KR20080071305A - Apparatus and method for mulitcast service activation in mobile communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus and a method for activating a multicast service in a mobile communication system are provided to enhance efficiency by reducing consumption of wireless resources. A communication module(510) communicates with another node. A control unit(520) checks presence of particular information for indicating a broadcast and multicast service in a particular message received from a terminal through the communication module. The control unit operates a timer after a broadcast and multicast service process when detecting the particular information. The control unit releases the resource connected to the terminal in order to transmit the message after the timer is finished. A storage unit(540) provides a storage space necessary for operating the control unit.

Description

Apparatus and method for activating multicast service in mobile communication system {APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MULITCAST SERVICE ACTIVATION IN MOBILE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM}

1 is a diagram illustrating a general MBMS activation process;

2 is a diagram illustrating a general PDP context activation process;

3 is a diagram illustrating an MBMS activation process according to an embodiment of the present invention;

4 is a view showing an operation of the SGSN according to an embodiment of the present invention, and

5 is a block diagram of a SGSN and a terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

6 illustrates a QoS IEI according to an embodiment of the present invention.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to multicast service activation, and in particular, in a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) Packet Switching Support Node (SGSN) system, referred to as MBMS (Multimedia). An apparatus and method for releasing a radio access bearer (RAB) or an lu interface resource upon completion of activation for supporting a multicast service of a broadcast / multicast service.

The MBMS is a "point-to-multipoint" service that transmits data from one source node to multiple destination nodes. The MBMS adds new functions to existing 3GPP packet service domain network entities (GGSN: Gateway GPRS Support Node, SGSN, UTRAN: UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network, GERAN: GSM EDGE Radio Access Network, UE: User Equipment, etc.) We also added a new entity (BM-SC: Broadcast-Multicast Service Centre).

The MBMS is divided into multicast and broadcast services, which involves a user joining a multicast group to receive multicast data. The procedure in which a user joins an MBMS multicast group is called an "MBMS Multicast Service Activation" procedure.

1 is a diagram illustrating a general MBMS activation process.

Referring to FIG. 1, for the MBMS, the UE 110 intending to use a multicast service needs to join a multicast group. An essential accompaniment for this process is a PDP context activation process. That is, when the UE 110 transmits an "IGMP Join" message to the GGSN 140 (step 2), the PDP context message uses a user plane (that is, a control signal). This indicates that at least one general purpose activated PDP context must be created for MBMS join. In addition, for multicast, not only resources of the UE 110, SGSN 130, and GGSN 140, but also radio resources, which are relatively expensive resources, must be occupied.

However, as the time difference between the time of joining the multicast service and the time at which multicast data is transmitted to the UE 110 increases, there is a problem in that resource waste and cost waste due to unnecessary resource occupancy are caused.

An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for activating a multicast service in a mobile communication system.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for saving radio resources by releasing Iu or RAB resources in a PDP context that have been previously performed for this procedure when the MBMS activation procedure for MBMS multicast group join is completed in a mobile communication system. In providing.

 According to a first aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object, in the method for activating a multimedia broadcast and multicast service of a packet switched support node in a mobile communication system, the broadcast and multicast service is a specific message received from a terminal. A process of checking whether there is the specific information indicating, and if the specific information exists, driving a timer after completion of the broadcast and multicast service procedures, and when the timer expires, a terminal generated for the message transmission; And releasing a connected resource.

According to a second aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object, in a packet switched support node that performs multimedia broadcast and multicast service activation in a mobile communication system, a communication module for communicating with another node and the communication module In the specific message received from the terminal, it is checked whether there is specific information indicating that the broadcast and multicast service exists. When the specific information exists, a timer is driven after the broadcast and multicast service procedure is completed, and the timer is When expired, the control unit for performing a process of releasing the resources associated with the terminal generated for the message transmission and a storage unit for providing a storage space for the control unit is characterized in that it comprises.

According to a third aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object, in a method of activating a multimedia broadcast and multicast service of a terminal in a mobile communication system, a specific message indicating whether there is specific information indicating that the broadcast and multicast service exists And transmitting to an exchange support node and performing a process of releasing a connection generated for the message transmission by an instruction of the packet exchange support node after a predetermined time elapses after the transmission process. do.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object, a terminal for performing multimedia broadcast and multicast service activation in a mobile communication system, a communication module for communicating with another node and the broadcast through the communication module And a control unit for transmitting a specific message to the packet-switching support node whether specific information indicating the multicast service exists, and releasing the connection generated for the message transmission by the instruction of the packet-switching support node after a predetermined time elapses. It characterized in that it comprises a storage unit for providing a storage space for the control unit to operate.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object, in a system for performing multimedia broadcast and multicast service activation in a mobile communication system, a specific message indicating whether there is specific information indicating that the broadcast and multicast service exists. After the predetermined time has elapsed, the terminal for releasing the connection generated for the message transmission by the instruction and the specific message are received to check whether there is specific information indicating that the broadcast and multicast service exists. If there is information, including a packet switching support node for driving a timer after the completion of the broadcast and multicast service procedure, and if the timer expires, instructing the terminal to release the connected resources. It features.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In describing the present invention, when it is determined that a detailed description of a related known function or configuration may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Hereinafter, an apparatus and method for activating a multicast service in a mobile communication system will be described. PDP context activation process itself in the present invention is the same as the existing process of FIG.

