GB2448128A - Indicating a preferred radio access technology for delivery of an MBMS service - Google Patents

Indicating a preferred radio access technology for delivery of an MBMS service Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2448128A
GB2448128A GB0705718A GB0705718A GB2448128A GB 2448128 A GB2448128 A GB 2448128A GB 0705718 A GB0705718 A GB 0705718A GB 0705718 A GB0705718 A GB 0705718A GB 2448128 A GB2448128 A GB 2448128A
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United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
mbms
radio access
rat
access technology
mobile radio
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Application number
GB0705718A
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GB0705718D0 (en
Inventor
Ajay Vachhani
David Lecompte
Sreelakshmi Gollapudi
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NEC Corp
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NEC Corp
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Priority to GB0705718A priority Critical patent/GB2448128A/en
Publication of GB0705718D0 publication Critical patent/GB0705718D0/en
Publication of GB2448128A publication Critical patent/GB2448128A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L12/00—Data switching networks
    • H04L12/02—Details
    • H04L12/16—Arrangements for providing special services to substations
    • H04L12/18—Arrangements for providing special services to substations for broadcast or conference, e.g. multicast
    • H04L12/1836—Arrangements for providing special services to substations for broadcast or conference, e.g. multicast with heterogeneous network architecture
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W72/00—Local resource management
    • H04W72/30—Resource management for broadcast services
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L12/00—Data switching networks
    • H04L12/02—Details
    • H04L12/16—Arrangements for providing special services to substations
    • H04L12/18—Arrangements for providing special services to substations for broadcast or conference, e.g. multicast
    • H04L12/1886—Arrangements for providing special services to substations for broadcast or conference, e.g. multicast with traffic restrictions for efficiency improvement, e.g. involving subnets or subdomains
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L12/00—Data switching networks
    • H04L12/02—Details
    • H04L12/16—Arrangements for providing special services to substations
    • H04L12/18—Arrangements for providing special services to substations for broadcast or conference, e.g. multicast
    • H04L12/189—Arrangements for providing special services to substations for broadcast or conference, e.g. multicast in combination with wireless systems
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W36/00—Hand-off or reselection arrangements
    • H04W36/16—Performing reselection for specific purposes
    • H04W36/22—Performing reselection for specific purposes for handling the traffic
    • H04Q7/226—
    • H04Q7/3268—
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W4/00—Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
    • H04W4/06—Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W4/00—Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
    • H04W4/06—Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
    • H04W4/08—User group management
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W48/00—Access restriction; Network selection; Access point selection
    • H04W48/18—Selecting a network or a communication service

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)

Abstract

A method of delivering Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS) content in a mobile radio communications network 10 covered by a plurality of radio access technologies (RATs) 14, 16, e.g. GERAN, UTRAN, E-UTRAN, and populated by a plurality of mobile radio communication devices operating in accordance with more than one RAT. The method includes the step of offering a signal from the network to the mobile radio communication devices indicating a preferred RAT for delivery of an MBMS service so as to allow for convergence of mobile radio communication devices the preferred RAT. A mobile communication device may also preferably identify RATs from which it is capable of receiving MBMS. Hence, the waste of radio resources resulting from duplicating the same MBMS service across different RATs may be reduced.

Description

A MOBILE RADIO COMMUNCATIONS DEVICE, MOBILE RADIO
COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK DEVICE AND RELATED METHOD OF
OPTIMISING MBMS TRANSMISSION IN THE MULTI RAT
ENVIRONMENT
The present invention relates to a mobile radio communications device, a mobile radio communications network device and related method of operation and, in particular, to a method of delivering MBMS content and to mobile radio communication devices arranged for delivering and receiving the said content.
