KR20090026013A - Apparatus and method for supporting multicast and broadcast service in broadband wireless access system - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for providing a broadcast service in a broadband wireless access system and a method therefor are provided to make each entity support various business models and technologies. A security server(150) performs a function of executing the authentication for the broadcast service subscription of a user and the grant of right. The MCBCS(MultiCast and BroadCast Service) AS(Access Service)(140-1, 140-2) belong to the domain of an SP(Service Provider). A base station assigns the broadcast channel for transmitting a service guide in advance. A DCD(Dynamic Content Delivery) message is periodically broadcasted in order to inform a terminal(100) of the information about the allocated broadcast channel. The terminal obtains information about the service guide broadcast channel through the DCD message which the base station broadcasts. One or more MCBCS ASs produce the service guide.

Description

Apparatus and method for providing a broadcast service in a broadband wireless access system {APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SUPPORTING MULTICAST AND BROADCAST SERVICE IN BROADBAND WIRELESS ACCESS SYSTEM}

The present invention relates to a broadband wireless access system, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for providing a broadcast service.

In general, communication systems have been developed mainly for voice services, and are gradually developing into communication systems capable of not only voice but also data services and various multimedia services. However, the voice-oriented communication system has not satisfied the rapidly increasing user's service needs due to the relatively small transmission bandwidth and high usage fee. In addition, due to the development of the communication industry and increasing user demand for Internet services, there is an increasing need for a communication system capable of efficiently providing Internet services. As a result, it has been introduced into a broadband wireless access system for efficiently providing Internet services with broadband enough to meet the demand of rapidly increasing users.

The broadband wireless access system is a system for integrating and supporting not only voice but also various low speed and high speed data services and multimedia application services such as high definition video. The broadband wireless access system is based on a wireless medium using broadband such as 2GHz, 5GHz, 26GHz and 60GHz, in a mobile or fixed environment, public switched telephone network (PSTN), public switched data network (PSDN), internet network, IMT2000 network, It is a wireless communication system that can connect ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) networks and can support channel rates of 2Mbps or more. The broadband wireless access system may be classified into a broadband wireless subscriber network, a broadband mobile access network, and a high-speed wireless local area network (LAN) according to terminal mobility (fixed or mobile), communication environment (indoor or outdoor), and channel transmission rate. .

A representative example of the wireless access method of the broadband wireless access system is the IEEE 802.16e standard, which is being standardized by the IEEE 802.16 standardization group of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, which is one of the international standardization organizations.

Compared to the wireless technology for the conventional voice service, the IEEE 802.16e standard can transmit a lot of data in a short time due to the wide bandwidth of the data, and it is desirable that all users share the channel (or resource) to use the channel efficiently. It is possible. In addition, quality of service (QoS) is guaranteed so that users can receive different quality services according to the characteristics of the service.

However, in the WiMAX forum network access technology using the IEEE 802.16e standard as a technology for wireless access network, only one-to-one communication method is specified as a method for transmitting multimedia services. Considering the data amount of the multimedia service and a large number of users simultaneously requesting a specific multimedia service, the one-to-one communication method currently provided by WiMAX inefficiently uses expensive radio resources to transmit the multimedia service. This results in an increased burden on users of multimedia services and a limit on the number of users that can be used at the same time.

In addition, in the broadcast service providing method according to the related art, when the terminal requests to receive a specific channel, the terminal generates a broadcast service connection through a DSx procedure between the base stations and a Multicast Connection ID: MAC parameters such as 'MCID') are received. In addition, whenever a user requests a channel change, the terminal receiving a specific channel must perform a DSD (Dynamic Service Deletion) with respect to the conventional channel and a DSA (Dynamic Service Add) procedure for a new channel. As a result, a channel switching time delay occurs and radio resource consumption may occur due to a continuous DSx procedure. In addition, since the terminal for the DSx procedure must be in an awake mode, it is difficult to continuously receive a broadcast service in an idle mode. Here, the channel switching delay time means a time taken from when the user selects a channel change to watching the channel actually requested by the user in order to watch another channel in the channel currently being watched.

Therefore, while solving the problems of the broadcast service method according to the prior art, a new definition of the function of each network entity and the information transfer process between each entity, which can provide a more efficient service from the user and service provider perspective and Proposal of the procedure is necessary.

An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for providing a broadcast service in a broadband wireless access system.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a network structure for efficiently providing a broadcast service in a broadband wireless access system, and to provide an apparatus and a method for each entity to support various business models and technologies in the network structure. .

An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for providing a multimedia service to a plurality of terminals in a broadband wireless access system.

An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for reducing channel switching delay time according to channel switching of a user in a broadband wireless access system.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for providing a service guide in a broadband wireless access system includes: a service provider for generating a service guide and transmitting the generated service guide; Receive service guides from one or more service providers, aggregate the received service guides into units of a multicast and broadcast service (MCBCS) transmission area in each service area, and then schedule them as needed. It is characterized in that it comprises a MCBCS network layer server for fragmentation (fragmentation) by size, and transmits to the MCBCS controller of the service area.

According to an embodiment of the present invention to achieve the above object, a method for providing a service guide (Service Guide) in the broadcast service (MultiCast and BroadCast Service (MCBCS)) network layer server of the broadband wireless access system, at least one service provider Receiving a service guide from the service, Aggregating the received service guide by the unit of MCBCS transmission area in each service area (Service area), and Sending the integrated service guide to the MCBCS controller of the service area Characterized in that it comprises a process.