3 is a diagram illustrating an MBMS activation process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the UE 310 transmits an "Activate PDP Context Request" message to inform SGSN 330 that a PDP context activated during PDP context activation is used as a PDP context for joining an MBMS multicast group. The existing QoS Information Element Identifier (IEI) is modified and used (step a).

In step a, the SGSN 330 uses 'bit 6', which was used as a 'spare bit' in 'Octet 14' of the existing QoS IE, for the purpose of 'MBMS Signaling Indication'.

If the 'MBMS Signaling Indication' bit is '1', the corresponding PDP context is a PDP context used only for the MBMS activation procedure.

If a packet service other than the MBMS multicast group join is to be used, the 'MBMS Signaling Indication' bit may not have a value of '1'. If the 'MBMS Signaling Indication' bit is '0', this message is the same as before.

After completion of the MBMS activation procedure (step b), a timer for maintaining the RAB for a predetermined time is required. In one embodiment of the present invention, a timer value uses a value of "1 to 30".

When the MBMS activation procedure is completed, the SGSN 330 generates an "MBMS UE CONTEXT" for the subscriber. At this time, the "MBMS UE CONTEXT" has the NSAPI information (Linked NSAPI) of the PDP context that was used to send the "IGMP Join" message of step 2 of FIG. 1, the SGSN 330 using this information It is determined that the MBMS activation procedure is completed in the PDP context.

When the MBMS activation procedure is completed, the SGSN 330 waits for a predetermined time by driving a timer, and when the timer expires (step c), performs an RAB release process for the corresponding PDP context (step d). Subsequently, if signaling or data service for the corresponding PDP context is required, reconfiguration may be performed using an existing process.

4 is a diagram illustrating an operation process of an SGSN according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, the SGSN receives an "Activate PDP Context Request" message including QoS IEI for MBMS activation (step 410). The MBMS activation procedure is completed (step 415).

Thereafter, the timer is driven (step 420), when the timer expires (step 430), the RAB release process is performed (step 440), and the algorithm according to the present invention is terminated.

In this process, the UE sends an "Activate PDP Context Request" message including the QoS IEI for MBMS activation to the SGSN.

5 is a diagram illustrating a block configuration of and terminal of the SGSN according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, the block configuration of the SGSN is described. The communication module 510 includes a wired processing module, a baseband processing module, and the like as a module for communicating with other nodes. The wired processing module converts a signal received through a wired path into a baseband signal to provide to the baseband module and converts the baseband signal from the baseband module into a corresponding wired signal so as to transmit the baseband signal from the baseband module to a wired wire. Send via the path.

The controller 520 performs basic processing and control of the apparatus. For example, it performs data communication processing and control and controls the multicast PDP context management unit 530 according to the present invention in addition to the normal function to save resources by performing the RAB release process when the MBMS activation procedure is completed.

When the multicast PDP context management unit 530 receives the "Activate PDP Context Request" message including the QoS IEI for MBMS activation from the UE according to the instruction and provision information of the control unit 520, the multicast PDP context management unit 530 performs the MBMS activation procedure. When the timer is finished and the timer expires, the RAB release process is performed.

The storage unit 540 stores a program for controlling the overall operation of the apparatus and temporary data generated during program execution.

In the above block configuration, the controller 520 may perform a function of the multicast PDP context manager 530. In the present invention, it is shown to configure them separately to explain each function separately. Therefore, when the product is actually implemented, all of the functions of the multicast PDP context manager 530 may be configured to be processed by the controller 520, and only some of the functions may be configured to be processed by the controller 520. have.

Referring to FIG. 5, a block configuration of a terminal is described. The communication module 510 includes a radio processing module, a baseband processing module, and the like as a module for communicating with other nodes. The wireless processing module converts a signal received through an antenna into a baseband signal to provide to the baseband module, and converts the baseband signal from the baseband module into an RF signal so that the baseband signal can be transmitted on actual air. Transmit via antenna

The controller 520 performs basic processing and control of the apparatus. For example, it performs processing and control for data communication and controls the multicast PDP context management unit 530 according to the present invention in addition to the usual functions to transmit a separate "Activate PDP Context Request" message upon MBMS activation. .

