WO2012113312A1

WO2012113312A1 - Method and system for switching mbms transmission modes

Info

Publication number: WO2012113312A1
Application number: PCT/CN2012/071305
Authority: WO
Inventors: 苟伟; 马子江; 朱常青; 杜晓
Original assignee: 中兴通讯股份有限公司
Priority date: 2011-02-24
Filing date: 2012-02-20
Publication date: 2012-08-30
Also published as: CN102651846A; CN102651846B

Abstract

Provided are a method and system for switching modes of MBMS transmission, the method comprising: a network side prepares to switch a multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS) to point-to-multipoint (PTM) mode; the network side sends to the user equipment (UE) currently receiving MBMS in point-to-point (PTP) mode a notification to the effect that a switch to PTM mode is imminent; the UE prepares to switch to PTM mode in accordance with the notification; when switchover preparations are complete, the network side and the UE switch to PTM mode. The present invention reduces much interaction between UE and network side, simplifies conversion procedures, and is easy to implement.

Description

Method and system for switching MBMS service transmission mode

Technical field

The present invention relates to a Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS), and in particular to a method and system for switching an MBMS service transmission mode.

Background technique

With the rapid development of the Internet and the popularity of large-screen multi-function mobile phones, a large number of mobile data multimedia services and various high-bandwidth multimedia services have emerged, such as: video conferencing, television broadcasting, video on demand, video advertising, online education, interactive games, etc. Not only meets the rising business needs of mobile users, but also brings new business growth points to mobile operators. These mobile data multimedia services require multiple users to receive the same data at the same time, and have the characteristics of large data volume, long duration, and delay sensitivity compared with general data services. In order to effectively utilize mobile network resources, the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) proposed the MBMS service, which is a technology that transmits data from one data source to multiple targets, and implements the network. The sharing of resources (including the core network and the access network) improves the utilization of network resources (especially air interface resources). The MBMS service defined by 3GPP can not only realize plain text low-rate message class multicast and broadcast, but also realize high-speed multimedia service broadcast and multicast, and provide a variety of rich video, audio and multimedia services, which undoubtedly conforms to future mobile The trend of data development provides a better business prospect for the development of 3G (3rd Generation, third generation digital communication).

In the development of the MBMS standard of the LTE R10, the telecom operator ORANGE SA proposes that the MBMS service can be used as a user equipment (Point to Point, PTP) on the network side according to the needs of the operator. UE) transmits. After several meetings of LTE (Long Term Evolution), it was supported and recognized by other companies. In the discussion of MBMS counting (Counting), it proposed to count for this type of service, according to the results of Counting. If the number of users receiving a certain MBMS service in the PTP mode meets the threshold requirement (that is, when the number of users received is relatively large), then the MBMS service can be converted into a multimedia broadcast multicast single frequency network (Multimedia Broadcast multicast) Service Single Frequency Network, MBSFN) (a kind of point-to-multipoint (oint to multipoint, PTM) mode, and is a multi-cell joint transmission method. For details, see 15.3.3 Multi-cell transmission description of LTE 36.300vlO.1.0 protocol. MBMS service transmitted in a certain MBSFN area, below The description is described in the PTM mode. After the number of users receiving the MBMS service exceeds a certain threshold, the PTP mode is changed to the PTM mode to further improve the spectrum efficiency of transmitting the MBMS service and save spectrum resources.

The foregoing Counting is a method initiated by the network side to count the number of UEs being received or interested in receiving for one or more MBMS services. The specific process is that the network sends the identifier of the MBMS service that needs to be counted to the UE, and then the UE determines whether it is receiving or interested in receiving the MBMS service. If the UE is receiving or interested in receiving, the UE sends the receiving to the network side. information. Through this process, the network side can grasp which MBMS services are being sent, the number of users received, etc., and also know whether some MBMSs that are about to start are popular, and whether users are willing to receive them.

Then, how is the process of converting the PTP mode to the PTM mode implemented, and how to ensure that the UE receives the continuity of the MBMS service in the process of switching the transmission mode?