Existence of single and multi-RAT (e.g. LTE, GERAN, UTRAN RAT) User Equipment within mixed MBMS EUTRAN, UTRAN and GERAN coverage areas of one operator is readily possible. However, in order to match different UE types, the operator will then duplicate the same MBMS service (assuming the required bit rate is compatible with several technologies) across different Radio Access Technology RATs and this will lead to wastage of radio resources as is explained further.
As currently known, in order to efficiently operate a service where identical content is to be delivered to many subscribers in a mobile network (e.g. mobile TV, advertisements, voicelvideo news, etc), an operator can employ a Multimedia Broadcast and Multicast Service (MBMS), which makes it possible to transmit the same content to several different users in the same area without using dedicated radio resources for each user, and by means of a point-to-multipoint (p-t-m) transmission channel. In each cell or group of cells, the Radio Network Controller (RNC) of the UMTS radio access network determines (by MBMS counting and Ju linking procedure, and also by way of guesses) the number of users that are interested in a particular MBMS service, and then chooses to either transmit the service by dedicated channels to each user, or to allocate a point-to-multipoint transmission channel. Similarly, and based on the number of users interested in a particular MBMS, a GSM system can select between point-to-multipoint transmission of MBMS with or without dedicated feedback from the UE.
The MBMS is standardised for the GSM system (using radio access of the GSM Edge Radio Access Network, i.e. GERAN) and the UMTS system (using radio access of the UMTS Terrestrial Access Network, i.e. UTRAN) and is the known intention that it be standardised for future cellular radio communication systems such as those within the scope of the Long Term Evolution (LTE) proposals of the 3GPP (using radio access of the Evolved UMTS Terrestrial Access Network, i.e. E-UTRAN).
Independently of the MBMS, it is a common scenario for an operator to deploy several RATs in the same geographical area. A common deployment scenario arises when one (possibly older) RAT provides a full coverage over a whole country or region for basic services, such as voice calls or low bit rate data services, while another RAT is only deployed in certain geographical areas (e.g. dense urban areas, hotspots) and provides for more demanding services, i.e. video calls, TV channels and high-speed internet access.
While some subscribers will have UEs that can only operate in one of the deployed RATs (single-RAT capable UEs), other will have UEs that can operate with more than one of the deployed RAT, and are camped alternatively in cells of different RATs, based on cell selection and reselection criteria (e.g. using received quality/strength of pilot signals), but independently of the subscribers interest in a particular MBMS service.
However, if an operator wants to offer a certain MBMS service to its subscribers in an area with multiple RAT deployment, since subscribers with multi-RAT capable UEs may be camped in any RAT, the operator must initiate the MBMS service in all the RATS deployed in this area, in order to prevent subscribers with multi-RAT capable mobiles from missing the service.
As a consequence, if a certain number of subscribers interested in a MBMS services use Multi-RAT capable UEs capable of receiving MBMS services alternatively from more than one RAT that are randomly camped in several RATs, the operator may transmit the same MBMS service on several p4-rn channels in the same geographical area, one for each RAT, while in accordance with the realisation of the present invention all or most interested subscribers in this geographical area will have multi-RAT capable UEs that are all capable of receiving the service in the same one particular RAT only and so there is disadvantageous waste of radio resources.
The present invention seeks to provide for MBMS devices and related methods having advantages over known such methods and devices.
Further the present invention seeks to provide means to avoid the above-mentioned waste of resources by allowing the network to take into account the capabilities of UEs in one RAT to be moved to another RAT for reception of an MBMS service so that if many UEs can receive from RAT one only, the network can: -in each RAT, evaluate the number of interested UEs camped in this RAT that could move to other RAT to receive this MBMS service -choose a preferred RAT where a large number of interested UEs already are or could move to receive MBMS -ask the interested UEs camped in other RATs that could move to the preferred RAT to receive an MBMS service to actually move to this RAT -decide how to transmit this MBMS service to interested UEs remaining in other RATs (if any) depending on their number and possibly use the same procedure again to move UEs between the two other RATs.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of delivering MBMS content in a mobile radio communications network covered by a plurality of radio access technologies and populated by a plurality of mobile radio communication devices, at least some which offer operation in accordance with more than one radio access technology, and the method including a step of offering a signal from the network to the said plurality of mobile radio communication devices to indicate a preferred radio access technology for delivery of an MBMS service and so as to allow for convergence of mobile radio communications devices to the said preferred radio access technology.