The multicast PDP context manager 530 transmits an "Activate PDP Context Request" message including QoS IEI for MBMS activation when MBMS is activated by the instruction and provision information of the controller 520.

The storage unit 540 stores a program for controlling the overall operation of the apparatus and temporary data generated during program execution.

In the above block configuration, the controller 520 may perform a function of the multicast PDP context manager 530. In the present invention, it is shown to configure them separately to explain each function separately. Therefore, when the product is actually implemented, all of the functions of the multicast PDP context management unit 530 may be configured to be processed by the controller 520, and only some of the functions may be configured to be processed by the controller 520. have.

Meanwhile, in the detailed description of the present invention, specific embodiments have been described, but various modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the described embodiments, but should be determined not only by the scope of the following claims, but also by the equivalents of the claims.

The present invention has the advantage that after the completion of the MBMS activation procedure for joining the MBMS multicast group, by releasing the Iu or RAB resources of the PDP context previously performed for this procedure, it is possible to efficiently use the radio resources by wasting.

Claims (15)

A method for activating a multimedia broadcast and a multicast service of a packet switched support node in a mobile communication system, Checking whether there is specific information indicating that the broadcast and multicast service exists in a specific message received from a terminal; If the specific information exists, driving a timer after completion of the broadcast and multicast service procedures; And releasing resources associated with the terminal created for the message transmission when the timer has expired. The method of claim 1, The specific message is an activation PDP context request (Activate PDP Context Request), characterized in that the multimedia broadcast and multicast service activation method of the packet-switching support node in a mobile communication system. The method of claim 1, The specific information is a QoS Information Element Identifier (QoI) indicating that the activation message for the broadcast and multicast service, multimedia broadcast and multicast service activation method of a packet switched support node in a mobile communication system. In the packet switching support node for multimedia broadcasting and multicast service activation in a mobile communication system, A communication module for communicating with another node, Check whether there is specific information indicating that the broadcast and multicast service exists in a specific message received from the terminal through the communication module, and if the specific information exists, start a timer after completion of the broadcast and multicast service procedure. And, if the timer expires, the controller for performing a process of releasing the resources associated with the terminal generated for the message transmission, And a storage unit for providing a storage space for the control unit to operate. The packet exchange support node for activating a multimedia broadcast and a multicast service in a mobile communication system. The method of claim 4, wherein The specific message is an active PDP Context Request (Activate PDP Context Request) packet switching support node for performing a multimedia broadcast and multicast service activation in a mobile communication system. The method of claim 4, wherein And the specific information is a QoS IEI indicating an activation message for the broadcast and multicast service. Method of activating a multimedia broadcast and a multicast service of a terminal in a mobile communication system, Transmitting a specific message to a packet switched support node whether specific information indicating the broadcast and multicast service exists; And a process of releasing the connection generated for the message transmission by the instruction of the packet-switching support node after a predetermined time elapses after the transmission process. How to enable broadcast and multicast services. The method of claim 7, wherein The specific message is an activation PDP context request (Activate PDP Context Request), characterized in that the multimedia broadcast and multicast service activation method of the terminal in a mobile communication system. The method of claim 7, wherein The specific information is a QoS IEI indicating that the activation message for the broadcast and multicast services, the multimedia broadcast and multicast service activation method of a mobile communication system. In the terminal for multimedia broadcasting and multicast service activation in a mobile communication system, A communication module for communicating with another node, A specific message is transmitted to the packet switched support node to determine whether there is specific information indicating that the broadcast and multicast service exists through the communication module, and after a predetermined time elapses, the message is sent by the packet switched support node. A controller for releasing the created connection; And a storage unit for providing a storage space for the controller to operate. The terminal for activating a multimedia broadcast and a multicast service in a mobile communication system. The method of claim 10, The specific message is a terminal for performing multimedia broadcast and multicast service activation in a mobile communication system, characterized in that an activation PDP context request (Activate PDP Context Request). The method of claim 10, The specific information is a terminal for performing multimedia broadcast and multicast service activation in a mobile communication system, characterized in that the QoS IEI indicating that the activation message for the broadcast and multicast service. In a system for performing multimedia broadcast and multicast service activation in a mobile communication system, A terminal for transmitting a specific message indicating whether there is specific information indicating that the broadcast and multicast service exists, and releasing the connection generated for the message transmission after a predetermined time elapses; Receiving the specific message and checking whether there is specific information indicating that the broadcast and multicast service exists, and if the specific information exists, a timer is started after the broadcast and multicast service procedure is completed, and the timer expires. And a packet exchange support node for instructing the terminal to release the associated resources. The method of claim 13, The specific message is an activation PDP Context Request (Activate PDP Context Request) system for performing multimedia broadcast and multicast service activation in a mobile communication system. The method of claim 13, And the specific information is a QoS IEI indicating an activation message for the broadcast and multicast service.

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