EVOLVED MULTIMEDIA BROADCAST/MULTICAST SERVICES (eMBMS) CLUSTER MANAGEMENT

A server that is external to a core network and configured to arbitrate a group communication session for transmission of session media to a multicast group being served by the core network, comprising:

• means for determining a first support state for the group communication session based on one or more UE registrations to the group communication session and/or one or more UE de-registrations from the group communication session, the first support state defining a first set of sectors belonging to a multicast/broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) area for transmission of the session media for the group communication session via Internet Protocol (IP) multicast;
• means for delivering the session media for the group communication session to the first set of sectors via IP multicast in accordance with the first support state;
• means for transitioning the group communication session from the first support state to a second support state based on one or more additional UE registrations to the group communication session and/or one or more additional UE de-registrations from the group communication session, the second support state defining a second set of sectors belonging to the MBSFN area for transmission of the session media for the group communication session via IP multicast, wherein the first set of sectors is different from the second set of sectors;
• and
• means for delivering, after the transition, the session media for the group communication session to the second set of sectors via IP multicast in accordance with the second support state.

A server that is external to a core network and configured to arbitrate a group communication session for transmission of session media to a multicast group being served by the core network, comprising:

• logic configured to determine a first support state for the group communication session based on one or more UE registrations to the group communication session and/or one or more UE de-registrations from the group communication session, the first support state defining a first set of sectors belonging to a multicast/broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) area for transmission of the session media for the group communication session via Internet Protocol (IP) multicast;
• logic configured to deliver the session media for the group communication session to the first set of sectors via IP multicast in accordance with the first support state;
• logic configured to transition the group communication session from the first support state to a second support state based on one or more additional UE registrations to the group communication session and/or one or more additional UE de-registrations from the group communication session, the second support state defining a second set of sectors belonging to the MBSFN area for transmission of the session media for the group communication session via IP multicast, wherein the first set of sectors is different from the second set of sectors;
• and
• logic configured to deliver, after the transition, the session media for the group communication session to the second set of sectors via IP multicast in accordance with the second support state.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a server that is external to a core network and configured to arbitrate a group communication session for transmission of session media to a multicast group being served by the core network, cause the server to perform operations, the instructions comprising:

• at least one instruction to cause the server to determine a first support state for the group communication session based on one or more UE registrations to the group communication session and/or one or more UE de-registrations from the group communication session, the first support state defining a first set of sectors belonging to a multicast/broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) area for transmission of the session media for the group communication session via Internet Protocol (IP) multicast;
• at least one instruction to cause the server to deliver the session media for the group communication session to the first set of sectors via IP multicast in accordance with the first support state;
• at least one instruction to cause the server to transition the group communication session from the first support state to a second support state based on one or more additional UE registrations to the group communication session and/or one or more additional UE de-registrations from the group communication session, the second support state defining a second set of sectors belonging to the MBSFN area for transmission of the session media for the group communication session via IP multicast, wherein the first set of sectors is different from the second set of sectors;
• and
• at least one instruction to cause the server to deliver, after the transition, the session media for the group communication session to the second set of sectors via IP multicast in accordance with the second support state.