According to an embodiment of the present invention to achieve the above object, a broadcast service providing method in a broadcast service (MultiCast and BroadCast Service (MCBCS)) controller of a broadband wireless access system, the service for the channel list selected by the service request user from the MCBCS server Receiving an initialization request message and assigning MAC layer information to the channels of the channel list.

According to an embodiment of the present invention to achieve the above object, a broadcast service providing method in a broadcast service (MultiCast and BroadCast Service (MCBCS)) server of a broadband wireless access system, when a service guide request message is received from the terminal, the entire channel Transmitting a service guide response message including information on the terminal to the terminal; and receiving a service request message including information on the channel list selected by the user from the terminal, causing the MCBCS controller to cause the selected channel list to be received. And transmitting a service initialization request message to the MCBCS controller so as to allocate MAC layer information for the MCBCS controller.

The present invention proposes a structure of a wireless network capable of supporting various business models in a broadcast service, and presents a role of related business entities to support various business models in presenting the structure of the wireless network. In order to present the functions necessary for the service and the methods in which the functions can most efficiently correspond to the entities of the wireless network, and to show an example of the operation of the wireless network, the user can use various broadcasting services in the WiMAX network. By specifying a method and procedure for conveying information about the information, the broadcast service information is transmitted to all terminals in the service receiving area through broadcast, so that each terminal does not need to know all the information of the service provider. have. In addition, since service information is not required to be requested and received separately, system overhead for processing the service is reduced and air resources can be saved, and even when service information is newly added, changed, or deleted. Since it can be updated periodically without a user's request, there is an advantage of minimizing user intervention. This makes it easier for users to access and use various services. In addition, in the present invention, by reducing the channel switching delay time, it is possible to receive a high quality service from the user's point of view, the system has the advantage of reducing the consumption of radio resources for providing a broadcast service.

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 providing a broadcast service in a broadband wireless access system will be described.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described using WiMAX NWG technology being standardized in the WIMAX Forum as an example, but it can be used in other wireless communication networks that provide similar functions. In addition, the present invention can be applied to most services provided by the 802.16 and WiMAX system, the following description will be described by taking a broadcast service as an example.

Meanwhile, the subjects related to the broadcast service will be described as follows.

Here, the subjects related to the broadcast service will be described. Typically, the entities related to the broadcast service are referred to as a content provider (hereinafter referred to as "CP"), a broadcast service provider (hereinafter referred to as "SP"), and a network operator (hereinafter referred to as "AP"). ), Including the user.

First, the CP plays a role of producing and supplying content provided by a broadcast service, and the SP receives a content from the CP, and receives the content free of charge or a certain fee from a user, and serves the user. The AP is responsible for transmitting the service of the SP to users. The CP, SP, and AP may each be independent operators, but one operator may play all roles or two or more roles. An example thereof may be a terrestrial broadcasting operator in Korea.

Here, the important functions of the broadcast service will be described.

-Service Provisioning or Subscription management: Function to handle subscription request and post management of users who will use broadcasting service

-Data transmission function (Data transmission function): A function that is responsible for the transmission of multimedia services that can have a variety of transmission forms, typically a function for transmitting a multimedia service in real time or after reception

-Unauthorized user access control function (Service Protection): The function to ensure that only the right user can use the broadcast service

Multimedia Content Protection: Prevents high value-added multimedia contents from being shared with users who do not have legitimate rights.

-Terminal Provisioning: Function to manage hardware, firmware and software of various types of user terminals

Service guide provision: A function of providing information that a user related to a broadcast service needs and information required by a user's terminal.

-Function to provide important information to user or user equipment at irregular intervals (Notification): Function to provide information required by user or user terminal at irregular intervals according to the needs of CP, SP, AP

-Function to provide efficient use of the central network and access network (Network Resource optimization): Function to efficiently use the resources of the central network and access network in the transmission of broadcasting service

-Function to provide efficient use of radio resources (Radio resource Optimization): Function to transmit broadcasting service to user's terminal by using limited radio resources efficiently

On the other hand, in general, in the case of a TV used in the home, a broadcast schedule is created according to a previously scheduled schedule, and broadcast schedule information is broadcast at a specific time or at the bottom of the screen so that a user can watch a broadcast program that he / she wants to watch at the corresponding time. . In addition to general TV broadcasting, most broadcasting services have a broadcasting time determined in advance, and a broadcasting schedule is created so that a user can check them. Similarly, the broadcast service provided by the WiMAX system must deliver a previously prepared broadcast schedule to the user. In the present invention, a collection of information including a broadcast schedule and information on each broadcast program is defined as a service guide. For example, the service guide may include content information, schedule information (start time / end time), billing information, and the like.

In the following description, a base station may be configured as a radio access station (RAS) or a base station (BS), and the base station controller may be configured as an access control router (ACR) or an access service network gateway (ASN GW).

1 is a diagram illustrating a network structure for providing a multimedia service to a plurality of terminals in a broadband wireless access system according to the present invention.