Summary of the invention

The invention discloses a method and a system for switching an MBMS service transmission mode, so as to solve the problem that the PTP mode has not been switched to the PTM mode. The present invention provides a method for switching an MBMS transmission mode, including:

The network side performs multimedia handover multicast service (MBMS) handover to point-to-multipoint (PTM) mode handover preparation;

The user equipment (UE) that is receiving the MBMS in a point-to-point (PTP) manner sends a notification message to notify the MBMS that the MBMS is about to be switched to be sent in a PTM manner; the UE performs the notification message according to the notification message. Switching to the PTM mode for handover preparation; and after completing the handover preparation, the network side and the UE switch to the PTM mode. In the method, the notification message carries at least one of the following information: a start time of the MBMS, a message of a multimedia broadcast multicast single frequency network (MBSFN) area, and a temporary shift in a PTM manner. The mobile group identifier (TMGI) and the information identifying the MBMS of the PTP method that needs to be switched to the PTM mode. The step of the UE performing the handover preparation to the PTM mode includes: determining, by the UE, the MBSFN area according to the notification message, receiving the multicast control channel information corresponding to the MBSFN area, and discovering from the received multicast control channel information. The MBMS. The step of the network side switching to the PTM mode includes: the network side starts to use the PTM mode to send the MBMS, and stops sending the MBMS in a PTP manner; the step of the UE switching to the PTM mode includes: the UE Start receiving the MBMS in the PTM mode, and stop receiving the MBMS in the PTP mode. The network side sends the notification message by using an acknowledgment mechanism. The method further includes: if the UE fails to correctly receive the notification message, the network side resends the notification message. The triggering conditions for the network side to perform the handover preparation of the MBMS to the PTM mode include: manual triggering; system setting; or, when the network side performs the PTP mode transmission of the MBMS, the UE that is receiving the MBMS in the PTP manner is counted. The number and/or number of UEs interested in receiving the MBMS in PTM mode reaches a preset threshold. The notification message includes a start time for transmitting the MBMS in a PTM manner, and the network side and the UE switch to the PTM mode when the start time arrives. The step of the network side transmitting the notification message to the UE that is receiving the MBMS in the PTP mode includes: after the network side determines that the handover preparation is completed or determines that the condition for completing the handover preparation is completed, the UE is receiving the MBMS in the PTP manner. Send a notification message. The present invention also provides an MBMS transmission mode switching system, including:

a handover preparation module on the network side, configured to perform a handover preparation of a multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS) to a point-to-multipoint (PTM) mode;

The network side handover notification module is configured to send a notification message to a user equipment (UE) that is receiving the MBMS in a point-to-point (PTP) manner to notify the MBMS that the MBMS is about to be cut Change to PTM mode to send;

a handover preparation module of the UE, configured to perform handover preparation to switch to a PTM mode according to the notification message;

The switching module of the network side and the UE is configured to switch the network side and the UE to the PTM mode respectively after completing the handover preparation. The network side further includes a statistic module, where the statistic module is configured to: when the network side uses the PTP mode to send the MBMS, the number of UEs that are receiving the MBMS by using the PTP mode, and/or the interest to receive the MBMS in the PTM manner. The number of UEs in the network side is also set to trigger the handover preparation to switch to the PTM mode under the following trigger conditions: manually triggering, the system setting or the number of UEs counted by the statistics module reaches a preset threshold value. The notification message carries at least one of the following information: a start time of the MBMS, a multimedia broadcast multicast single frequency network (MBSFN) area information or a temporary mobile group identifier (TMGI), and an identifier to be switched to a PTM mode in a PTM manner. The PTP way of MBMS information. The handover preparation module of the UE is configured to perform handover to switch to the PTM mode by: receiving control information related to the MBMS and discovering an identifier of the MBMS. The handover notification module on the network side is configured to send the notification message by using an acknowledgement mechanism, and is further configured to resend the notification message when the UE fails to correctly receive the notification message. The handover notification module on the network side is configured to send a notification message to the UE that is receiving the MBMS in the PTP manner after determining that the handover preparation is completed or determining that the handover preparation condition is completed.

The switching module on the network side is configured to switch the network side to the PTM mode by: causing the network side to start sending the MBMS by using the PTM mode when the start time is reached, and stopping sending the MBMS in the PTP manner; The handover module of the UE is configured to switch the UE to the PTM mode by: causing the UE to start receiving the MBMS in the PTM mode when the start time arrives, and stop receiving the MBMS in the PTP mode.

