JP2008199258A - Method and device for multicast distribution from mobile station - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and device for multicast distribution of contents from mobile stations. <P>SOLUTION: A multicast distribution device BM-SC 14a authenticates a transmission mobile station UE 10a which will transmit a content, by using its UE identifier and in response to reception of the content from the authenticated mobile station UE 10a through a RAN 11, a SGSN 12, and a GGSN 13, and an MBMS function used to perform multicast distribution of the received content to reception mobile stations UE 10a.1 and 10a.2 through the GGSN 13, the SGSN 12, and the RAM 11. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a mobile communication system, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for performing multicast distribution.

  In recent years, CGM (Consumer Generated Media) such as blogs and Wikis has become widespread on the Internet, so that not only news and streaming content distributed by companies, but also content created easily by end users on the Internet. It can be viewed by the user.

  Most of the content of end users that are published is text data, but it is possible to share pictures and audio and video using services such as Flickr (registered trademark) and services such as Podcasting and Youtube (registered trademark). The number of end users who perform on-demand streaming is also increasing. In Japan, the use of text CGM such as blogs is increasing due to the ease of access to the Internet from mobile phones. Due to the high mobility, what happened on the spot is updated in real time. Also, usage methods such as browsing are increasing.

  A function called MBMS (Multimedia Broadband / Multicast Service) for multicast delivery of rich content from a network to a plurality of specific users has already been specified by 3GPP in mobile phones and mobile phone networks (4. Non-Patent Document 1). 1 and 4.2).

  FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing the architecture of MBMS. Here, for simplicity of explanation, each of the plurality of user terminals 10 includes a radio access network (RAN) 11, a SGSN (Serving GPRS Support Node) 12 that is a node that manages subscriber information in the area, and Can be connected to a BM-SC (Broadcast-Multicast Service Center) 14 through a gateway node GGSN (Gateway GPRS Support Node) 13, and the BM-SC 15 is a content provider (C / P: Content Provider) through the Internet 15. It is assumed that content is received / accumulated from 16 and multicast distribution of the content to specific user terminals 10.1 and 10.2.

  In MBMS, the BM-SC 14 requires the following three functions in communication with the C / P 16. (1) an authentication function for confirming the validity of C / P; (2) a function for receiving content-related information for notifying a user of a content list for multicast distribution; and (3) multicast distribution. This is a function for receiving content to be performed.

  Also, in Patent Document 1, content created by a creator terminal using a tool with a predetermined authentication function is stored in a distribution server, and the stored content is stored in the mobile phone in response to a request from another client terminal (mobile phone). A distribution system on the Internet that is provided and charged is disclosed (see paragraph 0010 of Patent Document 1). This creator terminal is configured by a computer device connected to the Internet, and connects music equipment such as an electronic keyboard instrument to supply music data to a distribution server (see paragraphs 0022-0024 of Patent Document 1). ).

3GPP TS 23.246 V6.10.0 (2006-06) Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-41999

  In the above conventional MBMS system, BM-SC delivers rich content such as photos, audio and video to mobile phones, but such content is provided connected to the Internet (or directly connected to BM-SC). The content provider C / P is provided with a C / P authentication function to confirm its validity. Similarly, in the content distribution system disclosed in Patent Document 1, a creator terminal connected to the Internet provides song data to a distribution server using an authoring tool with an authentication function.

  However, as described above, since the real-time update CGM is increasing in the mobile phone, it is considered that the end user has the real-time update CGM from the mobile phone as a potential need. In order to satisfy the needs of end users, a function for transmitting rich contents in real time from a mobile phone is required.

  However, the current MBMS described above does not have a function of providing content from a mobile phone and performing multicast distribution, and there is a technical problem to share CGM among mobile phone users. Similarly, the content distribution system disclosed in Patent Document 1 is not configured to provide content from a mobile phone to a distribution server.