Preferably, the preferred radio access technology for a particular MBMS service is notified to the plurality of user equipment devices by means of an MBMS common control channel such as Multicast Control Channel "MCCH".
Yet further, the indication of the preferred radio access technology also includes the provision of a related inter-radio access technology re-selection parameter.
As an example of such a related inter-radio access technology re-selection parameter, there is provided an offset for application to cell ranking between a cell belonging to the preferred radio access technology and the cell belongs to the radio access technology where the offset is provided.
Other than the preferred radio access technology, several different actions will be provided in MCCH for one MBMS service, e.g: * MBMS RAT convergence to preferred RAT (for those UEs that can receive MBMS from preferred RAT) * MBMS RAT convergence to the other given RAT (for those UEs which are not able to receive MBMS from preferred RAT, but able to receive MBMS on this given RAT) * Establishment of p-t-p radio bearer or establishment of p-t-m radio bearer or anything else (for those UEs that can not do any RAT convergence or not capable to receive MBMS from the any given RATs).
In the case of UMTS, the above mentioned indications shall be added to the MBMS MODIFIED SERVICES INFORMATION and the MBMS UNMODIFIED SERVICES INFORMATION messages.
As a further advantage, the method includes the step of evaluating the number of UE devices in a cell or a group of cell of one radio access technology interested in a particular MBMS services and having (or alternatively not having) the capability to converge to a preferred radio access technology using the previously described method and having also the capability to operate with a given radio access technology and receive MBMS services within this radio access technology (or alternatively not having the capability to receive MBMS services within this given radio access technology, or not having the capability to receive MBMS services within another radio access technology than the one where this UE device is currently camped).
In one embodiment, the method include the step of MBMS counting in group of cells belonging to one radio access group while considering the UE capabilities to receive MBMS on the other RAT Advantageously in a first option, the MBMS -counting can be first initiated only for interested subscribers with UEs that are capable of receiving MBMS only in the current RAT and interested subscribers with legacy UEs that do not support the MBMS RAT convergence procedure. As a further step, the network can count interested subscribers with UEs that are also capable of receiving MBMS in a particular RAT and which is not the current RAT.
Assuming there are only two RATs that can transmit MBMS services, advantageously, if too few users respond to the first counting step to justify the use of a p-t-m transmission channel in this RAT, then the network can decide to continue counting interested subscribers with a UE capable of receiving MBMS in the second RAT and supporting the MBMS RAT convergence procedure. Further, if another parallel counting in this second RAT for single-RAT capable users offers sufficient justification to use a p-t-m transmission channel in this second RAT, then the network can stop counting in the first RAT, apply the RAT convergence procedure to the second RAT to UEs in the first RAT and initiate transmission of the MBMS service by means of a p-t-m transmission channel only on the second RAT.
Conversely, if the counting in the second RAT for single-RAT capable users does not offer sufficient justification to use a p-t-m transmission channel in this second RAT, but the continued procedure in the first RAT shows that there are enough UEs in the first RAT to justify the use of a p-t-m transmission channel, then the network can stop counting in both RATs, apply the RAT convergence procedure to the first RAT to UEs in the second RAT, and initiate transmission of the MBMS service by means of a p-t-m transmission channel only on the second RAT.
In this way, the network can evaluate the number of UEs in each RAT that can and cannot move to the other RAT, and provided that there are only few UEs capable to receive MBMS only in the first RAT or that there are only few UEs capable to receive MBMS only in the second RAT, a p-t-m transmission channel only needs to be allocated in one RAT.
