Target cell selection for multimedia broadcast multicast service continuity

An apparatus managing transfer of Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Services (MBMS) over a Single Frequency Network (MBSFN) service and idle mode unicast service for a mobile entity from a source base station to a target base station, comprising:

• at least one processor configured for identifying a candidate target base stations based on each having paging signal strength and system information signal strength sufficient to support camping on by the mobile entity in idle mode, prioritizing the candidate target base stations in a priority order based in part on an MBMS status of the mobile entity and on MBMS services support by respective ones of the candidate target base stations, in response to determining that none of the candidate target base stations supports the MBSFN service for the mobile entity, selecting a target base station that does not support the MBSFN service for the mobile entity, and transmitting an identifier for the target base station from the source base station, for use in transferring the MBSFN service and unicast service to the target base station;
• and
• a memory coupled to the at least one processor for storing data.

A computer program product managing transfer of Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Services (MBMS) over a Single Frequency Network (MBSFN) service and idle mode unicast service for a mobile entity from a source base station to a target base station, comprising:

• a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising code for identifying candidate target base stations based on each having paging signal strength and system information signal strength sufficient to support camping on by the mobile entity in idle mode, prioritizing the candidate target base stations in a priority order based in part on an MBMS status of the mobile entity and on MBMS services support by respective ones of the candidate target base stations, in response to determining that none of the candidate target base stations supports the MBSFN service for the mobile entity, selecting a target base station that does not support the MBSFN service for the mobile entity, and transmitting an identifier for the target base station from the source base station, for use in transferring the MBSFN service and unicast service to the target base station.

An apparatus for handling transfer of Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Services (MBMS) over a Single Frequency Network (MBSFN) service and unicast service from a source base station to a target base station, comprising:

• at least one processor configured for receiving a signal from the source base station designating a target base station, completing a handover to the target base station, and receiving MBMS content from the target base station in a unicast transmission for an initial period;
• and
• a memory coupled to the at least one processor for storing data.

A computer program product for handling transfer of Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Services (MBMS) over a Single Frequency Network (MBSFN) service and unicast service at a mobile entity from a source base station to a target base station comprising:

• a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising code for receiving a signal from the source base station designating a target base station, completing a handover to the target base station, and receiving MBMS content from the target base station in a unicast transmission for an initial period.

A method for obtaining a Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Services (MBMS) status of a mobile entity in a cellular wireless communications system, the method comprising:

• receiving, at a base station of the wireless communication system, a message from a mobile entity including information for providing to an administrative network node for use in MBMS service accounting;
• and
• obtaining an MBMS status of the mobile entity from the message for use by the base station.

An apparatus for obtaining a Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Services (MBMS) status of a mobile entity in a cellular wireless communications system, the apparatus comprising:

• means for receiving, at a base station of the wireless communication system, a message from a mobile entity including information for providing to an administrative network node for use in MBMS service accounting;
• and
• means for obtaining an MBMS status of the mobile entity from the message for use by the base station.

An apparatus obtaining a Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Services (MBMS) status of a mobile entity, comprising:

• at least one processor configured for receiving, at a base station of the wireless communication system, a message from the mobile entity including information for providing to an administrative network node for use in MBMS service accounting, and obtaining an MBMS status of the mobile entity from the message for use by the base station;
• and
• a memory coupled to the at least one processor for storing data.

A computer program product for obtaining a Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Services (MBMS) status of a mobile entity, comprising:

• a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising code for receiving, at a base station of the wireless communication system, a message from the mobile entity including information for providing to an administrative network node for use in MBMS service accounting, and obtaining an MBMS status of the mobile entity from the message for use by the base station.

An apparatus for obtaining Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Services (MBMS) support information for a base station, comprising:

• at least one processor configured for receiving, at a mobile entity of the wireless communication system, a message from a serving base station, obtaining an MBMS Service Area Identifier (SAI) for neighbor base stations from the message, and selecting a preferred base station for MBMS service, using the SAI for neighbor base stations;
• and
• a memory coupled to the at least one processor for storing data.