  For this reason, conventionally, the mobile phone uses the multicast distribution system only on the side receiving the content distribution, and the content cannot be distributed from the mobile phone to another mobile phone.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for multicast distribution of contents from mobile stations.

  According to the present invention, a multicast distribution device authenticates a mobile station to transmit content, receives content from the authenticated mobile station, and distributes the multicast to other mobile stations. That is, the multicast distribution method according to the present invention determines whether or not to authenticate a transmitting mobile station that transmits content, and when the transmitting mobile station is authenticated, receives the content from the transmitting mobile station and transmits the transmitting mobile station. The content received from the station is multicast-distributed to the at least one mobile station. In particular, authentication of a transmitting mobile station is performed using a mobile station identifier used in the mobile communication network of the transmitting mobile station, for example, a terminal identifier used in a mobile phone network. Desirable from a viewpoint.

  Furthermore, the present inventor considers that a method of extending MBMS is efficient as a multicast implementation method for sharing CGM between mobile stations, and as a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the conventional content provider C in MBMS / P and BM-SC require authentication function, content related information notification function and content transmission function between mobile station and BM-SC, so that mobile station uses multicast distribution as C / P Make it possible.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, the multicast distribution device includes: an authentication unit that determines whether or not to authenticate a transmitting mobile station that transmits content; and when the transmitting mobile station is authenticated, Receiving means for receiving content; and multicast delivery means for multicast delivering content received from the transmitting mobile station to the at least one mobile station.

  According to an embodiment of the present invention, the receiving means has storage means for storing the content, and the multicast distribution means is stored in the storage means in response to a request from the at least one mobile station. Content can be multicast-delivered to the at least one mobile station.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the content received by the receiving means can be multicast distributed to the at least one mobile station in real time by the multicast distributing means.

  As described above, according to the present invention, by authenticating the transmitting mobile station in the same manner as the content provider C / P, the transmitted content is multicast distributed to other mobile stations via the multicast distribution device. Can do. In addition, since the multicast distribution device performs authentication using the mobile station identifier (mobile phone identifier) of the transmitting mobile station, it is not necessary to add a new user identifier in this service, and the mobile station connects to the mobile communication network. The same level of security as that used in authentication can be obtained.

  Hereinafter, in this specification, terms used in the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) are used as the names of each device and service, but these have the same configuration as 3GPP2, OMA (Open Mobile Alliance), etc. The present invention can also be applied to a multicast distribution service for stations.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an MBMS architecture for schematically explaining the operation of the multicast distribution method according to an embodiment of the present invention. Here, for simplicity of explanation, each of the plurality of mobile stations 10a includes a radio access network (RAN) 11, a SGSN (Serving GPRS Support Node) 12, which is a node that manages subscriber information in the area, and Suppose that it is possible to connect to a BM-SC (Broadcast-Multicast Service Center) 14a through a gateway node GGSN (Gateway GPRS Support Node) 13.

  The RAN 11 has a function of communicating with the mobile station UE by radio and a function of communicating with the SGSN 12 by wire or wireless. The SGSN 12 has a function of communicating with the GGSN 13 by wire or wireless. The GGSN 13 has a function of communicating with the BM-SC 14a by wire or wireless.

Further, the BM-SC 14a according to the present embodiment not only receives / stores content from a content provider (C / P: Content Provider) (not shown) but also receives content from an authenticated mobile station 10a as described later. / Can also be accumulated. The BM-SC 14a then multicasts the received / stored content to the specific mobile station in response to a request from the specific mobile station (here, the mobile stations 10a.1 and 10a.2). Hereinafter, the transmitting mobile station (10a) that transmits the content is referred to as “transmitting UE”, and the mobile stations (10a.1 and 10a.2) that receive the multicast distributed content from the multicast distribution device BM-SC 14a are referred to as “receiving UE”. Abbreviated.

  As already mentioned, in MBMS, BM-SC can communicate with C / P by (1) an authentication function for confirming the validity of C / P; (2) a content list for multicast delivery to the user A function of receiving content-related information for notifying the user; and (3) a function of receiving content for multicast distribution. BM-SC14a by this embodiment implement | achieves the same function also in communication with transmission UE10a.

