MXPA06004150A - Scalable encoding for multicast broadcast multimedia service - Google Patents

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are described for broadcasting content. Encoding the content to be multicast/broadcast into multiple streams, wherein at least one stream provides a base portion of the content, and additional streams provide enhancements to the content. A wireless communication device receives the broadcast and decodes streams in accordance with the reception capabilities of the wireless device. The configuration of the wireless device can be determined based on the wireless device's capability to decode multiple streams. In addition, the configuration of the wireless device can be determined based on a subscriber level of the wireless device.

Description

SCALABLE CODING FOR MULTIMEDIA SERVICE OF DIFFUSION OF MULTIPLE DESTINATIONS FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to wireless communications, and more specifically, to communication systems for multicasting / disseminating information to multiple users.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Broadcast or multicast services refer to a communication system used to transmit information from a transmitter to multiple receivers or users. Examples of multicast / broadcast or point-to-multipoint communication systems include dispatch systems, such as those used by the police, trucking companies and taxi companies where a central dispatcher broadcasts signals to one or more vehicles. The signal can be directed to a specific vehicle or to all vehicles simultaneously. Since mobile radio networks have become common, such as cellular telephone networks, customers have begun to desire to receive broadcast and multicast services such as video, multimedia and Internet Protocol (IP) over a wireless communication link. For example, customers want to be able to receive simultaneous video, such as television broadcast, on their cell phone or other portable wireless communication device. Other examples of the type of data that customers want to receive with their wireless communication device include multicast / multimedia broadcasting and Internet access. Wireless communication systems have many applications that include, for example, cell phones, pagers, wireless local loops, personal digital assistants (PDAs), Internet telephony and satellite communication systems. A particularly important application is cell phone systems for mobile subscribers. As used herein, the term "cellular" system encompasses frequencies of both cellular and personal communications (PCS) services. Several air interfaces have been developed for such cellular telephone systems including frequency division multiple access (FDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), and code division multiple access (CDMA). Different domestic and international standards have been established to support the various air interfaces including, for example, Advanced Mobile Phone Service (AMPS), Global Mobile System (GSM), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), GSM Enhanced Data Environment (EDGE), Interim Standard 95 (IS-95) and its derivatives, IS-95A, IS-95B, ANSI J-STD-008 (often referred to collectively herein as IS-95) and high-speed data systems proposed such as broadband CDMA (WCDMA). These standards are enacted by the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) and other well-known standards corporations. The diffusion techniques for use in the various air interfaces are also beginning to be standardized. One type of multicast / broadcast in wireless communication systems that is beginning to be standardized is the Multi-Destination Broadcast Multimedia Service (MBMS) in the 3GPP. One goal of MBMS in 3GPP is to provide a means for high-speed service to multiple users in a radio-efficient manner. Different versions of MBMS are being developed and standardized for at least two air interfaces, WCDMA and GSM / GPRS / EDGE. Continuous advances in wireless communication devices result in newer devices that have improved capabilities. As new wireless communication devices with enhanced capabilities are introduced to the market, it is common for users with varied capacity devices to want to receive the same MBMS, or at least similar versions of the same MBMS, according to the capabilities of the respective devices. In a parallel way, users in different places will experience different radio impairments. It is also common for users with different reception qualities to want to receive the same MBMS or at least similar versions of the same MBMS, in accordance with those reception qualities. There is therefore a need in the art for a technique that allows wireless communication devices with different capacities, or that experience different reception qualities, to receive similar versions of the same MBMS, corresponding to those capabilities.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The modalities described herein address the needs set forth above by means of scalable coding of content that is spreading in a wireless communication system. One aspect of the invention relates to the coding content that multicast / broadcast accomplishes in a plurality of message streams. The plurality of streams then carry out the multicast / broadcast to wireless communication devices that receive the broadcast. Each of the wireless communication devices includes a decoder for decoding selected ones of the plurality of streams according to a configuration of the wireless device. Additional aspects include that the plurality of message streams provide cumulative information and streams may have a hierarchical structure. One of the pluralities of currents provided is a base current that includes a base portion of the content. The additional streams provide refinement in the base portion of the content. In one embodiment, multiple streams are assigned to multiple time slots in a GSM system. The assignment of a current to a particular time interval may be communicated by an out-of-band signal or a band signal. In another embodiment, multiple streams are assigned to multiple codes in a CDMA system. The assignment of a stream to a particular code can be communicated by an out-of-band signal or a band signal. In yet another embodiment, multiple streams are assigned to multiple subcarriers in an OFDM system. The assignment of a current to a particular sub-carrier may be communicated by an out-of-band signal or a band signal. A wireless device in the communication system can be constructed so that its configuration, and the streams it will decode, can be determined based on the ability of the wireless device to decode the multiple streams. In addition, the wireless device configuration can further be determined based on a subscriber level of the wireless device. An additional aspect is that the wireless communication device can include a receiver configured to accept a broadcast of a plurality of streams and a decoder configured to accept the received data streams and decode selected ones of the plurality of streams according to a configuration of the Wireless device. The configuration of the wireless device can be predetermined, such as based on the ability of the wireless device to decode multiple streams. In addition, the configuration of the wireless device can be further determined based on a subscriber level of the wireless device. The decoded streams can be combined to produce a combined content that is presented to a user.

