JP4832957B2 - Arrival confirmation type broadcast distribution method and broadcast distribution server - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an arrival confirmation type broadcast distribution method, a mobile terminal, and a broadcast distribution server used for a broadcast type information distribution service in a mobile communication system.

  A cell broadcast service (CBS) is defined by a 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) standardized specification as a broadcast type information distribution service. In the cell broadcast service, each base station uses a specific radio channel (hereinafter referred to as “broadcast channel”) for a cell that is a communicable area and uses a plurality of types of broadcast information (hereinafter referred to as “broadcast”) corresponding to each cell. Information "). Specifically, the broadcast distribution server creates broadcast information including guidance information and weather forecasts corresponding to each cell, and distributes the created broadcast information to mobile terminals in the service area at a predetermined timing.

On the other hand, in addition to the broadcast channel, a bidirectional channel for ensuring communication quality for the broadcast channel is provided, and the mobile station uses a bidirectional channel uplink to determine whether there is an error in the received packet. Has been proposed (see Patent Document 1). In response to a retransmission request from the mobile terminal, the base station retransmits a part of the packet transmitted on the broadcast channel using the bidirectional channel downlink.
JP 2004-128563 A

  The above-described technique in which the base station retransmits broadcast information in units of packets can be handled as long as there are packet errors and missing packets in the packets constituting the broadcast information. However, it cannot cope with the case where the mobile terminal is outside the service area or the reception of broadcast information for one time or a plurality of times becomes impossible because the power of the mobile terminal is off.

  In other words, when the mobile terminal cannot receive broadcast information itself, the bidirectional channel cannot be used, so the network side confirms whether the mobile terminal actually received each piece of broadcast information. Can not. Therefore, it has been difficult to guarantee a reduction in usage fee or retransmission of broadcast information to a mobile terminal that has missed reception of broadcast information.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an arrival confirmation type broadcast distribution method, a mobile terminal, and a broadcast distribution server that can reliably detect reception failure of broadcast information.

  In order to achieve the above object, a first feature of the present invention is an arrival confirmation type broadcast distribution method for distributing broadcast information from a broadcast distribution server to mobile terminals in a service area, the broadcast distribution server comprising: A sequence number indicating the distribution order of broadcast information is assigned to the broadcast information, the broadcast information to which the sequence number is assigned is distributed to the mobile terminal, the mobile terminal receives the broadcast information, and the received broadcast information sequence The step of storing the number, and the mobile terminal determines the continuity between the sequence number of the previously received broadcast information and the sequence number of the newly received broadcast information, and the unreachable broadcast according to the determination result Detecting a distribution and the sequence number, the mobile terminal, and summarized in that a reach-confirmed broadcast distribution method comprising the step of notifying the sequence number of the non-arrival of the broadcast information to the broadcast distribution server.

  According to this feature, the broadcast distribution server can reliably detect reception failure of broadcast information.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the arrival confirmation type broadcast distribution method according to the first aspect, when the broadcast distribution server distributes the broadcast information, the distributed broadcast information is associated with the sequence number. A step of updating the distribution history, and a step in which the broadcast distribution server specifies the broadcast information that has been distributed associated with the sequence number notified by the mobile terminal as unreachable broadcast information based on the distribution history. This is the gist.

  According to this feature, the broadcast distribution server can identify broadcast information that has been missed.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the arrival confirmation type broadcast distribution method according to the second aspect, the broadcast distribution server specifies a billing server that manages a usage fee for a broadcast information distribution service for each mobile terminal. The present invention further includes a step of transmitting a charge reduction request for requesting a reduction in usage charge for the broadcast information that has not been reached.

  According to this feature, it is possible to reduce the usage fee for a mobile terminal that has failed to receive broadcast information.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the arrival confirmation broadcast distribution method according to the second or third aspect, the broadcast distribution server transmits the specified unreachable broadcast information to the mobile terminal by unicast. The gist further includes a step.

  According to this feature, it is possible to retransmit broadcast information to a mobile terminal that has failed to receive broadcast information.