While other strategies are available by counting separately interested subscribers according to the possibility of moving to another RAT in order to receive MBMS on this RAT, the network can make a choice of where it allocates the minimum radio resources so that all interested subscribers can receive an MBMS service efficiently.
Advantageously in a second option, UEs that support the RAT convergence procedure can provide in the response to counting procedure an indication of the other RATs with which they are capable of receiving the MBMS service. However, if on a certain RAT, the network receives a certain number of counting responses without such capabilities indicated, it will decide to transmit the service on this RAT. If the network receives many responses with the capability to move to the other RAT to receive MBMS services, it may perform RAT convergence to the other RAT, and then re-initiate the counting procedure for remaining UEs.
Yet further, the invention can advantageously include the step of obtaining information concerning the UE devices arranged for receiving MBMS service by way of an SGSN or access gateway/mobility management entity or any other core network node.
As will be appreciated, an additional UE device capability is created concerning the ability to perform the RAT convergence procedure, and for receiving MBMS services in particular RATs. This additional UE device capability can be provided by the UE when it first connect to the network and kept by a network node The SGSN/access gateway/mobility management entity/node that store UE device capabilities can provide this information to the network node (RNC/BSC/enB/or other node) that tries to count the number of UEs in a certain group or cells so that it can refine its evaluation while avoiding certain counting steps in order to determine whether or not MBMS should be transmitted on a particular RAT and by means of which type of transmission channel.
For connected mode UEs in certain sub states where they may not be able to read the BCCH or the MCCH, the network can employ dedicated signalling to inform MBMS service availability and the associated RAT, i.e. the actual RAT in which this MBMS service is transmitted.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a mobile radio communications device arranged for receiving MBMS and for operation in accordance with a plurality of radio access technologies, and including means for switching between radio access technologies responsive to network signalling serving to indicate a preferred radio access technology for receipt of the MBMS.
As will be appreciated, such a mobile radio communications device is advantageously arranged to operate in accordance with a method such as that defined above.
Yet further, the device can include means for signalling so as to identify the plurality of radio access technologies in respect of which it is capable of receiving MBMS.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a mobile radio communications network device for delivering MBMS content in a mobile radio communications network covered by a plurality of radio access technologies populated by a plurality of user devices, at least some of which offer operation in accordance with more than one radio access technology and arranged for offering a signal to the said plurality of UE devices serving to indicate a preferred radio access technology for delivery of the MBMS service, and so as to allow for convergence of the UE devices to the said preferred radio access technology.
Accordingly, such a mobile radio communications network device can advantageously operate in accordance with a method such as that defined above.
Preferably, the mobile radio communications network device is arranged to notify the said preferred radio access technology for a particular MBMS service by means of a MBMS common control channel.
Yet further, and as above, the signalling can be provided with a related inter radio access technology parameter, such as inter radio access technology offset serving to apply a cell ranking between a cell belonging to the preferred MBMS radio access technology and cell belonging to the radio access technology where the offset is provided..
As a further advantage, the method includes the step of evaluating the number of UE devices in a cell or a group of cell of one radio access technology interested in a particular MBMS services and having (or alternatively not having) the capability to converge to a preferred radio access technology using the previously described method and having also the capability to operate with a given radio access technology and receive MBMS services within this radio access technology (or alternatively not having the capability to receive MBMS services within this given radio access technology, or not having the capability to receive MBMS services within another radio access technology than the one where this liE device is currently camped).
In one embodiment, the method include the step of MBMS counting in group of cells belonging to one radio access group while considering the liE capabilities to receive MBMS on the other RAT, Advantageously in a first option, the MBMS -counting can be first initiated only for interested subscribers with UEs that are capable of receiving MBMS only in the current RAT and interested subscribers with legacy UEs that do not support the MBMS RAT convergence procedure. As a further step, the network can count interested subscribers with UEs that are also capable of receiving MBMS in a particular RAT and which is not the current RAT.