Yet another aspect is a scalable encoder configured to accept content and to produce a plurality of streams that will diffuse. The plurality of streams can provide cumulative information and can have a hierarchical structure. One of the pluralities of streams provided is a base portion of the content. Additional streams provide refinement in the base portion of the content. Other features and advantages of the present invention should be apparent from the following description of the exemplary embodiments, which illustrate, by way of example, aspects of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 shows portions of a communication system 100 constructed in accordance with the present invention. Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating a technique for scalable coding of an MBMS signal in multiple streams. Figure 3 is a block diagram illustrating two radio frames 302 and 304 in the GSM air interface. Figure 4 is a block diagram illustrating portions of an exemplary wireless communication system that can distribute stream of MBMS content.

Figure 5 is a flow diagram illustrating the operation of an exemplary scalable encoder. Figure 6 is a block diagram illustrating portions of an exemplary wireless communication device that can decode streams of MBMS content. Figure 7 is a flow diagram illustrating the operation of an exemplary scalable decoder. Figure 8 is a block diagram of a wireless communication device constructed in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The word "exemplary" is used in the present to mean that "it serves as an example, case or illustration". Any mode described herein as "exemplary" will not necessarily be construed as preferred or advantageous over other modalities. One aspect of the invention is to provide scalable coding and a technique and apparatus for providing Multi-Destination Broadcast Multimedia Service broadcast to wireless communication devices (WCD) in a communication system independent of WCD capability. Scalable coding can provide different levels, or features or improvements, of MBMS to different WCDs depending on the WCD subscription level. For example, a user may have a WCD that has the ability to receive a fully formed, or completely improved MBMS, but the user may wish to receive only a reduced enhanced version of the MBMS, for example, at a reduced expense when compared to the completely improved version. Similarly, a user may have a WCD that is not able to receive a fully improved MBMS, even if the user still wants to receive a reduced enhanced version of the MBMS. It is noted that multicast refers to sending content to a selected group of WCDs within the network, while broadcasting refers to sending content to all WCDs within the network. The term multicast / diffusion refers to multicast, or diffusion, or both. In another aspect, the content of an MBMS broadcast can be encoded in multiple message streams, where one or more streams can be a "base" content of the MBMS and other streams can include improvements in the base content. The base and improvement currents are cumulative since they can be combined to produce the content. The base and breeding streams may also have a hierarchical structure so that successive breeding streams can be added to the base and breeding streams prior to developing the additional improved content. For example, an enhancement stream may include data that, when combined with the base stream, provides greater fidelity for a video, audio, or graphics presentation. If a WCD is only able to receive, or has only subscribed to, the base portion of the MBMS broadcast, then that is all that it will decode. Likewise, if a WCD is able to receive, and has subscribed to, improved portions of an MBMS broadcast, then it will receive and decode the base portion and the appropriate enhanced portions of the broadcast. Figure 1 shows portions of a communication system 100 constructed in accordance with the present invention. The communication system 100 includes the infrastructure 101, multiple WCD or mobile stations 104 and 105 (MS), and terrestrial communication devices 122 and 124. In general, WCDs can be either mobile or fixed. Examples of WCD 104 include cell phones, personal computers enabled by wireless communication and personal digital assistants (PDAs), and other wireless devices. The communication system 100 can be designed to support one or more wireless standards. For example, standards may include standards referred to as TIA / EIA-95-B (IS-95), TIA / EIA-98-C (IS-98), 3rd Generation Society Project (3GPP); Project 2 of the 3rd Generation Society (3GPP2), cdma2000, Broadband CDMA (WCDMA), and others. The infrastructure 101 also includes other components, such as base stations 102, base station controllers 106, mobile switching centers 108, a switching network 120, and the like. In one embodiment, the base station 102 is integrated with the base station controller 106, and in other embodiments, the base station 102 and the base station controller 106 are separate components. Different types of switching networks 120 can be used to route signals in the communication system 