  A fifth feature of the present invention is a mobile terminal that receives broadcast information distributed in a service area from a broadcast distribution server, and is a sequence number that is given to the broadcast information by the broadcast distribution server and indicates the distribution order of the broadcast information Continuity between the sequence number storage unit storing the sequence number of the previously received broadcast information and the sequence number of the newly received broadcast information, and the unreachable broadcast information and its sequence number are determined according to the determination result The gist is that the mobile terminal includes a continuity determination unit to detect and a sequence number notification unit that notifies a broadcast distribution server of a sequence number of unreachable broadcast information.

  A sixth feature of the present invention is a broadcast distribution server that distributes broadcast information to mobile terminals in a service area, and assigns a sequence number indicating the distribution order of broadcast information to the broadcast information. A broadcast information distribution unit that distributes the given broadcast information to the mobile terminal, a distribution history update unit that updates a distribution history that associates the broadcast information that has been distributed and its sequence number when the broadcast information is distributed, The sequence number of unreachable broadcast information detected by the mobile terminal based on sequence number continuity is associated with the communication interface unit that receives from the mobile terminal and the sequence number notified by the mobile terminal based on the distribution history. Arrangement The already broadcast information, and summarized in that a broadcast distribution server and a non-arrival information specifying unit for specifying a broadcast information unreached.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the broadcast distribution server according to the sixth aspect, a billing server that manages a usage fee for a broadcast information distribution service for each mobile terminal is provided for the specified unreachable broadcast information. The gist of the present invention is to further include a charge reduction requesting unit that transmits a charge reduction request for requesting a reduction in usage charge.

  The gist of the eighth feature of the present invention is that the broadcast information distribution unit transmits the specified unreachable broadcast information to the mobile terminal by unicast.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the arrival confirmation type | mold broadcast delivery method, mobile terminal, and broadcast delivery server which can detect the reception omission of broadcast information reliably can be provided.

  Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the description of the drawings in the following embodiments, the same or similar parts are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals.

(Configuration of mobile communication system)
As shown in FIG. 1A, a mobile communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes mobile terminals 1 and 2, a core network (CN) 100 that performs position control, call control, service control, and the like, And a radio access network (RAN) 200 for controlling and terminating the technology. Here, mobile phone terminals are illustrated as the mobile terminals 1 and 2, but a PDA or the like having a wireless communication function may be used.

  The radio access network 200 includes base stations 201 and 202. Each of the base stations 201 and 202 constitutes a cell that is a communicable area, and an area combining the cells is referred to as a “service area”. The mobile terminals 1 and 2 are connected to the base stations 201 and 202, respectively, and a broadcast link is set.

  The core network 100 includes a broadcast distribution server 101 that distributes broadcast information to the mobile terminals 1 and 2 in the service area, and a billing server 102 that manages a usage fee for the broadcast information distribution service for each mobile terminal 1 and 2. With.

  The broadcast distribution server 101 creates broadcast information including guidance information and weather forecast corresponding to each cell, and moves the created broadcast information within the service area via the network such as the core network 100 and the radio access network 200. Deliver to terminals 1 and 2.

  The broadcast distribution server 101 assigns a sequence number indicating the distribution order of broadcast information to the broadcast information, and distributes the broadcast information to which the sequence number is assigned to the mobile terminals 1 and 2.

  The mobile terminals 1 and 2 detect unreachable unreachable broadcast information by determining the continuity between the sequence number of the broadcast information received last time and the sequence number of the newly received broadcast information.

(Reach confirmation type broadcast delivery method)
Next, the arrival confirmation type broadcast distribution method used in the wireless communication system of FIG. 1A will be described in detail with reference to FIG. However, since the mobile terminals 1 and 2 have the same configuration, the mobile terminal 2 will be described and the description of the mobile terminal 1 will be omitted. Also, a case will be described in which the broadcast distribution server 101 performs three broadcast distributions at regular time intervals and the mobile terminal 2 cannot receive the second broadcast distribution.

