Deterministic feedback control for multicast or broadcast services

A method for controlling by a feedback control entity the transmission of feedback of a plurality of mobile terminals receiving a multicast or broadcast service via an air interface of a mobile communication system, the method comprising the following steps performed by the feedback control entity:

• transmitting or forwarding data of the multicast or broadcast service via a unidirectional downlink channel and using an unreliable transport protocol to at least one mobile terminal and a session protocol, wherein the session protocol configures feedback provision of terminals receiving the multicast or broadcast service,
• determining a number of mobile terminals from said plurality of mobile terminals receiving the multicast or broadcast service for providing session protocol configured feedback to the feedback control entity,
• determining feedback control data identifying the determined number of mobile terminals,
• transmitting said feedback control data to at least said determined number of mobile terminals, and
• receiving session protocol configured feedback from said the determined number of mobile terminals at least one mobile terminal.

A method for controlling the transmission of feedback of mobile terminals receiving via an air interface of a mobile communication system a multicast or broadcast service transmitted or forwarded by a feedback control entity of the mobile communication system, the method comprising the following steps performed by a mobile terminal:

• receiving the multicast or broadcast service via a unidirectional downlink channel and using an unreliable transport protocol and a session protocol, wherein the session protocol configures feedback provision of terminals receiving the multicast or broadcast service,
• receiving feedback control data indicating whether the mobile terminal is instructed to provide session protocol configured feedback to the feedback control entity,
• in case the feedback control data indicates to provide session protocol configured feedback, establishing a bearer for providing feedback to the feedback control entity, and
• transmitting session protocol configured feedback indicating reception statistics of said multicast or broadcast service to the feedback control entity via said established bearer.

A feedback control entity for controlling the transmission of feedback of a plurality of mobile terminals receiving a multicast or broadcast service transmitted or forwarded by a feedback control entity via an air interface of a mobile communication system, the feedback control entity comprising:

• a transmitter adapted to transmit or forward data of the multicast or broadcast service via a unidirectional downlink channel using an unreliable transport protocol to at least one mobile terminal and a session protocol, wherein the session protocol configures feedback provision of terminals receiving the multicast or broadcast service,
• a processor adapted to determine a number of mobile terminals from said plurality of mobile terminals receiving the multicast or broadcast service for providing protocol configured feedback to the feedback control entity, and
• adapted to determine feedback control data identifying the determined number of mobile terminals,
• wherein the transmitter is adapted to transmit said feedback control data to at least said determined number of mobile terminals, and
• a receiver adapted to receive session protocol configured feedback from said the determined number of mobile terminals at least one mobile terminal.

A mobile terminal receiving via an air interface of a mobile communication system a multicast or broadcast service transmitted or forwarded by a feedback control entity, the mobile terminal comprising:

• a receiver adapted to receive the multicast or broadcast service via a unidirectional downlink channel and using an unreliable transport protocol and a session protocol, wherein the session protocol configures feedback provision of terminals receiving the multicast or broadcast service,
• wherein the receiver is adapted to receive feedback control data indicating whether the mobile terminal is instructed to provide session protocol configured feedback to the feedback control entity,
• a processor adapted to establish a bearer for providing feedback to the feedback control entity in case the feedback control data indicates to provide session protocol configured feedback, and
• a transmitter adapted to transmit session protocol configured feedback indicating reception statistics of said multicast or broadcast service to the feedback control entity via said established bearer.

A computer-readable medium for storing instructions that, when executed by a processor of a feedback control entity, cause the processor to control the transmission of feedback of mobile terminals receiving via an air interface of a mobile communication system a multicast or broadcast service transmitted or forwarded by the feedback control entity by:

• transmitting or forwarding data of the multicast or broadcast service via a unidirectional downlink channel and using an unreliable transport protocol to at least one mobile terminal and a session protocol, wherein the session protocol configures feedback provision of terminals receiving the multicast or broadcast service,
• determining a number of mobile terminals from said plurality of mobile terminals receiving the multicast or broadcast service for providing protocol configured feedback to the feedback control entity,
• determining feedback control data identifying the determined number of mobile terminals,
• transmitting said feedback control data to at least said determined number of mobile terminals, and
• receiving session protocol configured feedback from said the determined number of mobile terminals at least one mobile terminal.

A computer-readable medium for storing instructions that, when executed by a processor of a mobile terminal, cause the processor to control the transmission of feedback of said mobile terminal receiving via an air interface of a mobile communication system a multicast or broadcast service transmitted or forwarded by a feedback control entity by:

• receiving the multicast or broadcast service via a unidirectional downlink channel and using an unreliable transport protocol and a session protocol, wherein the session protocol configures feedback provision of terminals receiving the multicast or broadcast service,
• receiving feedback control data indicating whether the mobile terminal is instructed to provide session protocol configured feedback to the feedback control entity,
• in case the feedback control data indicates to provide session protocol configured feedback, establishing a bearer for providing feedback to the feedback control entity, and
• transmitting session protocol configured feedback indicating reception statistics of said multicast or broadcast service to the feedback control entity via said established bearer.