100, for example, the switching network 120 can be the public switched telephone network (PSTN). The term "air interface" refers to the signal trajectories between the infrastructure and the WCD. Typically, the term "non-return link" refers to the air interface signal path from the infrastructure to a WCD and the term "return link" refers to the air interface signal path from a WCD to the infrastructure. As shown in Figure 1, WCDs 104 and 105 receive signals 132 and 136 on the non-return link and transmit signals 134 and 138 on the return link. In general, an MBMS signal is transmitted from one or more base stations 102 to multiple WCD 104 and 105. The same MBMS signal is transmitted to each intended WCD however each WCD may have different capacities, or subscription levels and therefore is capable of decoding different characteristics or improvements, of the MBMS signal. In this way it may be advantageous to code the MBMS signal in multiple streams so that each WCD can decode a desired set of streams and thereby receive a desired version of the MBMS. Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating a technique for scalable coding of an MBMS signal in multiple streams. In Figure 2, a block representing a fully improved MBMS signal 202 may require 2 Mbps of bandwidth to transmit. The MBMS signal can be divided into multiple portions, a first portion 204 which is a minimum bandwidth necessary to receive a "base" portion of the MBMS signal. Additional portions of signal 206 and 208 of MBMS include enhancements, or aggregate characteristics, in the base portion. Each portion of the MBMS signal can be encoded in one of more separate streams. For example, if the MBMS signal is a video signal, it could be encoded in three separate streams, as follows: Current I-Video in low quality and in black and white Stream 2-Information in color Stream 3-Additional refinements in the information Of video . In this example, Current 1, the video signal in low quality in black and white, corresponds to the signal 204 base. Currents 2 and 3, information in color and additional refinements, correspond to signals 206 and 208 of improvement. A receiver that only has the ability to receive or has only subscribed to, the base version, which corresponds to Stream 1, will decode and display the video in black and white and with low visual quality.

Similarly, a receiver that is capable of receiving and has subscribed to, an improved version of the MBMS can decode Streams 1 and 2, and will display the video in color and with low visual quality. Likewise, a receiver that is able to receive and has subscribed to a fully improved version of the MBMS can decode streams 1, 2 and 3 and visualize the video in color and with high visual quality. Specific application layer techniques for performing scalable coding are known in the art.

Different techniques can be used to inform users that the content is being sent in multiple streams. Two techniques include out-of-band signaling and in-band signaling. Out-of-band signaling, also referred to as upper layer signaling, can be used to communicate information about the format of multiple streams in a band, or communication channel, which does not include multiple streams such as in a control channel. For example, an appropriate upper layer signaling message may be used to communicate, or identify, which data streams are included within a particular time interval. In-band signaling, which includes information about the format of multiple bands inserted within an MBMS base stream, can also be used to inform users that the content is being sent in multiple streams. For example, a header of one of the data streams, such as the data stream that includes the base portion of the content, may be used to communicate, or identify, which data streams are included within a particular time interval. Different air interfaces can take advantage of aspects of the invention. Figure 3 is a block diagram illustrating two radio frames 302 and 304 in the GSM air interface. As shown in Figure 3, the radio frames 302 and 304 of the GSM air interface each are divided into eight time slots, and the individual time slots are assigned to particular users in the system. In addition, GSM transmission and reception uses two different frequencies and the non-return link and the return link travel for three time intervals. For example, in Figure 3 a downlink radio frame 302 can be transmitted at a frequency and a uplink radio frame 304 can be transmitted at a different frequency. The downlink radio frame 302 is shifted by three time slots, TS0-TS2, from the uplink radio frame. Having a shift between the downlink and uplink radio frames allows the wireless communication devices, or terminals, to be able to operate without having to be able to transmit and receive at the same time. Improvements in GSM wireless communication devices or terminals have resulted in GSM terminals that can be differentiated by their ability to receive multiple time slots during the same radio frames. These are called "multi-interval classes" and can be found in Annex B of 3GPP TS 45.002, incorporated herein in its entirety.