  Although only one RAN11, SGSN12, and GGSN13 are shown here, multicast distribution from the BM-SC 14a to a plurality of receiving UEs (here, 10a.1 and 10a.2) Since it is a function, the present invention is applicable even when the RAN 11, SGSN 12, and GGSN 13 are configured by a plurality of units.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the mobile station UE in the present embodiment. Here, only the part relevant to the present invention is schematically shown. The mobile station UE performs radio communication with a base station of the RAN 11 (not shown) through the transmission / reception unit 101. The control unit 102 includes an MBMS_UE_Context setting control unit 103, and controls the transmission / reception unit 101, the UE identifier memory 104, the multicast distribution content memory 105, and the user interface 106. As will be described later, the MBMS_UE_Context setting control unit 103 makes a UE Context setting request to the BM-SC 14a using the mobile station identifier stored in the UE identifier memory 104. The mobile station identifier is an identifier used in the mobile communication network.

The mobile station UE in this embodiment has a function of performing wireless communication with the RAN 11, a function of communicating with the SGSN 12 via the RAN 11, a function of communicating with the GGSN 13 via the SGSN 12, and a communication with the multicast distribution device BM-SC 14a. , A function for creating and recording content to be distributed by multicast, and a function for reproducing or recording content distributed by multicast. However, a mobile station UE that only receives content may not have a function of creating content to be multicast distributed.

  The user can create content using the user interface 106 such as the operation unit, the display unit, and the camera function of the mobile station UE, store the content in the content memory 105, and transmit the content to the BM-SC 14a according to a procedure described later. The control unit 102 including the MBMS_UE_Context setting control unit 103 can realize the above functions by executing a necessary program on a program control processor (so-called computer).

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the BM-SC in the present embodiment. Here, only the part relevant to the present invention is schematically shown. The BM-SC 14a has an interface 110 connected to the GGSN 13 and an interface 115 connected to the content provider C / P 16. The control unit 111 of the BM-SC 14a authenticates the transmission UE or C / P 16 using the content transmission source UE authentication unit 112 and the C / P authentication unit 113, and receives from the authenticated transmission source as described below. The stored content is stored in the memory 114 or transmitted to the receiving UE as it is. The control unit 111 can realize the above functions by executing a necessary program on a program control processor (so-called computer). Thus, for example, the content created by the user at the transmission UE, which is a mobile phone, is multicast distributed from the multicast distribution device BM-SC 14a to the reception UE, and is received and reproduced by the reception UE.

  In the present embodiment, the following communication is performed between the BM-SC 14a and the mobile station UE in order to realize the C / P16 function in the mobile station UE such as a mobile phone. That is, the transmission UE 10a performs an authentication process with the multicast distribution device BM-SC 14a via the RAN 11, the SGSN 12, and the GGSN 13. After the authentication is completed, the transmission UE 10a notifies the BM-SC 14a of the related information on the multicast distribution content via the RAN 11, the SGSN 12, and the GGSN 13, and then transmits the multicast distribution content. As a result, the receiving UE 10a. 1 and 10a. 2 can receive multicast distribution from the BM-SC 14a as an existing MBMS function. Examples of the present invention will be specifically described below.

The multicast distribution according to the first embodiment of the present invention is applied to an on-demand distribution system, and after the multicast distribution content transmitted from the transmission UE 10a is recorded by the BM-SC 14a, the reception UE 10a. 1 and / or 10a. In response to the request from 2, multicast distribution content is distributed. Hereinafter, a case where the content of the transmitting UE is multicast-delivered on demand to at least one receiving UE will be described.
FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram for explaining a multicast distribution method according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The content of the transmitting UE is multicast distributed to the receiving UE by the following procedure.