As shown, the network structure includes a security server 150, an MCBCS application layer server (hereinafter referred to as an AS) 140-1 and 140-2, and an MCBCS network layer server ( Network layer Server: Hereafter referred to as 'NS' 130, MCBCS controller (Controller) 120, the base station 110 and the terminal 100 is configured to include. Here, the MCBCS controller 120 may be an independent device located together with the base station controller, or the base station controller may include a function of the MCBCS controller. In addition, the MCBCS ASs 140-1 and 140-2 and the MCBCS NS 130 are logically divided entities, and may be configured as one network entity, that is, an MCBCS server.

Referring to FIG. 1, first, the security server 150 performs a function of authentication and authorization for a user to subscribe to a broadcast service.

The MCBCS ASs 140-1 and 140-2 belong to the domain of the SP, and the main functions provided are a subscription processing / management function for a user who has subscribed to the SP, and a function of transmitting a broadcast service content to the AP. , The user authentication function for access control for fraudulent users, the function for protecting the content supplied to the CP, the terminal management function of a plurality of users, providing the information necessary for the broadcasting service, the role of the SP To make sure. In FIG. 1, the difference between MCBCS AS 1 140-1 and MCBCS AS 2 140-2 is that MCBCS AS 1 140-1 provides a free service or a fraudulent user control function and a content protection function. It is an MCBCS AS for an SP that does not provide the MCBCS AS 2 (140-2) is a MCBCS AS for an SP that provides a paid service, fraudulent user control function and content protection function. The function of the MCBCS AS 140 will be described in more detail as follows.

-Broadcast service information, for example, service guide generation: following the mutually agreed data model between MCBCS ASs when creating a service guide.

-Subscription procedure for receiving a user's broadcast service

-In conjunction with the security server 150, performs user authentication, permission to use, billing processing, etc.

-User group management by broadcasting channel or broadcasting content

-Management and distribution of authentication key by group

-Unauthorized user access control / multimedia content protection (Service Protection / Content Protection): Content encryption and decryption key management and distribution

-Stream Transmission / File Transmission: Definition of transmission protocol, management of reception report to check whether user has received broadcast contents normally, file metadata for file transmission ( File Metadata Management

-User Interaction: Provides interactive service with users

-Notification / Alert: Provides a service to notify users who have subscribed to a broadcast service when there is a change in broadcast schedule or when an emergency broadcast is needed.

The MCBCS NS 130 is an entity that plays a central role in an AP, and collects and transmits broadcast service information (eg, a service guide) from various SPs, manages for efficient use of network resources, and errors in data by a user terminal. It provides support function for missing reception. Detailed functions are as follows.

-MCBCS Transmission Zone Management: Management of base stations in the area to service for each SP

-Service Guide processing: Aggregate service guides received from MCBCS AS, service guide compression to reduce fragmentation, network resource consumption, and maintenance management of service guides as needed.

-Service Guide Deployment: Unicast or Multicast Methods

-Stream Transmission / File Transmission: Check whether the user has properly received the broadcast contents (sometimes play the same role as MCBCS AS)

-Multicast group management through user location tracking

-Receipt report processing: When the user reports the network status through the reception report, it is reflected.

The MCBCS controller 120 is located in the AP, and functions to efficiently transmit the broadcast service transmitted through the central network through the wireless network as a connection portion between the central network and the access network, and notify the start of the broadcast service to the user's terminal. It supports the function, and detailed functions are as follows.

Data / time synchronization to provide macro diversity gain: Burst reservation allocation and packet processing

MBS zone allocation and management

-MCID allocation and management

-Group paging information delivery for notification

The base station 110 is responsible for the function of wirelessly transmitting a broadcast service transmitted by wire and is managed by an AP.

The terminal 100 serves as a user terminal to provide a user with a broadcast service transmitted through the network entities.

In this case, the service area shown in FIG. 1 represents an area where an SP provides a service, and an MCBCS transmission zone is a transmission defined by an AP for efficient transmission of a broadcast service in the service area. The management area represents an area where the same content is broadcasted. On the other hand, the MBS (Multicast and Broadcast Service) zone means an area where a broadcast service flow is valid through different Connection IDentifiers (CIDs) or different Security Associations (SAs).

To illustrate an example of providing an actual service using the network structure of FIG. 1, a method of providing broadcast service information, which is a starting point of a broadcast service, and a method of receiving the broadcast service information by a user's terminal will be described below with reference to FIGS. Explain through 5.

In order to provide the broadcast service, a network must provide many functions. Basically, the user should be able to deliver broadcast service information that the user wants to watch, for example, a service guide.

As the service guide delivery method, a unicast or broadcast method in consideration of the number and distribution of terminals desiring broadcast reception may be used. If multiple users want to watch the same content, the unicast method consumes a lot of network resources and is not suitable. Conversely, if a few users want to watch different contents, the unicast method is more efficient than the broadcast method. The service guide delivered through the above method should have a data model having a specific structure. This is because the AP needs a data model to manage and distribute a plurality of service guides. Therefore, a user must know the structure of a predetermined specific data model to interpret the service guide.

The broadcast service may provide various charging methods such as time charging, volume charging, token based charging, flat charging, and the like for content desired by a user. For this billing, the user needs to subscribe to the SP. The subscription process can be broadly divided into online subscription and offline subscription. The offline subscription is a method in which the user pre-inputs the information for billing in advance through a contract with the SP through web, telephone, or direct visit without using the AP network directly. Is a method of delivering subscription information and billing information through a network provided by an AP for service reception. At this time, basic user authentication process is performed and ID for service group is assigned. In the present invention, offline subscription is discussed and only online subscription is discussed.