It is reasonable to expect that any given point in time different to GSM terminals with different reception capacities will be presented in the market. For example, in GSM a WCD can support the reception and decoding of multiple time slots during a single radio frame. By encoding the MBMS content into multiple "streams" and transmitting the multiple streams at different time intervals within the radio frames, multiple streams can be received by the WCDs. WCDs that do not support multi-slot communications can decode a desired stream or base that can contain a basic level of content. WCDs that support multi-slot communications can decode additional content streams that provide improvements in base content. Using the example of a video signal described with Figure 2, the base current providing a low resolution video signal in black and white can be assigned to one or more time slots, for example the TSO and TS2 time slots. . Additional streams can improve the base current when adding, for example, color or high resolution or both can be assigned to one or more different time intervals. For example, a color enhancement stream can be assigned to TS4 and a high resolution enhancement stream can be added to TS6. In this example, the base station can notify the WCDs, for example using signaling either out of band or in band, that the base current is included within the time slots TSO and TS2 and that a color enhancement current is it is included within TS4 and a high resolution enhancement stream is included within TS5, and WCDs can adjust their reception accordingly. The base and breeding currents can be added to any of the time intervals as desired. A similar technique can be used in a communication system based on a CDMA air interface that uses multiple codes, referred to as Walsh codes, to communicate between the information between the base stations and the WCDs, and individual codes are assigned to particular users in the system. Using the previous example, a low resolution black and white video signal can be assigned to one or more codes. Additional breeding streams can be assigned to other codes. Again, the base station can notify the WCDs, for example using signaling either out-of-band or in-band, that the base current is included within one or a few particular codes and that a current of color enhancement and a stream of improvement High resolution are included in other codes. Using this information, WCDs can adjust their reception accordingly. The base and breeding currents can be added to any of the code intervals as desired. In addition, a similar technique can be used in a communication system based on an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex (OFDM) aerial interface. In an OFDM air interface, multiple sub-bearers are simultaneously transmitted at different frequencies to a receiver. In an OFDM system, multiple currents can be assigned to different sub-carriers. Again, using the previous example, a low resolution black and white video signal can be assigned to one or more sub-carriers. Additional breeding streams can be assigned to other subcarriers. The base station can notify the WCDs, for example using out-band or in-band signaling, that the base current is included within one or a few particular sub-carriers and that a color enhancement current and a high enhancement current resolution are included in other sub-carriers. Using this information, WCDs can adjust their reception accordingly. The base and breeding currents can be added to any of the sub-carriers as desired. A scalable coding technique that allows the reception of MBMS through all WCDs, or terminals, independent of their capabilities while at the same time, grant a better service with users with more capable WCD, or terminals, is desirable. For example, a GSM network can place separate streams, for example Currents 1, 2 and 3 mentioned in the above, in contiguous groups of time slots. WCDs, or terminals, capable of receiving only a limited number of time slots will receive and decode base currents. The WCD or terminals, with higher capacities, or with better reception quality, can receive and decode all the MBMS information. For example, with reference to the previous example where a video MBMS signal was separated into three currents, the network could put: Current 1 in time intervals 0,1,2,3 Current 2 in time intervals 4 Current 3 in intervals Generally, GSM terminals, or WCDs, become increasingly complicated for higher multi-slot classes, for example, when they have to be able to decode a large number of time slots. Therefore, a terminal capable of receiving six time slots (designated from 0 to 5) will be more complicated than a terminal capable of receiving four time slots (from 0 to 3). Using scalable coding allows a less capable terminal to receive at least a basic version of information, such as Stream 1, while at the same time enabling a more capable terminal to take full advantage of its capabilities. It should be noted that scalable coding is not dependent on radio conditions, and in fact depends on the capabilities of the terminal. If a GSM MBMS signal is transmitted at full power with equal power assigned to each current, all different currents must experience similar radio conditions. It is appreciated that different power levels, or resources, can be assigned to different currents. For example, an additional power, or resources, can be assigned to the base current to improve reception of the base current over the air interface. The network can also put increasing currents in contiguous, non-contiguous or other combinations of time intervals and indicate this appropriately to the WCDs, or terminals. Figure 4 illustrates portions of an exemplary wireless communication system that can distribute stream of MBMS content. As shown in Figure 4, the wireless communication system includes components in a network