1.1) Authentication Process First, in order for the transmitting UE to transmit content to the BM-SC 14a, authentication at the BM-SC 14a is required. The MBMS_UE_Context setting control unit 103 of the transmitting UE reads the mobile station identifier (here, the mobile phone identifier used in the mobile phone network) from the UE identifier memory 104, and issues an MBMS_UE_Context setting request to the GGSN 13 via the RAN 11 and the GSN 12 ( S201).

  The GGSN 13 receives the MBMS_UE_Context setting request from the transmitting UE and makes an MBMS_UE authentication request to the BM-SC 14a (S202). This MBMS_UE authentication request includes the mobile station identifier of the MBMS_UE_Context setting request.

  When receiving the MBMS_UE authentication request from the GGSN 13, the control unit 111 of the BM-SC 14a passes the mobile station identifier included in the MBMS_UE authentication request to the content transmission source UE authentication unit 112 to perform UE authentication of the transmission UE ( S203). That is, in authenticating the content transmission source UE, the mobile station identifier of the transmission UE is used.

  When receiving the authentication result from the content transmission source UE authentication unit 112, the control unit 111 of the BM-SC 14a returns an MBMS_UE authentication response to the GGSN 13 (S204). This MBMS_UE authentication response includes an authentication result of UE authentication.

  Upon receiving the MBMS_UE authentication response from the BM-SC 14a, the GGSN 13 returns an MBMS_UE_Context setting response to the transmitting UE (S205). This MBMS_UE_Context setting response includes the authentication result of the MBMS_UE authentication response.

  The transmission UE receives the MBMS_UE_Context setting response from the GGSN 13 (S205), and if the authentication result is “normal”, the transmission UE proceeds to the next process.

1.2) Recording of content information When the transmitting UE completes the authentication process with the BM-SC 14a and is normally authenticated, the transmitting UE subsequently notifies information related to multicast distribution content (hereinafter referred to as “content information”) and Transmits multicast distribution content.

  If the PDP Context Activation is not performed with the GGSN 13 at this time, the control unit 102 of the transmitting UE executes PDP Context Activation (S206), and when the PDP Context Activation is completed, the content information is transmitted to the BM-SC 14a. Notification is made (S207). When PDP Context Activation is not performed, if the MBMS_UE_Context setting response (S205) from the GGSN 13 is normal authentication, the content information is notified to the BM-SC 14a (S207).

  When receiving the content information from the authenticated transmission UE, the control unit 111 of the BM-SC 14a records it in the memory 114 (S208), and returns a content information reception response to the transmission UE (S209).

1.3) Recording and transmission of content Upon receiving the content information reception response from the BM-SC 14a, the control unit 102 of the UE transmits multicast distribution content to the BM-SC 14a (S210). When the multicast distribution content is received, the control unit 111 of the BM-SC 14a associates the already received content information with the multicast distribution content and stores them in the memory 114 (S211). When the multicast distribution content recording is completed, a content reception response is returned to the transmitting UE (S212).

The control unit 102 of the transmission UE receives the content reception response from the BM-SC 14a. If the PDP Context is not necessary, the control unit 102 executes PDP Context Deactivation (S213) and makes an MBMS_UE_Context release request to the GGSN 13 (S214). When PDP Context Deactivation is not performed, an MBMS_UE_Context release request is made to GGSN 13 in response to a content reception response (S214).

Upon receiving the MBMS_UE_Context release request from the transmission UE, the GGSN 13 releases MBMS_UE_Context and returns an MBMS_UE_Context release response to the transmission UE (S215).
Through the above procedure, the multicast UE content for transmission UE is recorded in the memory 114 of the BM-SC 14a.

1.4) Multicast delivery (MBMS)
Subsequently, a procedure in which the receiving UE receives the multicast distribution content list and the multicast distribution content will be described.

  First, the control unit 102 of the receiving UE executes MBMS Context Activation with the BM-SC 14a (S216). MBMS Bearer for receiving multicast distribution from the BM-SC 14a is established by MBMS Context Activation.