Through the joining procedure, a user joins a group for receiving a specific service, and the SP provides such a group management function. In order to use the actual broadcast service after the user subscribes, the user must go through the authentication and authorization process using the ID assigned during the subscription. When the user's successful authentication procedure is completed, the SP must manage and deliver a decryption key capable of decrypting the encrypted and broadcast content.

Depending on the type of service or the method of network operation, a broadcast service is a broadcast service that allows all users to receive content, and static can only be decrypted and watched by a user who has received the content but authenticated using a specific decryption key. The multicast service may be divided into a static multicast service and a dynamic multicast service for selectively broadcasting content only to a base station where a specific terminal subscribed to the service is located. The group management method and the decryption key delivery method may vary according to the three service methods.

In addition, the broadcast service has a service protection function that allows only authorized users to receive specific content through the user authentication, authorization, and decryption key management and distribution, and specific content only in the authorized terminal. Can play and provide multimedia content protection that restricts the movement of content to other devices

The broadcast content transmission method can be divided into stream transmission and file transmission according to the service characteristics. The stream transmission is used to transmit content having real-time characteristics such as video and music, and the file transmission is used to transmit content having weak real-time and retransmission. RTP (Realtime Transport Protocol) is used as a transport protocol for the stream transmission. Depending on the codec used, the network proposed by the present invention may be changed to use RTP. In general, a reception report is not required for traffic having a real-time characteristic, but it can be used to obtain statistical information about network conditions. As a transmission protocol for the file transfer, UDP (User Datagram Protocol), FLUTE (File Delivery over Unidirectional Transport), etc. may be used, and file metadata are defined differently according to the protocol used. do. When the file is transmitted, a reception report should be provided and may be used for a request for retransmission of an error part of specific content in addition to a report on network conditions.

When a change in the broadcast schedule or emergency broadcast is required, a notification or alert method should be provided as a method for informing the user of the broadcasting service of this information, and the information is provided to the SP and the AP. The CP can also transmit the information to the user.

Using a WiMAX system that provides a wideband uplink channel, a MultiCast BroadCast Service (MCBCS) network may provide an interactive service to a user. A voting service using user feedback and a download service of a value-added content such as a product or music appearing in a received broadcast content may be provided, and a function of receiving a user's broadcast usage behavior may be additionally provided.

2 is a diagram illustrating a signal procedure of a method for providing multimedia service information to a plurality of terminals in a broadband wireless access system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, in step 201, the base station 210 pre-allocates a broadcast channel for transmitting a service guide and sends a DCD message to inform the terminal 200 of the information on the allocated broadcast channel. Broadcast periodically. Here, the DCD message includes an MCID for decoding the broadcast channel. Thus, the terminal 200 may obtain information on the service guide broadcast channel through the DCD message broadcasted by the base station 210 in step 203.

At least one MCBCS AS 240 generates a service guide and transmits the generated service guide to the MCBCS NS 230 in step 205. In this case, the MCBCS NS 230 manages a list of service provider (MCBCS AS) and a list of base stations that provide a service of a corresponding service provider to the terminal (207). Thereafter, the MCBCS NS 230 transmits the service guide received from the at least one MCBCS AS 240 in step 209 in one flow for each MCBCS transmission area in each service area. Aggregation is performed in units of the MCBCS transmission area, and in step 211, the integrated service guide is fragmented into a predetermined size. In step 213, the MCBCS NS 230 transmits one or more of the integrated and divided service guides for each service area to the MCBCS controller 220 of the corresponding service area.

Thereafter, the MCBCS controller 220 transfers the service guide for each MCBCS transmission area received from the MCBCS NS 230 to the base station 210 so that the same service guide is transmitted to the base stations belonging to the same MCBCS transmission area in step 215. To pass.

Thereafter, the base station 210 periodically broadcasts the integrated and divided service guide through a broadcast channel using the MCID in step 217. Here, the service guide is transmitted from the base station 210 to the terminal 200 through an application layer.

In step 219, the terminal 200 reassembles the integrated and divided service guides to generate one integrated service guide. Thereafter, when one service provider (MCBCS AS) to be viewed is selected by the user's key manipulation, the terminal 200 selects the service of the corresponding service provider (MCBCS AS) of the received integrated service guides in step 221. Only the guide is filtered and displayed on the display. In this case, when the content of the MCBCS AS 240 is selected by the user's key manipulation, the terminal 200 receives the content broadcasted by the MCBCS AS 240 in step 223 and displays the content on the display unit.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a method for providing multimedia service information to a plurality of terminals in MCBCS NS of a broadband wireless access system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the MCBCS NS 230 receives a service guide from at least one MCBCS AS 240 in step 301, and provides a service provider (MCBCS AS) list and a service of a corresponding service provider to the UE in step 303. Manage the list of base stations.

Thereafter, the MCBCS NS 230 transmits the service guide received from the at least one MCBCS AS 240 in step 305 in one flow for each MCBCS transmission area in each service area. In step 307, the aggregated service guide is segmented into a predetermined size as required.

In operation 309, the MCBCS NS 230 transmits one or more of the integrated and divided service guides for each service area to the MCBCS controller 220 of the corresponding service area.