The method and system for switching the MBMS service transmission mode of the present invention, when the network side determines that the handover preparation is completed or determines that the handover preparation condition is completed, sends a notification message to the UE that is receiving the MBMS service in the PTP manner to notify the MBMS service that the MBMS service is about to be sent. The handover is switched to the PTM mode, so that the UE that receives the notification message starts to prepare for handover and smoothly switches from the PTP mode to the PTM mode. BRIEF abstract

1 is a schematic flowchart of Embodiment 1 of a method for switching an MBMS service transmission mode according to the present invention; FIG. 2 is a schematic flowchart of a second embodiment of a method for switching an MBMS service transmission mode according to the present invention; FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a network side using a confirmation mechanism to send a notification message in a method for switching an MBMS service transmission mode according to the present invention; FIG.

5 is a block diagram showing the structure of an embodiment of a MBMS service transmission mode switching system according to the present invention; and FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the MBMS service transmission mode switching system of the present invention. Preferred embodiment of the invention

The main idea of the MBMS service transmission mode switching method and system of the present invention is to send a notification message to the UE that is receiving the MBMS service in the PTP manner to notify the network when the network side determines that the handover preparation is completed or determines that the handover preparation condition is completed. The MBMS service is about to be switched to the PTM mode, so that the UE that receives the notification message starts to prepare for handover and smoothly switches from the PTP mode to the PTM mode.

The handover preparation in the present invention refers to preparation for pre-switching, including resource allocation, bearer establishment, and control information, in order to implement the final handover of the PTP mode to the PTM mode by the network side or the UE. Wait. Specifically, before the PTP mode is switched to the PTM mode, the network side handover preparation is performed by the network side for the bearer establishment of the MBMS service that needs to be converted into the PTM mode, which mainly includes configuring the physical resources of the PTM mode for the MBMS, and The scheduling priority level of the MBMS service is judged whether it can be scheduled, the corresponding control information is configured for the MBMS, and the time for scheduling transmission and the like is determined. The preparation of the UE to be switched from the PTP mode to the PTM mode to receive the MBMS service is prepared for the UE to receive the MBMS service in the PTM mode according to the information sent by the network side, which mainly includes establishing a bearer, and further receiving according to the information sent by the network side. Relevant control information and from which the MBMS service (eg, TMGI of the service) is found. The relevant control information here is Multicast Control Channel (MCCH) information of the MBSFN area corresponding to the PTM mode of the MBMS service.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments in the present application and the features in the embodiments may be combined with each other without conflict.

Example 1

4. Some cells in a certain MBSFN area, which are located in some fixed-location cells, are providing some MBMS services for some UEs in PTP mode. The MBMS services are not sent in PTM mode, but the MBMS services are pre-arranged. , at the point in time when the PTM will be sent.

In the first embodiment, the network side triggers the handover preparation to switch to the PTM mode according to the counting result, and further determines that the handover preparation is completed, and sends a notification message to the UE that is receiving the MBMS service in the PTP manner. As shown in FIG. 1, the embodiment of the MBMS service transmission mode switching method includes the following steps:

Step 101: The counting result reaches the preset threshold, and the network side performs the switching preparation of the MBMS service switching to the PTM mode.

In this embodiment, the network side counts the MBMS services sent in the PTP manner to learn whether the MBMS service needs to be sent in the PTM mode. The spectrum efficiency of the two transmission modes is different in different scenarios. Generally, when a certain number of UEs receive a certain MBMS service in a certain area, the number of UEs exceeds a certain threshold (usually the MBSFN area). If the average cell per cell exceeds one UE and receives the MBMS in PTP mode, it needs to use the PTM mode. Then, it should be switched to the PTM mode for transmission, which will improve the spectrum efficiency. The network side obtains, according to the foregoing, the receiving situation of the MBMS service on the UE side, including the number of UEs that are receiving through the PTP mode and are interested in receiving the MBMS service by using the PTP mode, or the UE that is interested in receiving the MBMS service by using the PTM mode. The number) determines whether to change the way the MBMS service is sent. Generally, the threshold of the number of UEs is preset, that is, when the number of UEs receiving the MBMS service reaches or exceeds the threshold, the handover of the PTP transmission mode to the MBSFN transmission mode is triggered, and vice versa. Threshold values can be obtained by simulation.

It is necessary to know the UE reception status of one or more MBMS services that are sent by the PTP. The method used here is the existing counting process. The network side can learn the reception status of one or more MBMS services on the UE side through the counting process. That is, for a MBMS service being transmitted, it is known (probably) how many UEs are receiving, and it is also possible to implement an MBMS service to be transmitted, and know how many UEs will wait for reception.