infrastructure, such as an MBMS content server 402, and a scalable 404 encoder. The scalable encoder 404 receives the MBMS signal from the content server 402, encodes the signal and produces multiple content streams. The network infrastructure may also include components for routing signals and messages through the network and the radio transceiver equipment, such as a mobile switching center 406 (MSC) and the base station transceiver 408 (BST) respectively, for transmit and receive signals from wireless communication devices 410 (WCD). Although the scalable encoder 404 is shown as a separate component it is appreciated that the scalable encoder 404 may be included within the MBMS content provider 402, the MSC 406, the BST 408 or other places within the wireless network infrastructure. Figure 5 is a flow diagram illustrating the operation of an exemplary scalable encoder. The flow ns in block 502 where the encoder receives the MBMS content. Flow continues to block 504 where the content is separated into "base" and "improvement" layers. The base and breeding layers are produced in block 506. Alternatively, an MBMS content provider can produce separate base and breed layers directly. The flow continues to block 506 where the base and breeding layers are encoded in multiple streams. The flow continues to block 508 where multiple streams are produced. Figure 6 is a block diagram illustrating portions of an exemplary wireless communication device that can decode streams of MBMS content. As illustrated in Figure 6, the wireless communication device 600 includes a receiver 602, a scalable decoder 604 and a user interface 606. The diffusion currents are received by the receiver 602 and are produced to the scalable decoder 604. The scalable decoder decodes the selected currents received. The decoder can decode selected streams according to a configuration of the wireless device. For example, the wireless device may be preset only to decode selected streams, or the decoded streams may vary, depending on a subscription level of the wireless device, or its reception quality. For example, a user can subscribe to different levels of improvement in the content received at different expenses accordingly. The decoded streams combine and produce a user interface 606. The user interface brings the content to the user and may include, for example, audio and visual outputs to the user. The scalable decoder 604 may include a general purpose processor, a specific application integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate arrangement (FPGA), discrete components, or the like. The scalable encoder may also be implemented as a separate component or may be combined with other components, for example, as part of a general processor that performs other functions in addition to scalable decoding. Figure 7 is a flow diagram illustrating the operation of an exemplary scalable decoder. The flow ns in block 702 where the decoder receives the MBMS content streams. The flow continues to block 704 where, if the user has subscribed to the MBMS, the base stream is decoded. The flow proceeds to block 706. In block 706, it is determined whether the WCD is capable of, and has been subscribed or authorized, to decode content improvement streams. If the WCD is capable and is authorized to decode the streams of improvement the flow continues to block 708. In block 708, the authorized streams of improvement are decoded. The flow proceeds to block 710 where the decoded base content is combined with the decoded enhancement content. The flow continues to block 712 where the decoded content is produced.

Returning to block 706, if the WCD is not capable, or is not authorized or has not subscribed to the decoding enhancement streams, the stream continues to block 612 and the decoded base content is produced. Figure 8 is a block diagram of a wireless communication device constructed in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The communication device 802 includes a network interface 806, the digital signal processor 808 (DSP), a main processor 810, a memory device 812, a program product 814 and a user interface 816. The infrastructure signals are received through the network interface 806 and sent to the main processor 810. The main processor 810 receives the signals and, depending on the content of the signal, responds with appropriate actions. For example, the main processor 810 can decode the received signal itself, or it can route the received signal to the DSP by decoding it. In one embodiment, the network interface 806 may be a transceiver and an antenna for interfacing to the infrastructure on a wireless channel. In another embodiment, the network interface 806 may be a network interface card used to interconnect to the infrastructure over land lines. Both the main processor 810 and the DSP 808 are connected to a memory device 812. The memory device 812 can be used to store data during the operation of the WCD, as well as store the program code that will be executed by the main processor 810 or the DSP 808. For example, the main processor, the DSP or both, can operate under the control of programming instructions that are temporarily stored in the memory device 812. The main processor and the DSP may also include storage memory of the same programs. When the programming instructions are executed, the main processor 810 or the DSP 808, or both, perform their functions, for example by decoding content streams. In this way, the programming steps implement the functionality of the main processor or CPU, and respective DSP, so that the main processor and the DSP each can be made to perform the functions of decoding content streams as desired. The programming steps can be received from a program product 814. The program product 814 can store and transfer the programming steps in the memory 812 for execution by the main processor, CPU or both.