Thereafter, the MCBCS NS 230 terminates the algorithm according to the present invention.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a method for providing multimedia service information to a plurality of terminals in a base station of a broadband wireless access system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, in step 401, the base station 210 allocates a broadcast channel for transmitting a service guide in advance and sends a DCD message to inform the terminal 200 of the information on the allocated broadcast channel. Broadcast periodically. Here, the DCD message includes an MCID for decoding the broadcast channel.

In step 403, the base station 210 checks whether a service guide is received from the MCBCS controller 220. When the service guide is received, the base station 210 periodically broadcasts the service guide through a broadcast channel using the MCID in step 405. Here, the service guide is transmitted from the base station 210 to the terminal 200 through an application layer.

Thereafter, the base station 210 terminates the algorithm according to the present invention.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a method for receiving multimedia service information in a terminal of a broadband wireless access system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, the terminal 200 receives a DCD message periodically broadcasted by the base station 210 in step 501 to obtain information on a service guide broadcast channel. Here, the DCD message includes an MCID for decoding the broadcast channel.

In step 503, the terminal 200 checks whether a service guide, which is integrated and divided, is periodically received from the base station 210 through the broadcast channel. In this case, the service guide is received through an application layer. In step 505, the terminal 200 re-assembles the received, integrated and divided service guide to generate one integrated service guide.

In operation 507, the terminal 200 checks whether one service provider MCBCS AS is selected by the user's key manipulation. When the one service provider is selected, the terminal 200 filters only the service guide of the corresponding service provider MCBCS AS among the total integrated service guides in step 509 and displays it on the display unit.

Thereafter, the terminal 200 terminates the algorithm according to the present invention.

6 is a diagram illustrating a signaling procedure of a broadcast service providing method in a broadband wireless access system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, first, in operation 601, the MCBCS server 630 generates a service guide describing information on content that can be provided by the MCBCS server 630. The service guide includes information on user readable content (ie, content ID) and a broadcast schedule.

In operation 603, the terminal 600 performs a broadcast service subscription procedure with the MCBCS server 630 that provides a broadcast service in order to receive a broadcast service according to a user's request. In this case, the subscription procedure may be performed through signaling in the WiMAX network, and may be performed on the web or offline. The terminal 600 classifies processing functions for each layer, and performs an application layer processing unit 600-1 for performing packet processing in an application layer and a MAC layer processing unit 600-2 for performing packet processing in a MAC layer. The subscription procedure may be performed by the application layer processor 600-2. At this time, the terminal 600 obtains a user ID through the subscription procedure.

In step 605, the terminal 600 transmits a service guide request message to the MCBCS server 630 to confirm broadcast program information. Here, the service guide request message includes a user ID obtained through the subscription procedure. In this case, since the terminal 600 knows a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) or an IP address of the MCBCS server 630, the terminal 600 may transmit the same to the MCBCS server 630 through HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) and an application layer protocol. You can pass a message.

After receiving the service guide request message, the MCBCS server 630 checks whether the corresponding user subscribes to the broadcast service through the user ID in step 607, and the generated service guide to the terminal 600. Send a service guide response message comprising a. That is, the service guide response message includes a content ID and a broadcast schedule for all channels. At this time, the application layer processing unit 600-1 of the terminal 600 receiving the service guide response message displays the service guide on the display unit, and the user who checks the service guide has a channel list (or List of contents).

In step 609, the terminal 600 transmits a service request message to the MCBCS server 630 to request a service for the channel list selected by the user's key manipulation. Here, the service request message includes a content ID and a user ID of the selected channel list.

In this case, the MCBCS server 630 performs an authentication and authorization procedure for the corresponding user using the user ID in step 611, and proceeds to step 613 to initialize the service for the selected channel list with the MCBCS controller 620. Send the request message. Here, the service initialization request message includes a content ID for the selected channel list, and delivers content information such as a broadcast schedule, a packet size, a transmission rate, and the like of the selected channel (or content) list.

After receiving the service initialization request message, the MCBCS controller 620 allocates MCIDs to the channels of the channel list for which the service initialization is requested, using the information in step 615, and the area where the corresponding user is located. If it is necessary to allocate a new MBS zone to the user, the user is also assigned an MBS zone ID.

After that, the MCBCS controller 620 generates base station resource allocation and packetization information for synchronization based on the content information received from the MCBCS server 630 in step 617, and proceeds to step 619. Create a data path for content transmission with the base stations 610 in the MBS zone. In operation 621, the MCBCS controller 620 transmits a service initialization response message to the MCBCS server 630. In this case, the service initialization response message includes a channel-specific (or content-specific) MBS zone ID and MCID.

In operation 623, the MCBCS server 630 transmits a service response message for the selected channel list to the application layer processor 600-1 of the terminal 600. Here, the service response message includes a user ID, an MBS zone ID, a channel-specific (or content-specific) MCID, and a content decryption key so that the user terminal can decode the broadcasted content.

In this case, the user may select one channel to be actually viewed among a plurality of channels for which a service is requested, and in this case, the application layer processor 600-1 of the terminal 600 may select the one channel in step 625. The MCID is transmitted to the MAC layer processor 600-2. In this case, the MAC layer processing unit 600-2 of the terminal 600 corresponds to the MCID from the application layer processing unit 600-1 among the contents received from the MCBCS server 630 according to the service request in step 627. Only the content to be decoded is transmitted, and the decoded content is transmitted to the application layer processor 600-1 in step 629. As a result, the user may receive only the selected content among the plurality of contents being broadcast.

