Method and apparatus for identifying a multimedia broadcast/multicast service (mbms) area in a wireless communication system

A method for providing evolved Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service (eMBMS) area information in a Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service (MBMS) communication system, the method comprising:

• detecting, by a user equipment, a cell change from an old cell to a new cell;
• determining, by the a user equipment, whether the old cell supports MBMS and whether the new cell supports MBMS;
• in response to determining that the new cell supports MBMS, determining whether the new cell is associated with a different MBSFN-AreaID than an MBSFN-AreaID associated with the old cell;
• and
• when the new cell is associated with a different MBSFN-AreaID than an MBSFN-AreaID associated with the old cell, sending a MBSFN Area update message that includes an eMBMS area identifier comprising a MBSFN-AreaID and an extension identifier derived from one or more of a cell identifier, an eNodeB identifier, an identifier of a group of cells, a service identifier, a tracking area identifier, and a paging area identifier.

An evolved Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service (eMBMS)-enabled infrastructure device comprising:

• a processor that is configured to:
• receive an Multicast Broadcast Single Frequency Network (MBSFN) Area update message from a user equipment, wherein the MBSFN Area update message includes an eMBMS area identifier that uniquely identifies an MBSFN Area and comprises an extension identifier derived from one or more of a cell identifier, an eNodeB identifier, an identifier of a group of cells, a service identifier, a tracking area identifier, and a paging area identifier;
• and
• determine an MBSFN Area serving the user equipment based on the received eMBMS area identifier.

An evolved Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service (eMBMS)-enabled user equipment comprising:

• a processor that is configured to:
• detect a cell change from an old cell to a new cell;
• determine whether the old cell supports MBMS and whether the new cell supports MBMS;
• in response to determining that the new cell supports MBMS, determine whether the new cell is associated with a different MBSFN-AreaID than an MBSFN-AreaID associated with the old cell;
• and
• when the new cell is associated with a different MBSFN-AreaID than an MBSFN-AreaID associated with the old cell, send an MBSFN Area update that includes an eMBMS area identifier comprising a MBSFN-AreaID and an extension identifier derived from one or more of a cell identifier, an eNodeB identifier, an identifier of a group of cells, a service identifier, a tracking area identifier, and a paging area identifier.