The program product 814 can be semiconductor memory chips, such as RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, as well as other storage devices such as a hard disk, a removable disk, a CD -ROM or any other form of storage means known in the art that can store instructions that can be read by computer. Additionally, the program product 814 may be the source file that includes the program stages that are received from the network and stored in the memory and then executed. In this way, the processing steps necessary for the operation according to the invention can be represented in the program product 814. In Figure 8, the exemplary storage medium is shown coupled to the main processor so that the main processor can read information from, and write information to, the storage medium. Alternatively, the storage medium can be an integral part of the main processor. The user interface 816 is connected to the main processor 810 and the DSP 808. For example, the user interface may include a display and a loudspeaker that connect to the DSP 710 and are used to produce content data to the user. Those skilled in the art will understand that information and signals can be represented using any of a variety of different technologies and techniques. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols and chips that can be referred to by the above description can be represented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, fields or magnetic particles, fields or optical particles or any combination of the same. Those skilled in the art will further appreciate that the various illustrative logic blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithm steps described in conjunction with the embodiments described herein may be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, or combinations of both. To clearly illustrate this hardware and software exchange capability, several illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits and steps have been described in the foregoing generally in terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends on the particular application and the design restrictions imposed on the overall system. Those with experience may implement the described functionality in various ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be construed as causing a departure from the scope of the present invention. The various illustrative logic blocks, modules and circuits described in conjunction with the embodiments described herein may be implemented or implemented with a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), a specific application integrated circuit (ASIC), an arrangement programmable field gate (FPGA), or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but alternatively, the processor may be any processor, controller, microcontroller, or conventional state machine. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, for example, a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors together with a DSP core, or any other configuration. The method or technique described in conjunction with the embodiments described herein may be represented directly in hardware, in a software module executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two. A software module can reside in RAM, flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor so that the processor can read information from, and write information to, the storage medium. Alternatively, the storage medium can be an integral part of the processor. The processor and the storage medium can reside in an ASIC. The ASIC can reside in a user terminal. Alternatively, the processor and the storage means may reside as discrete components in a user terminal. The prior description of the described embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is not intended that the present invention be limited to the embodiments shown herein but will be in accordance with the broader scope consistent with the principles and novel features described herein.

Claims (59)

1. NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION Having described the present invention, it is considered as a novelty and therefore the property described in the following claims is claimed as property. CLAIMS 1. A method for multicasting / broadcasting on a communication channel characterized in that it comprises: providing a plurality of streams, each of which includes a coded content; and performing multicast / diffusion in the plurality of streams, wherein each of the streams includes data that differentiates the content of the stream for selective decoding by a receiving device.
2. 2. The method of compliance with the claim 1, characterized in that the plurality of currents provides cumulative information.
3. 3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the plurality of streams has a hierarchical structure.
4. 4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the first of the plurality of currents provides a base current that includes a base portion of the content.
5. 5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that at least one of the remaining currents provides improvements to the base portion of the content.
6. 6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the communication channel is part of a GSM system.
7. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the plurality of data streams is included in multiple time slots.
8. 8. The method of compliance with the claim 7, characterized in that the identification of data streams included within a particular time interval is communicated in an out-of-band communication.
9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that the out-of-band communication is a higher layer signaling message.
10. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that the identification of data streams included within a particular time interval is communicated in a band communication.
11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that the band communication is included in a header of one of the plurality of streams.
12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that the first of the plurality of streams includes a base portion of the content.
13. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the communication channel is part of a CDMA system.
14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that the plurality of data streams are included in multiple codes.
15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that the identification of data streams included within a particular code is communicated in an out-of-band communication.
16. 16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that the out-of-band communication is a higher layer signaling message.
17. 17. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that the identification of data streams included within a particular code is communicated in a band communication.
18. 18. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that the band communication is included in a header of one of the plurality of streams.
19. 19. The method according to claim 18, characterized in that the first of the plurality of streams includes a base portion of the content.
20. 20. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the communication channel is part of an OFDM system.
21. The method according to claim 20, characterized in that the plurality of data streams is included in sub-carriers.
22. 22. The method according to claim 20, characterized in that the identification of data streams included within a particular sub-bearer is communicated in an out-of-band communication.
23. 23. The method according to claim 22, characterized in that the out-of-band communication is a higher layer signaling message.