For example, if there are a total of 100 channels for the broadcast service, the service guide response message includes content IDs for all 100 channels, and the user may request a service for 20 of them. At this time, in response to the service request, the MCBCS server 630 triggers the MCBCS controller 620 to allocate an MBS zone ID for the corresponding user and MCIDs for the 20 channels, and provides a service response message including allocation information. By transmitting to the terminal, the terminal can receive a broadcast service for the 20 channels selected by the user. That is, the MCBCS server 630 provides content for the selected 20 channels, and the terminal 600 decodes the corresponding content by using the MCID for one channel selected by the user among the 20 channels. Can be.

7 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a method for an application layer processor to receive a broadcast service in a broadband wireless access system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, the application layer processing unit 600-1 of the terminal 600 subscribes to the MCBCS server 630 for providing a broadcast service to receive a broadcast service according to a user's request in step 701. Perform At this time, the application layer processing unit 600-1 obtains a user ID through the subscription procedure.

In operation 703, the application layer processor 600-1 transmits a service guide request message to the MCBCS server 630 to confirm broadcast program information. In step 705, the application layer processor 600-1 transmits a service guide from the MCBCS server 630. Receive a service guide response message that includes. Here, the service guide request message includes a user ID obtained through the subscription procedure, and the service guide response message includes a content ID and a broadcast schedule for all channels. At this time, the application layer processor 600-1 receiving the service guide response message displays the service guide on a display unit, and the user who checks the service guide displays a channel list (or content list) that he / she wants to receive. You can choose.

In step 707, the application layer processor 600-1 checks whether a channel list to be serviced is selected by a user's key operation. When the channel list is selected, the application layer processing unit 600-1 proceeds to step 709. The service request message is transmitted to the MCBCS server 630 to request a service for the list. Here, the service request message includes a content ID and a user ID of the selected channel list.

In step 711, the application layer processor 600-1 checks whether a service response message for the selected list is received. Here, the service response message includes a user ID, an MBS zone ID, an MCID for the channels of the channel list requesting service initialization, and a content decryption key. When the service response message is received, the application layer processor 600-1 generates a mapping table for content ID vs. MCID for the channel list in step 713 and stores the mapping table.

In operation 715, the application layer processor 600-1 determines whether one channel to be actually viewed is selected from among a plurality of channels for which the service is requested according to a user's key manipulation. When the one channel is selected, the application layer processor 600-1 transmits the MCID for the selected one channel to the MAC layer processor 600-2 in step 717, and in step 719, the MAC layer processor. From 600-2, the content for the corresponding channel is displayed on the reception and display unit.

Thereafter, the application layer processor 600-1 ends the algorithm according to the present invention.

8 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a method for providing a broadcast service by an MCBCS controller in a broadband wireless access system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 8, the MCBCS controller 620 checks whether a service initialization request message for a channel list selected by a service request user is received from the MCBCS server 630 in step 801. Here, the service initialization request message includes a content ID for the selected channel list, and content information such as a broadcast schedule, a packet size, a transmission rate, and the like of the selected channel (or content) list is delivered together.

When the service initialization request message is received, the MCBCS controller 620 allocates MCIDs to the channels of the channel list for which the service initialization is requested, using the information in step 803, and an area where the corresponding user is located. If it is necessary to assign a new MBS zone ID to the user, the MBS zone ID is assigned to the corresponding user.

After that, the MCBCS controller 620 generates base station resource allocation and packetization information for synchronization based on the content information received from the MCBCS server 630 in step 805, and then selects a base station in the MBS zone. Create a data path for content transmission with the 610. In step 807, the MCBCS controller 620 transmits a service initialization response message to the MCBCS server 630. In this case, the service initialization response message includes a channel-specific (or content-specific) MBS zone ID and MCID.

Thereafter, the MCBCS controller 620 ends the algorithm according to the present invention.

9 is a flowchart illustrating a method of a method for providing a broadcast service by an MCBCS server in a broadband wireless access system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 9, in operation 901, the MCBCS server 630 generates a service guide describing information about content that can be provided by the user, and in step 903, subscribes to a broadcast service and a terminal 600 that intends to receive a broadcast service. Perform the procedure. The service guide includes information on user readable content (ie, content ID) and a broadcast schedule.

In operation 905, the MCBCS server 630 checks whether a service guide request message is received from the terminal 600. Here, the service guide request message includes a user ID obtained by the terminal 600 through a subscription procedure. When the service guide request message is received, the MCBCS server 630 checks whether the corresponding user subscribes to the broadcast service through the user ID in step 907, and generates the generated service to the terminal 600. Send a service guide response message including the guide. That is, the service guide response message includes a content ID and a broadcast schedule for all channels. In this case, the user who checks the service guide may select a channel list (or content list) that he / she wants to receive.

In operation 909, the MCBCS server 630 checks whether a service request message for the channel list selected by the user's key manipulation is received from the terminal 600. Here, the service request message includes a content ID and a user ID of the selected channel list. When the service request message is received, the MCBCS server 630 performs an authentication and authorization procedure for the user using the user ID in step 911, and proceeds to step 913 to the MCBCS controller 620. The service initialization request message for the selected channel list is transmitted. Here, the service initialization request message includes a content ID for the selected channel list, and content information such as a broadcast schedule, a packet size, a transmission rate, etc. of the selected channel (or content) list is delivered together.

