds the predetermined threshold. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A multicast control device comprising: at least one memory storing instructions, and at least one processor configured to execute the instructions to; determine whether the number of communication terminals that have joined a multicast service exceeds a predetermined threshold; and start a multicast session for a plurality of communication terminals that have joined the multicast service when it is determined that the number of communication terminals that have joined the multicast service exceeds the predetermined threshold, wherein, when it is determined that the number of communication terminals that have joined the multicast service does not exceed the predetermined threshold, the at least one processor is further configured to execute the instructions to start at a specified timing a multicast session for at least one communication terminal that has joined the multicast service, and wherein, an interval between the times of joining of communication terminals to the multicast service in the past is calculated, and the specified timing is after a lapse of the calculated interval from the time of joining of the last communication terminal to the multicast service. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The multicast control device according to claim 1, wherein the specified timing is after a lapse of a predetermined period of time from joining of a first communication terminal to the multicast service. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The multicast control device according to claim 1, wherein the specified timing is any one of an average value, a maximum value, and a minimum value of the interval between the times of j oining of the communication terminals to the multicast service in the past. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The multicast control device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the instructions to count the number of communication terminals that have joined a multicast service, and determine whether the counted number of communication terminals exceeds a predetermined threshold. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The multicast control device according to claim 4, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the instructions to clear the counted number of communication terminals when a multicast session is started. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The multicast control device according to claim 4, wherein the counting means counts the number of communication terminals that have activated the multicast service. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The multicast control device according to claim 1, wherein the multicast service uses an MBMS bearer service and an MBMS user service. ### Claim 8 A multicast control method comprising: determining whether the number of communication terminals that have joined a multicast service exceeds a predetermined threshold; and starting a multicast session for a plurality of communication terminals that have joined the multicast service when it is determined that the number of communication terminals that have joined the multicast service exceeds the predetermined threshold wherein, when it is determined that the number of communication terminals that have joined the multicast service does not exceed the predetermined threshold, starting at a specified timing a multicast session for at least one communication terminal that has joined the multicast service, and wherein, an interval between the times of joining of communication terminals to the multicast service in the past is calculated, and the specified timing is after a lapse of the calculated interval from the time of joining of the last communication terminal to the multicast service. ### Claim 9 A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program causing a computer to perform: determining whether the number of communication terminals that have joined a multicast service exceeds a predetermined threshold; and starting a multicast session for a plurality of communication terminals that have joined the multicast service when it is determined that the number of communication terminals that have the multicast service exceeds the predetermined threshold wherein, when it is determined that the number of communication terminals that have joined the multicast service does not exceed the predetermined threshold, starting at a specified timing a multicast session for at least one communication terminal that has joined the multicast service, and wherein, an interval between the times of joining of communication terminals to the multicast service in the past is calculated, and the specified timing is after a lapse of the calculated interval from the time of joining of the last communication terminal to the multicast service.