Assuming there are only two RATs that can transmit MBMS services, if too few users respond to the first counting step to justify the use of a p-t-m transmission channel in this RAT, then the network device can be arranged to go on counting for interested subscribers with a UE capable of receiving MBMS in a second RAT and supporting the MBMS RAT convergence procedure. Further, if another parallel counting in this second RAT for single-RAT capable users offers sufficient justification to use a p-t-m transmission channel in this second RAT, then the network can stop counting in the first RAT, apply the RAT convergence procedure to the second RAT to UEs in the first RATs and initiate transmission of the MBMS service by means of a p-t-m transmission channel only on the second RAT.
Conversely, if the counting in the second RAT for single-RAT capable users does not offer sufficient justification to use a p-t-m transmission channel in this second RAT, but the continued procedure in the first RAT shows that there are enough UEs in the first RAT to justify the use of a p-t-m transmission channel, then the network can stop counting in both RATs, apply the RAT convergence procedure to the first RAT to UEs in the second RAT, and initiate transmission of the MBMS service by means of a p-t-m transmission channel only on the second RAT.
In this way, the network can evaluate the number of UEs in each RAT that can and cannot move to the other RAT, and provided that there are only few UEs capable to receive MBMS only in the first RAT or that there are only few UEs capable to receive MBMS only in the second RAT, a p-t-m transmission channel only needs to be allocated in one RAT.
By counting separately interested users according to the possibility to move to another RAT in order to receive MBMS on this RAT, the network device can be arranged to determine where to allocate the minimum radio resources so that all interested subscribers can receive an MBMS service.
Advantageously in a second option, UEs that support the RAT convergence procedure can provide in the response to counting procedure an indication of the other RATs with which they are capable of receiving the MBMS service. However, if on a certain RAT, the network receives a certain number of counting responses without such capabilities indicated, it will decide to transmit the service on this RAT. If the network receives many responses with the capability to move to the other RAT to receive MBMS services, it may perform RAT convergence to the other RAT, and then re-initiate the counting procedure for remaining UEs.
Of course, it should be appreciated that the present invention can also comprise a mobile radio communications system including a mobile radio communications device, and a mobile radio communications network device such as those defined above.
The invention is described further hereinafter, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. I is a schematic diagram illustrating overlapping radio access technologies and which allow for the selection offered by the present invention; and Fig. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating selections that can be made within a UE device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Turning first to Fig. 1, there is illustrated in schematic form a mobile radio communications network area 10 arranged to be served by a MBMS service 12 which can originate via the Internet or otherwise and in which network area 10 there are provided overlapping service areas 14, 16 according to two different RATs.
In the illustrated example, the service area 14 comprises part of a UTRAN network and service area 16 comprises part of a E-UTRAN network.
As demonstrated, the UTRAN 14 comprises its known core network 18 and RNS modules 20, whereas the E-UTRAN network 16 includes its standard anchor (Access Gate way or MME) 22 and eNBs 24, 26.
In the area of service overlap as illustrated by the E-UTRAN 16 there will be present UE devices (not shown) and having the capability of operating in accordance with the UTRAN radio access technology and the E-UTRAN radio access technology is multi-mode, or at least dual-mode devices.
When seeking to provide MBMS, the present invention advantageously seeks to provide convergence of such UE devices so that, as far as possible, each is arranged to receive the MBMS on the same one of a variety of possible radio access technologies which, advantageously, is identified in network signalling as a preferred radio access technology for MBMS purposes.
As noted above, and as described further below, insofar as it is possible to achieve radio access technology switching within the UE devices, and thereby achieve convergence of the RATs to the preferred RAT, this offers great potential for reducing the waste of radio resources arising in relation to MBMS for at least dual-RAT devices.
Turning now to Fig. 2, there is illustrated a flow diagram relating to the monitoring and radio access technology switching that can arise in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. This figure explains the three RAT scenario; this can be extended to N RAT scenario as well.