24. 24. The method according to claim 20, characterized in that the identification of data streams included within a particular sub-carrier is communicated in a band communication.
25. 25. The method according to claim 24, characterized in that the band communication is included in a header of one of the plurality of streams.
26. 26. The method according to claim 25, characterized in that the first of the plurality of streams includes a base portion of the content.
27. 27. A method for receiving a multicast / broadcast session on a communication channel characterized in that it comprises: receiving a plurality of streams, each of which includes a coded content; and decoding a selected stream, wherein each of the streams includes data that differentiates the content of the streams.
28. 28. The method according to claim 27, characterized in that the plurality of currents provides cumulative information.
29. 29. The method according to claim 27, characterized in that the plurality of streams has a hierarchical structure.
30. 30. The method according to claim 27, characterized in that the first of the plurality of currents provides a base current that includes a base portion of the content.
31. 31. The method according to claim 30, characterized in that at least one of the remaining currents provides refinement in the base portion of the content.
32. 32. The method according to claim 27, characterized in that the selected streams that are decoded are determined based on a subscriber level.
33. 33. The method according to claim 27, characterized in that the communication channel is part of a GSM system.
34. 34. The method according to claim 27, characterized in that the plurality of data streams is included in multiple time slots.
35. 35. The method according to claim 34, characterized in that the identification of included data streams within a particular time interval is communicated in an out-of-band communication.
36. 36. The method according to claim 34, characterized in that the identification of data streams included within a particular time interval is communicated in a band communication.
37. 37. The method according to claim 27, characterized in that the communication channel is part of a CDMA system.
38. 38. The method according to claim 37, characterized in that the plurality of data streams is included in multiple codes.
39. 39. The method according to claim 38, characterized in that the identification of data streams included within a particular code is communicated in an out-of-band communication.
40. 40. The method according to claim 38, characterized in that the identification of data streams included within a particular code is communicated in a band communication.
41. 41. The method according to claim 27, characterized in that the communication channel is part of an OFDM system.
42. 42. The method according to claim 41, characterized in that the plurality of data streams is included in sub-bearers.
43. 43. The method according to claim 42, characterized in that the identification of data streams included within a particular sub-carrier is communicated in an out-of-band communication.
44. 44. The method according to claim 42, characterized in that the identification of data streams included within a particular sub-carrier is communicated in a band communication.
45. 45. A wireless communication device characterized in that it comprises: a receiver configured to accept a broadcast that includes a plurality of streams; a decoder configured to accept the received streams and decode at least the selected current of the plurality of streams according to a configuration of the wireless device.
46. 46. The wireless communication device according to claim 45, characterized in that the selected current is determined based on a subscriber level of the wireless device.
47. 47. The wireless communication device according to claim 45, characterized in that the decoded streams combine to produce a combined content.
48. 48. The wireless communication device according to claim 45, characterized in that the combined content is presented to a user.
49. 49. An encoder in a wireless communication system, the encoder is configured to accept the content, encode it and produce a plurality of streams that are broadcast, characterized in that the plurality of streams provides cumulative information.
50. 50. The encoder according to claim 49, characterized in that the plurality of streams has a hierarchical structure.
51. 51. The encoder according to claim 49, characterized in that one of the plurality of currents provides a base portion of the content.
52. 52. The encoder according to claim 51, characterized in that the additional currents provide improvements to the base portion of the content.
53. 53. A decoder configured to accept a plurality of data streams and decode those selected from the plurality of streams and to produce a combined content.
54. 54. The decoder according to claim 53, characterized in that the plurality of data streams is cumulative.
55. 55. The decoder according to claim 53, characterized in that the plurality of data streams is hierarchical.
56. 56. The decoder according to claim 53, characterized in that one of the plurality of data streams is a base portion of the combined content.
57. 57. The decoder according to claim 56, characterized in that the additional data streams provide improvements to the base portion of the content.
58. 58. A computer readable medium that represents a method for encoding broadcast content, the method is characterized in that it comprises: receiving the content that is broadcast; encode a base portion of the content information and produce a base current; coding additional improvement portions of the content and producing additional streams.
59. 59. A computer-readable medium representing a method for decoding broadcast content, the method is characterized in that it comprises: receiving a broadcast that includes a plurality of streams; decoding a base current thereby establishing a base portion of the content; decoding additional broadcast streams according to a predefined configuration of the encoder, thereby establishing portions of content improvement.