  In step S101 of FIG. 1B, the broadcast distribution server 101 assigns the sequence number # 1 to the broadcast information, and distributes the broadcast information assigned the sequence number to the mobile terminal 2.

  In step S102, the broadcast distribution server 101 associates the broadcast information distributed in step S101 with its sequence number # 1 and adds it to the distribution history.

  In step S103, the mobile terminal 2 receives the broadcast information distributed in step S101, and stores the sequence number # 1 of the received broadcast information.

  In step S104, the broadcast distribution server 101 assigns the sequence number # 2 to the broadcast information, and distributes the broadcast information assigned the sequence number # 2 to the mobile terminal 2. However, since the mobile terminal 2 is outside the service area, the broadcast information has not reached the mobile terminal 2.

  In step S105, the broadcast distribution server 101 associates the broadcast information distributed in step S104 with its sequence number # 2 and adds it to the distribution history.

  In step S106, the broadcast distribution server 101 assigns the sequence number # 3 to the broadcast information, and distributes the broadcast information assigned the sequence number # 3 to the mobile terminal 2.

  In step S107, the broadcast distribution server 101 associates the broadcast information distributed in step S106 with its sequence number # 3 and adds it to the distribution history.

  In step S108, the mobile terminal 2 receives the broadcast information distributed in step S106, and stores the sequence number # 3 of the received broadcast information.

  In step S109, the mobile terminal 2 determines continuity of sequence numbers. Here, since the sequence number # 1 of the previously received broadcast information and the sequence number # 3 of the newly received broadcast information are discontinuous, the mobile terminal 2 determines that there is unreachable broadcast information. Here, it is determined that the broadcast information indicated by sequence number # 2 between sequence numbers # 1 and # 3 has not been reached.

  In step S <b> 110, the mobile terminal 2 transmits an unreachable notification including the sequence number # 2 of unreachable broadcast information to the broadcast distribution server 101. The non-arrival notification includes, for example, a terminal identifier (terminal ID) that uniquely identifies the mobile terminal 2 in addition to the sequence number # 2.

  In step S111, the broadcast distribution server 101 uses the distribution history updated in step S107 as the unreachable broadcast information that has been distributed corresponding to the sequence number # 2 notified by the mobile terminal 2. Identify. As a result, the broadcast information distributed in step S104 is specified as unreachable broadcast information.

  In step S112, the broadcast distribution server 101 transmits the unreachable broadcast information specified in step S111 to the mobile terminal 2 by unicast. Note that the broadcast information transmitted by unicast includes the sequence number # 2 notified from the mobile terminal 2 in step S110. As a result, the mobile terminal 2 can confirm that the unreachable broadcast information has been retransmitted.

  In step S <b> 113, the broadcast distribution server 101 transmits a charge reduction request for requesting a reduction in usage charge for unreachable broadcast information to the accounting server 102. This fee reduction request includes, for example, the terminal ID of the mobile terminal 2 notified in step S110. Note that step S113 may be executed before step S112.

  In step S114, the accounting server 102 reduces the usage fee for the mobile terminal 2. For example, the billing server 102 manages the usage fee for the broadcast information distribution service in association with the terminal ID, and reduces the usage fee associated with the terminal ID notified in step S113.

  As described above, according to the arrival confirmation type broadcast distribution method according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the usage fee and retransmit the broadcast information to the mobile terminal 2 that has missed the reception of the broadcast information. Become.

(Broadcast distribution server configuration)
An example of the functional configuration of the broadcast distribution server 101 is shown in FIG. The broadcast distribution server 101 includes a communication interface unit (hereinafter “communication IF unit”) 603, a distributed information storage unit 604, a broadcast information distribution unit 605, and an input / output interface unit (hereinafter “input / output IF unit”) 606. , A distribution history update unit 607, an unreached information identification unit 608, and a charge reduction request unit 609. The broadcast distribution server is configured by a CPU (not shown) and hardware such as a storage device (ROM, RAM, and HDD), and the CPU executes a program stored in the storage device to distribute broadcast information. Each function of the unit 605, the distribution history update unit 607, the unreached information identification unit 608, and the charge reduction request unit 609 is executed.