Starting at 28, a determination is made as to whether a particular UE device is capable of receiving MBMS on one of the RAT. In particular, the RAT can comprise a so-called preferred RAT specified in MCCH on which a particular MBMS is to be transmitted.
If it is determined that the particular UE device is capable of receiving MBMS on that preferred RAT specified in MCCH then a decision is made to switch the UE device to operation on that preferred radio access technology at step 30. However, if the UE device does not have such capability, a determination 32 is next made as to whether an MBMS service is available by way of an other given RAT specified in MCCH and, if so, at step 34 a decision is taken to receive the MBMS service on that particular RAT.
If, however, at step 32 it is determined that the UE is not capable to receive MBMS on the other given RAT specified in MCCH then at step 36, UE acts according to the specified actions (could be establishing PTM or PTP connection with the current camped RAT network or any other thing) in MCCH to receive this particular MBMS service.
In order to perform the RAT convergence procedure explained in previous description, the UEs will need to perform different actions based on their MBMS RAT capabilities and the RAT in which they are currently operating.
This information can be provided within a control channel, for example MCCH. On this basis the network may indicate simultaneously different actions for UEs interested in one MBMS service and examples of which are as follows: -actions for UEs that can move to a RAT indicated by the NW to receive MBMS; and -actions for UEs that cannot move to this RAT but can move to another RAT indicated by the NW to receive MBMS; and -and so on for other RAT possibly indicated by the NW, and -actions for UEs that can not move to any of the indicated RATs to receive MBMS.
In the case of UMTS, modification of the MBMS MODIFIED SERVICES INFORMATION and the MBMS UNMODIFIED SERVICES INFORMATION messages can be introduced, so as to specify several "UE required actions" information elements each associated with the indicated RAT, in addition to the existing UE required actions IE that would only be followed by the UEs not able to move to the any of the specified RATs.
In order to perform the MBMS counting procedure as described in first option l step, the counting procedure is arranged in such a way that only UEs that can not perform RAT convergence to an indicated RAT to receive MBMS in that RAT respond to counting for example as follows: -In UMTS counting procedure for Rel-7 or a future Release, MCCH provides an indication (i.e. extension to any MCCH message, e.g. MBMS General Information or MBMS Modified Service Information) that MBMS UEs able to perform RAT convergence to receive MBMS on one or more indicated RATs, or indication of "any RAT" should not answer to counting according to legacy MBMS Access Information message.
-In GSM, similar information as that noted above is employed -In LTE, only one counting message is needed, as it can be included from the first version onwards.
In order to perform the MBMS counting procedure as described in first option 2K step, the counting procedure is arranged in such a way that only UEs that can perform RAT convergence to an indicated RAT to receive MBMS in that RAT respond to counting for example as follows: -In UMTS same Release as for the extension used for the first step, an indication is provided on the MCCH possibly as a new counting message similar to MBMS ACCESS INFORMATION to count UEs capable of perfonning RAT convergence to receive MBMS on another RAT, with RAT as parameter -In OSM, in either one or several control messages as carried by MCCH, similar information as that noted above is employed -In LTE, the indication used for counting carries this information, either directly in the first version of LTE or in an extension if this procedure is only defined for a later version.
-This second step can be applied in sequence for different RATs.
In order to perform the MBMS counting procedure as described in 2nd option, the counting procedure is arranged in such a way "UE MBMS RAT capability" is indicated in the counting response, for example as follows: -In UMTS counting procedure for ReI-7 or a future Release, MCCH indicates that in the counting response UE should include an extra parameter indicating UE MBMS capability and ability to perform RAT convergence to another RAT to receive MBMS in that RAT.