In operation 915, the MCBCS server 630 checks whether a service initialization response message is received from the MCBCS controller 620. In this case, the service initialization response message includes an MBS zone ID and an MCID for each channel (or for each content) allocated by the MCBCS controller 620.

When the service initialization response message is received, the MCBCS server 630 transmits a service response message for the selected channel list to the terminal 600 in step 917, and then sends the service response message to the terminal 600 in step 919. Sends content for channels requested for service. Here, the service response message includes a user ID, a channel-specific (or content-based) MBS zone ID and MCID, and a content decryption key so that the user terminal can decode the broadcasted content.

Thereafter, the MCBCS server 630 terminates the algorithm according to the present invention.

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.

1 is a diagram illustrating a network structure for providing a multimedia service to a plurality of terminals in a broadband wireless access system according to the present invention;

2 is a diagram illustrating a signal procedure of a method for providing multimedia service information to a plurality of terminals in a broadband wireless access system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a method for providing multimedia service information to a plurality of terminals in an MCBCS network server of a broadband wireless access system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a method for providing multimedia service information to a plurality of terminals in a base station of a broadband wireless access system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

5 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a method for receiving multimedia service information in a terminal of a broadband wireless access system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

6 is a diagram illustrating a signaling procedure of a broadcast service providing method in a broadband wireless access system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

7 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a method for an application layer processor to receive a broadcast service in a broadband wireless access system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

8 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a method for providing a broadcast service by an MCBCS controller in a broadband wireless access system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

9 is a flowchart illustrating a method of a method for providing a broadcast service by an MCBCS server in a broadband wireless access system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (47)