  The control unit 102 of the receiving UE receives the multicast distribution content list from the BM-SC 14a (S217). The content list for multicast distribution may be PUSH transmitted from the BM-SC 14a, or may be PULL transmitted by a transmission request from the receiving UE. Further, since the multicast distribution content list can be performed without using MBMS Bearer, it may be before or after MBMS Context Activation (S216).

  Subsequently, the control unit 102 of the receiving UE receives the multicast distribution content from the BM-SC 14a (S218). Multicast distribution content reception includes PUSH transmission from the BM-SC 14a and PULL transmission when the receiving UE requests transmission of content selected from the multicast distribution content list.

  The control unit 102 of the receiving UE executes MBMS Context Deactivation when the multicast distribution content reception is completed or when the multicast distribution content reception is interrupted due to other factors (S219).

  By the above procedure, the multicast delivery content of the transmitting UE is multicast delivered to the receiving UE. Steps S216 to S219 are normal MBMS functions.

1.5) Effect As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the content transmitted from the transmitting UE is recorded in the BM-SC 14a and is multicast-distributed to the receiving UE using the normal MBMS function. The

  At that time, since the BM-SC 14a performs authentication using the mobile station identifier (mobile phone identifier) of the transmitting UE, it is not necessary to add a new user identifier in this service, and the mobile station connects to the mobile communication network. The same level of security as that used in authentication can be obtained.

  The multicast distribution according to the second embodiment of the present invention is applied to the real-time distribution system, and the multicast distribution content transmitted from the transmitting UE 10a is received in real time via the BM-SC 14a. 1 and / or 10a. Multicast distribution to 2.

FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram showing up to content list delivery in the multicast delivery method according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram showing up to content multicast delivery in the multicast delivery method according to the second embodiment of the invention. It is. Here, an example is given of a case where the transmitting UE gives advance notice of content information related to multicast distribution content and multicasts the corresponding multicast distribution content in real time after a predetermined time has elapsed.

2.1) Authentication process In order for the transmitting UE to transmit content information to the BM-SC 14a, authentication in the BM-SC 14a is required as described in the first embodiment. Can be sent. Therefore, the authentication process (S301 to S305) in FIG. 6 is the same as the authentication process (S201 to S205) in the first embodiment of FIG.

2.2) Recording of Content Information When the transmitting UE completes the authentication process with the BM-SC 14a and is normally authenticated, the transmitting UE subsequently notifies notification of information related to multicast distribution content (hereinafter referred to as “content information”). Do.

  If the PDP Context Activation is not performed with the GGSN 13 at this time, the control unit 102 of the transmitting UE executes the PDP Context Activation (S306). When the PDP Context Activation is completed, the content information is transmitted to the BM-SC 14a. Notification is made (S307). When PDP Context Activation is not performed, if the MBMS_UE_Context setting response (S305) from the GGSN 13 is normal authentication, the content information is notified to the BM-SC 14a (S307).

  When receiving the content information from the authenticated transmission UE, the control unit 111 of the BM-SC 14a records it in the memory 114 (S308), and returns a content information reception response to the transmission UE (S309).

2.3) Notification of Content List The control unit 102 of the transmitting UE receives a content reception response from the BM-SC 14a, and if PDP Context is unnecessary, executes PDP Context Deactivation (S310) and sends an MBMS_UE_Context release request to the GGSN 13 Perform (S311). When PDP Context Deactivation is not performed, an MBMS_UE_Context release request is made to the GGSN 13 in response to a content reception response (S311). Upon receiving the MBMS_UE_Context release request from the transmission UE, the GGSN 13 releases MBMS_UE_Context and returns an MBMS_UE_Context release response to the transmission UE (S312).

  Subsequently, the control unit 102 of the receiving UE executes MBMS Context Activation with the BM-SC 14a (S313). MBMS Bearer for receiving multicast distribution from the BM-SC 14a is established by MBMS Context Activation.