-Similar changes can be made for GERAN Rel-7 or a future Release -In LTE, this can be applied for all UEs and LTE counting procedures, from the first release onwards -In all technologies, in order to indicate if the network wants to use this procedure, information on the MCCH can be provided as an extension to any MCCH message, e.g. MBMS General Information or MBMS Modified Service Information.
Advantageously, it is also possible to combine the two above mentioned techniques of the current invention into a third technique: by providing an indication that UE devices that can converge to another RAT than the current RAT to receive MBMS services in these RAT will respond to counting and include in their response the list of RATs which they can receive MBMS from. Then, the network can evaluate the number of UE devices camped in the current RAT that could receive MBMS in any other RAT, without applying several successive counting procedures.
Either of these technique might be preferred by a network operator depending on assumptions on the types of liE devices manufactured and currently in use in the operator network.
In addition to the above changes, the invention can also comprise modifications to MBMS control signalling for RAT convergence and advantageously provide an indication of preferred RAT (and associated frequency in the case of UMTS and LTE) for a MBMS service, so as to perform MBMS RAT convergence. Further an indication of RAT specific MBMS offset, either by service or common to all services can be provided on the BCCH or MCCH.
The invention can also involve the use of UE context information at CN and a new UE capability to perform MBMS RAT convergence to receive MBMS services from another RAT.
The signalling messages used on the MCCII as specified in the present invention can also be sent as dedicated signalling (on DCCII "Dedicated Control Channel").
Further additional information in control channel (MCCH) can be provided in the following manner.
For each MBMS service, there can be several actions indicated on the MCCH for UEs interested in this service; -actions for UEs that can move toa RAT indicated by the NW to receive MBMS; and -actions for UEs that cannot move to this RAT but can move to another RAT indicated by the NW to receive MBMS; and -and so on for other RAT possibly indicated by the NW, and -actions for UEs that can not move to any of the indicated RATs to receive MBMS.
As will be appreciated, the present invention can find particular use in relation to MBMS mobiles terminals that can receive MBMS from several RATs (LTE/GSM, LTE/IJMTS, UMTS/GSM, and LTE/UMTS/GSM) or only from LTE RAT. In the case of terminals that can only receive MBMS from LTE, only a small subset

Claims (29)

1. A method of delivering MBMS content in a mobile radio communications network covered by a plurality of radio access technologies and populated by a plurality of mobile radio communication devices, at least some of which offer operation in accordance with more than one radio access technology, and the method including a step of offering a signal from the network to the said plurality of mobile radio communication devices to indicate a preferred radio access technology for delivery of an MBMS service and so as to allow for convergence of mobile radio communications devices to the said preferred radio access technology.
2. A method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the preferred radio access technology is notified to the plurality of mobile radio communications devices by means of an MBMS common control channel.
3. A method as claimed in Claim I or 2, wherein the indication of the preferred radio access technology also includes the provision of a related inter radio access technology re-selection parameter.
4. A method as claimed in Claim 3, wherein an inter radio access technology offset for application to cell ranking between a cell of the radio access technology whether it is provided and another given radio access technology is provided as the re-selection parameter.
5. A method as claimed in any one or more of Claims 1 to 4 and including the step of evaluating the number of radio communications devices in a cell, or a group of cells, of one radio access technology interested in a particular MBMS service and have, or do not have, the capability to converge to a preferred radio access technology, and (i) having the capability to operate with a given radio access technology and receive MBMS services within this radio access technology, or (ii) not having the capability to receive MBMS services within this given radio access technology, or not having the capability to receive MBMS services within another radio access technology than the one where this UE device is currently camped.
6. A method as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the said evaluating includes the identification of multi-RAT MBMS capability within the mobile radio communications devices, one of which relates to the preferred radio access technology.
7. A method as claimed in Claim 5 or 6 and wherein the evaluating includes the step of separate MBMS counting in cells belonging to each of the radio access technologies.
8. A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein the MBMS counting is initiated only for interested subscribers with UEs that are capable of receiving MBMS only in the current RAT and interested subscribers with legacy UEs that do not support the MBMS RAT convergence procedure.