  The communication IF unit 603 inputs and outputs various types of information with the core network 100. The input / output IF unit 606 includes, for example, an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse, a display device, and the like. The distributed information storage unit 604 is configured by an HDD, for example, and stores distributed broadcast information. The distribution history storage unit 602 is configured by an HDD, for example, and stores a distribution history.

  The broadcast information distribution unit 605 adds a sequence number to the broadcast information, and distributes the broadcast information with the sequence number to the mobile terminals 1 and 2 via the communication IF unit 603.

  The distribution history update unit 607 updates the distribution history stored in the distribution history storage unit 602 when the broadcast information distribution unit 605 distributes broadcast information. As an example, as shown in FIG. 2B, the distribution history has a configuration in which a distributed sequence number is associated with a storage position in the distributed information storage unit 604 of distributed broadcast information.

  The communication IF unit 603 receives a non-reaching notification including a terminal ID and a sequence number from a mobile terminal that has been missed. The communication IF unit 603 transfers the non-reaching notification to the non-reaching information specifying unit 608 and the charge reduction request unit 609.

  Based on the distribution history stored in the distribution history storage unit 602, the unreached information specifying unit 608 specifies the broadcast information that has been distributed that is associated with the sequence number included in the unreachable notification as unreachable broadcast information. . The specified broadcast information is acquired from the distributed information storage unit 604 and transferred to the broadcast information distribution unit 605.

  The broadcast information distribution unit 605 transmits the broadcast information acquired from the distributed information storage unit 604 to the mobile terminal indicated by the terminal ID included in the non-reaching notification by unicast.

  Further, the fee reduction request unit 609 requests the charging server 102 to reduce the usage fee for the unreachable broadcast information based on the non-reaching notification.

(Configuration of mobile terminal)
Next, a functional configuration example of the mobile terminal 2 is shown in FIG. The mobile terminal 2 includes an antenna 500, a duplexer 501, a transmission unit 502, a reception unit 503, a control unit 504, a user data processing unit 505, a continuity determination unit 506, a sequence number storage unit 507, A sequence number notification unit 508, an input / output IF unit 509, and a broadcast information storage unit 510 are provided. The mobile terminal 2 is configured by a CPU (not shown) and hardware such as a storage device (ROM, RAM). The CPU executes a program stored in the storage device, so that the control unit 504 and the user Each function of the data processing unit 505, the continuity determination unit 506, and the sequence number notification unit 508 is executed.

  The sequence number storage unit 507 stores the sequence number of the broadcast information distributed by the broadcast distribution server 101 and received by the mobile terminal 2. The broadcast information storage unit 510 stores the received broadcast information.

  The continuity determination unit 506 determines continuity between the sequence number stored in the sequence number storage unit 507 and the sequence number of the newly received broadcast information. If it is continuous, it is determined that there is no unreachable broadcast information. If it is discontinuous, it is determined that there is unreachable broadcast information.

  The sequence number notification unit 508 transmits an unreachable notification including the sequence number of unreachable broadcast information to the broadcast distribution server 101.

  Note that the input IF unit 509 includes, for example, an input device such as a microphone, a keypad, and a scroll button, and an output device such as a speaker and a display device.

  The duplexer 501 transmits the transmission signal from the transmission unit 502 to the antenna 500 and transmits the reception signal from the antenna 500 to the reception unit 503.

  The reception unit 503 includes, for example, a reception RF unit that down-converts a reception signal, a despreading unit that despreads the downconverted reception signal, and a demodulation unit that demodulates the despread reception signal. The demodulated data is sent to the control unit 504, the user data processing unit 505, and the like.

  On the other hand, transmission data transmitted from the control unit 504 and the user data processing unit 505 to the base station 202 is transmitted to the transmission unit 502. The transmission unit 502 includes a modulation unit that modulates transmission data, a spreading unit that spreads the modulated transmission data, and a transmission RF unit that up-converts the spread transmission data and transmits it as a transmission signal. The transmission signal is transmitted to the base station 202 via the duplexer 501 and the antenna 500.

