US 2014/0177436 A1 · METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MULTIMEDIA BROADCAST MULTICAST SERVICE

Abstract

A method and apparatus for assigning Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (E-MBMS) bearers in at least two Multimedia Broadcast Single Frequency Network (MBSFN) areas in a 3GPP compliant wireless communication system is provided. An infrastructure device receives identifiers of a primary preferred MBSFN area and a secondary preferred MBSFN area from a User Equipment (UE). The infrastructure device assigns a first E-MBMS bearer in a first MBSFN and a second E-MBMS bearer in a second MBSFN, to support a call to the UE, the first and second E-MBMS bearers providing the same media transmission to the UE as part of a group call. The infrastructure device may receive an attribute parameter comprising a request for Make Before Break service or a request for a boost to coverage, from the UE.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A method of assigning Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (E-MBMS) bearers in at least two Multimedia Broadcast Single Frequency Network (MBSFN) areas in a Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) compliant wireless communication system, the method comprising:

an infrastructure device operably coupled to the 3GPP compliant system, the 3GPP compliant system having a radio access network partitioned into a plurality of MBSFN areas, wherein each MBSFN area supports a plurality of E-MBMS bearers for transporting media streams to user equipments (UE), the infrastructure device using application layer processing to perform:
receiving information from a UE, the information comprising an identifier that identifies a primary preferred MBSFN area that provides signals to the UE, and an identifier that identifies a secondary preferred MBSFN area that provides signals to the UE;
assigning a first E-MBMS bearer in a first MBSFN area and a second E-MBMS bearer in a second MBSFN area, to support a call to the UE, the first and second E-MBMS bearers providing the same media content to the UE,
wherein the infrastructure device uses the information from the UE in the assignment.

1 more element

A method for a User Equipment (UE) to provide Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service (E-MBMS) service area location update information to an infrastructure device in a Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) compliant wireless communication system, the 3GPP compliant system having a radio access network partitioned into a plurality of Multimedia Broadcast Single Frequency Network (MBSFN) areas, wherein each MBSFN area provides an E-MBMS transmission and supports a plurality of E-MBMS bearers for transporting media content streams to UEs, the method comprising a UE configured for multiple MBSFN reception using application layer processing to perform:

receiving transmissions from at least two MBSFN areas, each transmission comprising an MBSFN Area Identification (MBSFN Area ID) for a different MBSFN area;
choosing a primary preferred MBSFN area and at least one secondary preferred MBSFN area, and notifying an infrastructure device of the 3GPP compliant system of the primary preferred MBSFN area and the at least one secondary preferred MBSFN area;
and
when the UE receives a call provided to a call group comprising the UE, the UE receives the call on at least a first E-MBMS bearer transmitted in a first MBSFN area and a second E-MBMS bearer transmitted in a second MBSFN area,
wherein the first and second E-MBMS bearers provide the same media content to the UE.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for multimedia broadcast multicast service

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for multimedia broadcast multicast service

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21