  The control unit 102 of the receiving UE receives the multicast distribution content list from the BM-SC 14a (S314). The content list for multicast distribution may be PUSH transmitted from the BM-SC 14a, or may be PULL transmitted by a transmission request from the receiving UE. Further, since the multicast distribution content list can be performed without using MBMS Bearer, it may be before or after MBMS Context Activation.

  Content distribution time can be specified in the multicast distribution content list. Therefore, the user of the receiving UE waits until the content distribution time.

2.2) Real-time distribution of content When a certain time elapses and the content distribution time comes, the transmitting UE transmits the content to the BM-SC 14a. At that time, as described in the first embodiment, authentication by the BM-SC 14a is required, and if the authentication is successful, the content can be transmitted. Accordingly, the authentication process (S315 to S319) in FIG. 7 is the same as the authentication process (S201 to S205) in the first embodiment of FIG.

  In FIG. 7, when the authentication with the BM-SC 14a is completed, the control unit 102 of the transmitting UE transmits the content for multicast distribution. If PDP Context Activation is not performed at this time, PDP Context Activation is executed ( S320). When the PDP Context Activation is completed, the control unit 102 of the transmission UE transmits the multicast distribution content to the BM-SC 14a (S321). When PDP Context Activation is not performed, if the MBMS_UE_Context setting response received from the GGSN 13 indicates normal authentication, the control unit 102 of the transmitting UE transmits multicast distribution content to the BM-SC 14a (S321).

  When the MBMS Bearer established by MBMS Context Activation is open, the control unit 102 of the receiving UE executes MBMS Context Activation (S322). MBMS Bearer for receiving multicast distribution from the BM-SC 14a is established by MBMS Context Activation. When receiving the multicast distribution content from the transmitting UE, the control unit 111 of the BM-SC 14a transmits the multicast distribution content to the receiving UE (S323).

  Note that MBMS Context Activation of the receiving UE may be performed manually by an end user, and is not necessarily performed at the distribution time specified in the recording of multicast distribution content information (S308). Therefore, there is a possibility that MBMS Context Activation (S322) and multicast distribution content transmission (S323) are mixed.

  Through the above procedure, the content for multicast delivery of the transmitting UE is multicast delivered in real time to the receiving UE via the BM-SC 14a.

  When multicast distribution is normally completed in this way, or when multicast distribution is interrupted due to a transmitting UE or other factors, the control unit 102 of the receiving UE executes MBMS Context Deactivation (S324). When the transmission of the multicast distribution content to the receiving UE is completed, or when the multicast distribution content transmission is interrupted due to other factors, the control unit 111 of the BM-SC 14a returns a multicast distribution content reception response to the transmitting UE ( S325).

  When receiving the multicast distribution content reception response from the BM-SC 14a, the control unit 102 of the transmission UE executes PDP Context Deactivation if the PDP Context is unnecessary (S326). When the PDP Context Deactivation is completed, an MBMS_UE_Context release request is sent to the GGSN 13 (S327). Alternatively, when PDP Context Deactivation (S326) is not performed, an MBMS_UE_Context release request is made to GGSN 135 in response to a multicast distribution content reception response (S325) (S327).

  Upon receiving the MBMS_UE_Context release request from the transmission UE, the GGSN 13 releases MBMS_UE_Context and returns an MBMS_UE_Context release response to the transmission UE (S328).

  With the above procedure, the content of the transmitting UE is multicast distributed in real time to the receiving UE via the BM-SC 14a. Note that steps S313 to S314 and S322 to S324 are normal MBMS functions.

2.4) Effect As described above, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the content transmitted from the transmitting UE passes through the BM-SC 14a, so that it is real-time to the receiving UE using the normal MBMS function. Will be multicast. Further, by separating the phase for recording the content information for multicast distribution in the BM-SC 14a and the phase for performing multicast distribution from the transmitting UE, the multicast distribution is performed after announcing the multicast distribution time to the receiving UE. Is possible.