In the method for providing a service guide (MultiCast and BroadCast Service: MCBCS) network layer server of a broadband wireless access system, Receiving a service guide from one or more service providers; Aggregating the received service guide in units of MCBCS transmission areas in each service area; Transmitting the integrated service guide to an MCBCS controller of a corresponding service area. The method of claim 1, And before the transmitting of the integrated service guide, splitting the integrated service guide into a predetermined size. The method of claim 1, The service guide is a collection of information including a broadcast schedule and each program information. The method of claim 1, The service area indicates a region where a service provider provides a service, and the MCBCS transmission zone indicates a region where the same content is broadcast in the corresponding service region. In the method for providing a service guide (Service Guide) in the base station of the broadband wireless access system, Transmitting a message including information on a broadcast channel for transmitting a service guide to a terminal;  And broadcasting the service guide to the terminal through the broadcast channel when the service guide is received from a multicast and broadcast service (MCBCS) controller. The method of claim 5, wherein The service guide is a collection of information including a broadcast schedule and each program information. The method of claim 5, wherein The message is a Downlink Channel Descriptor (DDC) message. The method of claim 5, wherein And the information on the broadcast channel is a multicast connection identifier (MCID). The method of claim 5, wherein The service guide is broadcasted to the terminal through an application layer. In the method for receiving a service guide (Service Guide) in the terminal of the broadband wireless access system, Receiving a message including information on a broadcast channel for transmitting a service guide from a base station; Receiving a service guide for at least one service provider through the broadcast channel using the information; And when a service provider is selected by a user's key manipulation, filtering only the service guide of the service provider in the service guide and displaying the service guide on the display unit. The method of claim 10, The service guide is a collection of information including a broadcast schedule and each program information. The method of claim 10, The message is a Downlink Channel Descriptor (DDC) message. The method of claim 10, And the information on the broadcast channel is a multicast connection identifier (MCID). The method of claim 10, The service guide is broadcasted to the terminal through an application layer. The method of claim 10, wherein after receiving the service guide and before the filtering process, And when the received service guide is a service guide divided into a predetermined size, further comprising: re-assembling the divided service guide to generate one integrated service guide. Way. An apparatus for providing a service guide in a broadband wireless access system, A service provider for generating a service guide and transmitting the generated service guide; Receive service guides from one or more service providers, aggregate the received service guides into units of a multicast and broadcast service (MCBCS) transmission area in each service area, and then schedule them as needed. And an MCBCS network layer server for splitting the data into sizes and transmitting them to the MCBCS controller of the corresponding service area. The method of claim 16, Receiving the service guide for each MCBCS transmission area of the service area and transmitting the same service guide to base stations belonging to the same MCBCS transmission area; The base station for transmitting a message including information on the broadcast channel for transmitting the service guide to the terminal in advance, and when the service guide is received, the service guide is broadcast to the terminal through the broadcast channel Apparatus further comprising a. The method of claim 17, Receiving a service guide for one or more service providers through the broadcast channel by using the information included in the message, when the received service guide is a service guide divided into a predetermined size, the divided service After re-assembling the guide to create one integrated service guide, and when one service provider is selected by the user's key manipulation, filtering only the service guide of the service provider in the service guide. The apparatus further comprises the terminal for displaying on the display unit. The method of claim 16, And the service guide is a collection of information including a broadcast schedule and information about each broadcast program. The method of claim 16, The service area indicates a region where a service provider provides a service, and the MCBCS transmission zone indicates a region where the same content is broadcast in the corresponding service region. The method of claim 17, The message is a Downlink Channel Descriptor (DDC) message characterized in that the device. The method of claim 17, And the information on the broadcast channel is a multicast connection identifier (MCID). The method of claim 17, And the service guide is broadcasted from the base station to the terminal through an application layer. The method of claim 16, wherein the service provider, Service guide generation function, subscription processing / management function for receiving broadcasting service of user, content transmission function of broadcasting service, user authentication and authorization and billing processing function for access control to fraudulent user, contents protection function, many And at least one of a terminal management function of users, a function of providing information required for a broadcast service, and a function of providing a mutual conversation service with a user. The method of claim 16, The MCBCS network layer server may include at least one of an MCBCS transmission zone management function, a service guide processing and distribution function, a content transmission function of a broadcast service, a terminal management function of a plurality of users, and a reception report processing function. And then The MCBCS controller includes a group paging for data / time synchronization function, MBS zone management function, notification for providing macro diversity gain, and the like. Group paging) at least one of the information transfer function. In the method of receiving a broadcast service at a terminal of a broadband wireless access system, Transmitting a service guide request message to a broadcast service (MultiCast and BroadCast Service: MCBCS) server; Receiving a service guide response message including information on all channels from the MCBCS server; Transmitting a service request message to the MCBCS server to request a service for the selected channel list when a channel list to be serviced is selected; Receiving a service response message including MAC layer information for each channel of the channel list from the MCBCS server. The method of claim 25, The information on the entire channel includes at least one of a content ID and a broadcast schedule for the entire channel. The method of claim 25, The MAC layer information includes at least one of a multicast connection ID and a multicast and broadcast service (MBS) zone ID. The method of claim 25, The service request message includes at least one of a content ID and a user ID for a channel included in the selected channel list. The method of claim 25, And the service response message includes at least one of a user ID, a content ID, the MAC layer information, and a content decryption key. The method of claim 25, When one of the channels of the channel list is selected, decoding the corresponding content among the contents of the channels of the channel list received from the MCBCS server using the MAC layer information corresponding to the selected channel Method further comprising a. A broadcast service providing method in a broadcast service (MultiCast and BroadCast Service: MCBCS) controller of a broadband wireless access system, Receiving a service initialization request message for the channel list selected by the service request user from the MCBCS server; Allocating MAC layer information for the channels in the channel list. The method of claim 32, The service initialization request message may include at least one of a content ID for the selected channel list, a broadcast schedule of the selected channel list, a packet size, and transmission rate information. The method of claim 32, Generating base station resource allocation and packetization information for synchronization; Creating a data path for transmitting content with base stations in the corresponding MBS zone; And transmitting a service initialization response message including the assigned MAC layer information to the MCBCS server. The method of claim 32, The MAC layer information includes at least one of a multicast connection ID and a multicast and broadcast service (MBS) zone ID. A broadcast service providing method in a broadcast service (MultiCast and BroadCast Service: MCBCS) server of a broadband wireless access system, When the service guide request message is received from the terminal, transmitting a service guide response message including information on all channels to the terminal; When a service request message including information on the channel list selected by the user is received from the terminal, a service initialization request message is transmitted to the MCBCS controller to cause the MCBCS controller to allocate MAC layer information on the selected channel list. Method comprising the process of doing. The method of claim 36, And when the service request message is received, performing an authentication and authorization procedure for the terminal. The method of claim 36, Receiving a service initialization response message including MAC layer information from the MCBCS controller; And transmitting a service response message including the MAC layer information to the terminal. The method of claim 36, The information on the entire channel includes at least one of a content ID and a broadcast schedule for the entire channel. The method of claim 36, The MAC layer information includes at least one of a multicast connection ID and a multicast and broadcast service (MBS) zone ID. In the broadcast service providing apparatus of a broadband wireless access system, By transmitting a service guide request message to a broadcast service (MultiCast and BroadCast Service (MCBCS)) server, a service guide response message including information on all channels is received from the MCBCS server, and a list of channels to be serviced by the user is selected. And a terminal for transmitting a service request message including information on the selected channel list to the MCBCS server; When a service guide request message is received from the terminal, a service guide response message including information on all channels is transmitted to the terminal, and a service request message including information on a channel list selected by the user is received from the terminal. And an MCBCS server, upon sending, a service initialization request message to the MCBCS controller to cause an MCBCS controller to allocate MAC layer information for the selected channel list. 42. The method of claim 41 wherein The information on the entire channel includes at least one of a content ID and a broadcast schedule for the entire channel. 42. The method of claim 41 wherein The MAC layer information includes at least one of a multicast connection ID and a multicast and broadcast service (MBS) zone ID. The method of claim 41, wherein the MCBCS server, And when the service request message is received, performs an authentication and authorization procedure for the terminal. 42. The method of claim 41 wherein And a MCBCS controller for allocating MAC layer information for the channels of the channel list when a service initialization request message for the channel list is received from the MCBCS server. The method of claim 45, The MCBCS controller generates base station resource allocation and packetization information for synchronization, generates a data path for content transmission with base stations in a corresponding multicast and broadcast service (MBS) zone, and then allocates the allocated MAC. A service initialization response message including layer information is transmitted to the MCBCS server. The MCBCS server, when the service initialization response message is received, characterized in that for transmitting a service response message including the MAC layer information to the terminal. The method of claim 46, wherein the terminal, When one of the channels of the channel list is selected, decoding the corresponding content among the contents of the channels of the channel list received from the MCBCS server using the MAC layer information corresponding to the selected channel. Characterized in that the device.

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