9. A method as claimed in Claim 7 or 8 wherein the MBMS counting is initiated separately for subscribers with legacy UEs that do not support the MBMS RAT convergence procedure.
10. A method as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims wherein, as a further step, the network counts for subscribers with devices that are also capable of receiving MBMS in a particular RAT and of applying the RAT convergence procedure.
11. A method as claimed in any one or more of Claims 5 to 10, wherein the network is arranged to continue counting for subscribers with a device capable of receiving MBMS in a second RAT and supporting the MBMS RAT convergence procedure.
12. A method as claimed in any one of the proceeding claims, wherein the mobile radio communications devices that support the RAT convergence procedure can provide, in the response to a counting procedure, an indication of the other RATs with which they are capable of receiving the MBMS service.
13. A method as claimed in any one or more of Claims 5 to 12, and including the step of performing MBMS RAT convergence.
14. A method as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims including the step of obtaining, at a node that can perform counting, MBMS RAT convergence UE capability information concerning the devices arranged for receiving an MBMS service by way of another network node.
15. A method as claimed in Claim 1 and employing dedicated signalling to inform MBMS service availability and associated radio access technology on which the MBMS service is transmitted.
16. A mobile radio communications device arranged for receiving MBMS and for operation in accordance with a plurality of radio access technologies, and including means for switching between radio access technologies responsive to network signalling serving to indicate a preferred radio access technology for receipt of the MBMS.
17. A mobile radio communications device as claimed in Claim 16 and arranged to be responsive to network signalling arising in accordance with the method as claimed inanyoneormoreofClairns2to 15.
18. A mobile radio communications device means for providing a signal serving to identify the plurality of radio access technologies in respect of which the device is capable of receiving MBMS from.
19. A mobile radio communications network device for delivering MIBMS content in a mobile radio communications network covered by a plurality of radio access technologies populated by a plurality of mobile radio communications devices, at least some of which offer operation in accordance with more than one radio access technology and arranged for offering a signal to the said plurality of mobile radio communications devices serving to indicate a preferred radio access technology for delivery of the MBMS service, and so as to allow for convergence of the UE devices to the said preferred radio access technology.
20. A network device as claimed in Claim 19 and arranged to notify the said preferred radio access technology by means of an MBMS common control channel.
21. A network device as claimed in Claim 19 or 20, and arranged such that the offered signal includes an inter Radio access technology offset parameter serving to apply a cell ranking between a cell of the radio access technology whether it is provided and another given radio access technology.
22. A network device as claimed in Claim 19, 20 or 22 and arranged to perform a count procedure to identify those of the plurality of mobile radio communications devices that have a capability to support a particular radio access technology.
23. A network device as claimed in Claim 22 and arranged such that the MBMS counting can be first initiated only for subscribers with mobile radio communications devices that are capable of receiving MBMS only in the current RAT.
24. A network device as claimed in Claim 22 or 23, and arranged to identify subscribers with mobile radio communications devices that are also capable of receiving MBMS in a particular radio access technology and which is not the current radio access technology and are capable to apply the RAT convergence procedure.
25. A network device as claimed in any one or more of Claims 19 to 24 and arranged to offer signalling in accordance with a method as defined in any one or more ofC!aims2to 15.
26. A mobile radio communications system including a mobile radio communications device as defined in any one or more of Claims 16 to 18 and a mobile radio communications network device as defined in any one or more of Claims 19 to 25.
27. A method of delivering MBMS content in a mobile radio communications network substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.
28. A mobile radio communications device for MBMS and arranged to operate in accordance with a plurality of radio access technologies, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
29. A mobile radio communications network device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
GB0705718A 2007-03-26 2007-03-26 Indicating a preferred radio access technology for delivery of an MBMS service Withdrawn GB2448128A (en)

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