A computer program product for obtaining Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Services (MBMS) support information for a base station, comprising:

• a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising code for receiving, at a mobile entity of the wireless communication system, a message from a serving base station, obtaining an MBMS Service Area Identifier (SAI) for neighbor base stations from the message, and selecting a preferred base station for MBMS service, using the SAI for neighbor base stations.

A method for facilitating Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS) discovery in a wireless communications system (WCS), the method comprising:

• transmitting a data element configured for a mobile entity within a WCS area, the data element including service identifiers mapped to corresponding cell identifiers to indicate respective MBMS services to be broadcast in the WCS area on adjacent cells identified by respective ones of the cell identifiers;
• and
• broadcasting the MBMS services within the WCS area using the adjacent cells previously indicated in the data element.

An apparatus for facilitating Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS) discovery in a wireless communications system (WCS), the apparatus comprising:

• means for transmitting a data element configured for a mobile entity within a WCS area, the data element including service identifiers mapped to corresponding cell identifiers to indicate respective MBMS services to be broadcast in the WCS area on adjacent cells identified by respective ones of the cell identifiers;
• and
• means for broadcasting the MBMS services within the WCS area using the adjacent cells previously indicated in the data element.

An apparatus for facilitating Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS) discovery in a wireless communications system (WCS), comprising:

• at least one processor configured for transmitting a data element configured for a mobile entity within a WCS area, the data element including service identifiers mapped to corresponding cell identifiers to indicate respective MBMS services to be broadcast in the WCS area on adjacent cells identified by respective ones of the cell identifiers, and broadcasting the MBMS services within the WCS area using the adjacent cells previously indicated in the data element;
• and
• a memory coupled to the at least one processor for storing data.

A computer program product for facilitating Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS) discovery in a wireless communications system (WCS) comprising:

• a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising code for transmitting a data element configured for a mobile entity within a WCS area, the data element including service identifiers mapped to corresponding cell identifiers to indicate respective MBMS services to be broadcast in the WCS area on adjacent cells identified by respective ones of the cell identifiers, and broadcasting the MBMS services within the WCS area using the adjacent cells previously indicated in the data element.

A method for discovering Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS) in a wireless communications system (WCS), the method comprising:

• receiving a data element from a network entity within a WCS area, the data element including service identifiers mapped to corresponding cell identifiers to indicate respective MBMS services to be broadcast in the WCS area on one or more adjacent cells that are identified by respective ones of the cell identifiers;
• and
• discovering at least one of the MBMS services broadcast within the WCS area on a corresponding one of adjacent cells, using the data element.

An apparatus for discovering Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS) in a wireless communications system (WCS), the apparatus comprising:

• means for receiving a data element from a network entity within a WCS area, the data element including service identifiers mapped to corresponding cell identifiers to indicate respective MBMS services to be broadcast in the WCS area on one or more adjacent cells that are identified by respective ones of the cell identifiers;
• and
• means for discovering at least one of the MBMS services broadcast within the WCS area on a corresponding one of adjacent cells, using the data element.

An apparatus for discovering Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS) in a wireless communications system (WCS), comprising:

• at least one processor configured for receiving a data element from a network entity within a WCS area, the data element including service identifiers mapped to corresponding cell identifiers to indicate respective MBMS services to be broadcast in the WCS area on one or more adjacent cells that are identified by respective ones of the cell identifiers, and discovering at least one of the MBMS services broadcast within the WCS area on a corresponding one of adjacent cells, using the data element;
• and
• a memory coupled to the at least one processor for storing data.

A computer program product for discovering Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS) in a wireless communications system (WCS) comprising:

• a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising code for receiving a data element from a network entity within a WCS area, the data element including service identifiers mapped to corresponding cell identifiers to indicate respective MBMS services to be broadcast in the WCS area on one or more adjacent cells that are identified by respective ones of the cell identifiers, and discovering at least one of the MBMS services broadcast within the WCS area on a corresponding one of adjacent cells, using the data element.