  Similarly to the first embodiment, since the BM-SC 14a performs authentication using the mobile station identifier (mobile phone identifier) of the transmitting UE, it is not necessary to add a new user identifier in this service. The same level of security as authentication used when connecting to a mobile communication network can be obtained.

  The present invention is applicable to a mobile communication system that supports multicast distribution, its mobile station, and multicast distribution apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the architecture of MBMS. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an MBMS architecture for schematically explaining an operation of a multicast distribution method according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of the mobile station UE in this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of BM-SC in this embodiment. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating the multicast delivery method by 1st Example of this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows to the content list delivery in the multicast delivery method by 2nd Example of this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows to the multicast delivery of the content in the multicast delivery method by 2nd Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

10a mobile station 11 radio access network RAN
12 SGSN
13 GGSN
14a Multicast distribution device BM-SC
15 Internet 16 Content provider C / P
110 Interface 111 Control Unit 112 Content Source UE Authentication Unit 113 C / P Authentication Unit 114 Memory 115 Interface

Claims (11)

In a method for distributing content from a multicast distribution device to at least one mobile station via a mobile communication network,
Determine whether to authenticate the sending mobile station that sends the content,
When the transmitting mobile station is authenticated, it receives content from the transmitting mobile station,
Multicast delivery of content received from the transmitting mobile station to the at least one mobile station;
A multicast delivery method characterized by the above.   The multicast delivery method according to claim 1, wherein the authentication of the transmitting mobile station is performed using a mobile station identifier used in the mobile communication network of the transmitting mobile station. When the transmitting mobile station is authenticated, it receives content information about the content to be transmitted from the transmitting mobile station,
Receiving the content from the transmitting mobile station after receiving the content information;
The multicast distribution method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that   The multicast distribution method according to claim 1, wherein the multicast distribution device has a BM-SC (Broadcast-Multicast Service Center) function of MBMS (Multimedia Broadband / Multicast Service). In an apparatus for delivering content to at least one mobile station via a mobile communication network,
Authentication means for determining whether or not to authenticate a transmitting mobile station that transmits content;
When the transmitting mobile station is authenticated, receiving means for receiving content from the transmitting mobile station;
Multicast distribution means for multicast distribution of content received from the transmitting mobile station to the at least one mobile station;
A multicast distribution apparatus comprising:   6. The multicast distribution apparatus according to claim 5, wherein authentication of the transmitting mobile station is performed using a mobile station identifier used in the mobile communication network of the transmitting mobile station.   The receiving means has storage means for storing the content, and the multicast distribution means sends the content stored in the storage means to the at least one mobile station in response to a request from the at least one mobile station. The multicast distribution apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, wherein multicast distribution is performed.   The multicast distribution apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the content received by the reception unit is multicast distributed to the at least one mobile station in real time by the multicast distribution unit.   The multicast distribution apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the multicast distribution unit has a BM-SC (Broadcast-Multicast Service Center) function of MBMS (Multimedia Broadband / Multicast Service). In a system for distributing content from a multicast distribution apparatus having a BM-SC (Broadcast-Multicast Service Center) function of MBMS (Multimedia Broadband / Multicast Service) to at least one mobile station via a mobile communication network,
A transmitting mobile station that transmits content includes a setting unit that sets an MBMS UE Context with the multicast distribution device,
The multicast distribution device is:
Authentication means for determining whether to authenticate the transmitting mobile station;
When the transmitting mobile station is authenticated, receiving means for receiving content from the transmitting mobile station;
Multicast distribution means for multicast distribution of content received from the transmitting mobile station to the at least one mobile station;
A multicast distribution system comprising: An apparatus for delivering content to at least one mobile station via a mobile communication network, to a computer,
Determining whether to authenticate a transmitting mobile station that transmits content;
When the transmitting mobile station is authenticated, receiving content from the transmitting mobile station;
Multicasting the content received from the transmitting mobile station to the at least one mobile station;
A program for running

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