Broadcast/multicast service method based on user location information

A method for providing a broadcast/multicast service based on user location information in which a broadcast/multicast service is provided to at least one or more terminals, each terminal having a client module for performing transmission/reception through a network, the method comprising:

• receiving, by the client module, a service guide including service-available area information with respect to one or more contents from a broadcast/multicast server,
• wherein the service-available area information allows for location based targeting of services based on target areas in which the broadcast/multicast service is available;
• transmitting, by the client module, a broadcast/multicast request message with respect to contents selected by a user of a specific terminal among the contents information included in the received service guide to the broadcast/multicast server;
• transmitting, by the client module, a location tracking request message with respect to the specific terminal to a network entity;
• receiving a response message with respect to the location tracking request message, the response message including a location tracking result from the network entity;
• transmitting, by the client module, location information of the specific terminal to the broadcast/multicast server, the location information of the specific terminal indicating an exact current location of the specific terminal to allow the location based targeting of services based on the target areas;
• and
• receiving contents corresponding to the exact current location of the specific terminal, among the contents selected by the user, from the broadcast/multicast server,
• wherein the receiving of the service guide, the transmitting of the broadcast/multicast request message, the transmitting of the location tracking request message, the receiving of the location tracking result, the transmitting of the location information, and the receiving of the contents are performed by cooperation between the broadcast/multicast server that utilizes location information in Mobile Location Protocol (MLP) format and the specific terminal having the client module that supports use of location information in the MLP format.

A mobile terminal for providing a broadcast/multicast service based on user location information, the mobile terminal comprising:

• a transceiver configured to receive and transmit signals through a network;
• and
• a client module configured to cooperate with the transceiver and to:
• receive a service guide including service-available area information with respect to one or more contents from a broadcast/multicast server,
• wherein the service-available area information allows for location based targeting of services based on target areas in which the broadcast/multicast service is available;
• transmit a broadcast/multicast request message with respect to contents selected by a user among the contents information include in the received service guide, to the broadcast/multicast server;
• transmit a location tracking request message with respect to the mobile terminal to a network entity;
• receive a response message with respect to the location tracking request message, the response message including a location tracking result from the network entity;
• transmit location information of the mobile terminal to the broadcast/multicast server, the location information of the mobile terminal indicating an exact current location of the mobile terminal to allow the location based targeting of services based on the target areas;
• and
• receive contents corresponding to the exact current location of the mobile terminal, among the contents selected by the user, from the broadcast/multicast server,
• wherein the receiving of the service guide, the transmitting of the broadcast/multicast request message, the transmitting of the location tracking request message, the receiving of the location tracking result, the transmitting of the location information, and the receiving of the contents are performed by cooperation between the broadcast/multicast server that utilizes location information in Mobile Location Protocol (MLP) format and the mobile terminal having the client module that supports use of location information in the MLP format.