(Concrete example)
Next, a specific operation example of the mobile communication system in FIG. 1A will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 4 shows a state in which broadcast information assigned with sequence number # 0020348 is distributed at 5:45 on March 31. In addition, it is assumed that the mobile terminals 1 and 2 have previously received the broadcast information assigned the sequence number # 0020347.

  Broadcast information from the broadcast distribution server 101 is transmitted via the base stations 201 and 202 through the broadcast link and received by the mobile terminals 1 and 2, respectively. Broadcast distribution server 101 adds sequence number # 0020348 to the distribution history.

  The mobile terminals 1 and 2 determine whether or not the sequence number # 0020347 and the sequence number # 0020348 are continuous. Here, since the sequence numbers are continuous, it is determined that there is no reception omission. In addition, the mobile terminals 1 and 2 store the received sequence number # 0020348.

  Next, FIG. 5 shows a state where broadcast information assigned with sequence number # 0020349 is distributed at 11:45 on March 31. Broadcast distribution server 101 adds sequence number # 0020349 to the distribution history. Similar to FIG. 4, the mobile terminal 1 has received the broadcast information (# 0020349) and has completed the sequence number check. On the other hand, since the mobile terminal 2 is out of the service area (out of service area), it fails to receive the broadcast information (# 0020349).

  Next, FIG. 6 shows a state in which the broadcast information assigned with the sequence number # 0020350 is distributed at 17:45 on March 31. Broadcast distribution server 101 adds sequence number # 0020350 to the distribution history. Similar to FIG. 5, the mobile terminal 1 has received the broadcast information (# 0020350) and has completed the sequence number check. On the other hand, since the previously received sequence number is # 0020348, the mobile terminal 2 determines that the sequence number is discontinuous in the broadcast information (# 0020350). As a result, the mobile terminal 2 detects that the broadcast information with the sequence number # 0020349 has not been reached.

  Next, FIG. 7 shows a state in which the mobile terminal 2 notifies the broadcast distribution server 101 of non-reaching. The mobile terminal 2 notifies the broadcast distribution server 101 of sequence number # 0020349 that has not been reached. The broadcast distribution server 101 transmits unreachable broadcast information (# 0020349) to the mobile terminal 2 by unicast. In addition, the broadcast distribution server 101 transmits a charge reduction request for requesting a reduction in usage charge for unreachable broadcast information to the billing server 102. For example, if the information distribution for one time is 5 yen, the broadcast distribution server 101 requests that the usage fee for the broadcast distribution service of the mobile terminal 2 be reduced by 5 yen. The billing server 102 reduces the usage fee for the mobile terminal 2.

(Other embodiments)
As mentioned above, although this invention was described by embodiment, it should not be understood that the description and drawing which form a part of this indication limit this invention. From this disclosure, various alternative embodiments, examples and operational techniques will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which the broadcast distribution server 101 executes both retransmission processing of unreachable broadcast information and fee reduction processing for the accounting server 102 in response to the non-reaching notification. Only one of the retransmission process and the charge reduction process may be executed.

  Further, an example has been described in which the mobile terminal 2 transmits an unreachable notification to the broadcast distribution server 101 immediately after detecting unreachable broadcast information. However, in order to prevent an increase in traffic volume, the mobile terminal 2 may hold a plurality of non-reaching notifications and notify the broadcast delivery server of the plurality of non-reaching notifications held together. For example, a non-reaching notification transmission time is set in advance such as once a day, and the mobile terminal transmits a non-reaching notification at that time. In this case, the transmission time of the unreached notification by the mobile terminal 2 is set to a time zone with a small traffic volume, so that retransmission processing of unreachable broadcast information can be realized while effectively utilizing resources.

  Thus, it should be understood that the present invention includes various embodiments and the like not described herein. Therefore, the present invention is limited only by the invention specifying matters in the scope of claims reasonable from this disclosure.

FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of a mobile communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a sequence diagram illustrating an arrival confirmation type broadcast distribution method according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is. FIG. 2A is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a broadcast distribution server according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating an example of a distribution history according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the mobile terminal which concerns on embodiment of this invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram for explaining a specific operation example of the mobile communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention (part 1); FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram for explaining a specific operation example of the mobile communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention (part 2). FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram for explaining a specific operation example of the mobile communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention (part 3); FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram for explaining a specific operation example of the mobile communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention (part 4);

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 2 ... Mobile terminal 100 ... Core network 101 ... Broadcast distribution server 102 ... Billing server 200 ... Radio access network 201, 202 ... Base station 500 ... Antenna 501 ... Shared device 502 ... Transmission part 503 ... Reception part 504 ... Control part 505 ... User data processing unit 506 ... Continuity determining unit 507 ... Sequence number storage unit 508 ... Sequence number notification unit 509 ... Input / output IF unit 510 ... Broadcast information storage unit 602 ... Distribution history storage unit 603 ... Communication IF unit 604 ... Distributed Information storage unit 605 ... Broadcast information distribution unit 606 ... Input / output IF unit 607 ... Distribution history update unit 608 ... Unreachable information identification unit 609 ... Charge reduction request unit

Claims (5)

An arrival confirmation type broadcast distribution method for distributing broadcast information from a broadcast distribution server to mobile terminals in a service area,
The broadcast delivery server assigning broadcast information with a sequence number indicating a delivery order of broadcast information, and delivering the broadcast information to which the sequence number is assigned to the mobile terminal;
The mobile terminal receives broadcast information and stores a sequence number of the received broadcast information;
The mobile terminal determines the continuity between the sequence number of the broadcast information received last time and the sequence number of the newly received broadcast information, and detects unreachable broadcast information and the sequence number according to the determination result; ,
The mobile terminal notifying the broadcast delivery server of an unreachable notification including a sequence number of the unreachable broadcast information;
When the broadcast distribution server distributes broadcast information, updating a distribution history that associates the broadcast information that has been distributed with its sequence number;
The broadcast distribution server identifying, as the unreachable broadcast information, broadcast information that has been distributed, associated with the sequence number notified by the mobile terminal, based on the distribution history;
The broadcast distribution server transmits a charge reduction request for requesting a reduction in the use fee for the specified unreachable broadcast information to a billing server that manages the use fee for the broadcast information distribution service for each mobile terminal. And a method of retransmitting the unreachable broadcast information to the mobile terminal.   2. The arrival confirmation type broadcast distribution method according to claim 1, further comprising a step in which the broadcast distribution server transmits the specified unreachable broadcast information to the mobile terminal by unicast.   In the step of notifying the broadcast distribution server, the mobile terminal holds the non-reaching notification for a plurality of times and notifies the broadcast distribution server of the held non-reaching notifications for a plurality of times. The arrival confirmation type broadcast distribution method according to claim 1. A broadcast distribution server that distributes broadcast information to mobile terminals in a service area,
A broadcast information distribution unit that distributes the broadcast information to which the sequence number is given to the mobile terminal, while giving the broadcast information a sequence number indicating the distribution order of the broadcast information;
When the broadcast information is distributed, a distribution history update unit that updates a distribution history that associates the broadcast information that has been distributed with its sequence number;
A communication interface unit that receives from the mobile terminal a sequence number of unreachable broadcast information detected by the mobile terminal based on sequence number continuity;
An unreachable information identifying unit that identifies, as the unreachable broadcast information, broadcast information that has been distributed, associated with the sequence number notified by the mobile terminal based on the distribution history;
A charge reduction requesting unit for sending a charge reduction request for requesting a reduction of the use charge for the specified unreachable broadcast information to a charging server that manages the use charge for the broadcast information distribution service for each mobile terminal; Prepared,
The broadcast distribution server, wherein the charge reduction request unit transmits the charge reduction request and retransmits the unreachable broadcast information to the mobile terminal.   The broadcast distribution server according to claim 4, wherein the broadcast information distribution unit transmits the specified unreachable broadcast information to the mobile terminal by unicast.

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