At this time, the MBMS service is counted (according to the existing counting mechanism of the LTE), and the number of UEs that are receiving the MBMS service in the PTP manner and the number of UEs that are interested in receiving the MBMS service are calculated, and the PTP mode is received after calculation. The number of UEs and the number of UEs that are interested in receiving are large. Therefore, the MBMS service can obtain higher efficiency by using the PTM method in the MBSFN area, so it is ready to convert the transmission mode of the MBMS service.

The network side knows that the MBMS service sent by the PTP mode needs to be switched to the PTM mode for transmission. Then, the network side first performs handover preparation to switch to the PTM mode, including configuring resources corresponding to the PTM mode, scheduling priorities, determining the scheduled transmission time, and the like, and establishing a connection, such as establishing a PTM transmission connection, including the core. The bearer establishment on the network side and the bearer establishment on the radio network side. The network side needs to determine an MBSFN area for the MBMS service, or may be in the original MBSFN area, and then may send a new service in the MBSFN area according to the existing technology (refer to the related protocols of 36.300, 36.331, and 36.443). Come and implement it. After the connection is successfully established on the network side according to the new transmission mode, the original transmission mode continues. The network side can determine which MBMS service transmission mode is to be converted by using the Temporary Mobile Group Identity (TMGI) corresponding to the MBMS service in the PTP mode.

Step 102: The network side determines that the handover preparation is completed, and receives the foregoing MBMS in PTP mode. The UE of the service sends a notification message to notify that the MBMS service is about to be switched to be sent in PTM mode;

After the network side determines that the handover preparation for switching to the PTM mode is completed, the UE sends a notification message to the UE that is receiving the MBMS service in the PTP manner. The function of the notification message is mainly used to notify the UE network side to switch the MBMS service sent by the PTP mode to the PTM mode, and the notification purpose can be implemented in an implicit or explicit manner.

An explicit method, such as a specific message type, or carrying the corresponding notification information in the message, or carrying the information of the MBMS service that needs to be switched to the PTM mode, such as the MBMS service ID, or the TMGI corresponding to the MBMS service, etc. In short, it can indicate which PTP mode MBMS service needs to be switched to PTM mode information.

The implicit manner, for example, is implemented by the message carrying other information that enables the UE to know the purpose of the notification (such as the start time of sending the MBMS service by the PTM method mentioned below, etc.).

Generally, in order to achieve the purpose of the notification, the notification message needs to carry the service identification information of the MBMS service, and the network side may not carry the service identification information of the corresponding MBMS service in the notification message sent to the UE. In this case, if all the UEs have only one PTP mode MBMS service, after the UE receives the notification message, the UE confirms that the MBMS service being received is about to be switched to the PTM mode.

Step 103: The UE performs handover preparation to switch to the PTM mode according to the notification message.

The UE performs handover to the PTM receiving mode according to the notification message received from the network side, including connection establishment and the like.

Generally, the network side needs to reserve a certain time for the UE to ensure that the UE can complete the connection establishment of the new receiving mode within the reserved time.

Step 104: After completing the handover preparation, the network side and the UE switch to the PTM mode.

After receiving the message sent by the network side to notify that the MBMS service sent by the PTP mode is about to change, the UE directly starts to establish a PTM mode to receive the connection according to the message, and directly starts to use the PTM mode to try to receive the MBMS. Service, until the MBMS service in the PTM mode is discovered and received. Then release the original PTP connection. The network side may also stop sending the MBMS service in the PTP mode for the UE after a period of time, releasing the original PTP mode resources. The period of time here can be preset to a period of time after the start of transmission, for example, after 5 seconds.

The network side handover to the ΡΤΜ mode includes starting to send the MBMS service, stopping the 发送 mode to send the MBMS service, releasing the PTP mode bearer, and releasing the PTP mode resource, etc.; the UE switching to the PTM mode includes: The PTM mode is used to receive the MBMS service, the PTP mode is used to receive the MBMS service, the PTP mode bearer is released, and the PTP mode resources are released.

The above process ensures the continuity of the MBMS service when the PTP transmission mode is converted into the PTM transmission mode. The method is very simple, and the interaction process between the network side and the UE is reduced, and the process is simplified.

Example 2

4 Some cells in a certain MBSFN area, which are composed of some fixed cells, are providing some MBMS services for some UEs in the PTP mode. The MBMS services are not sent in the PTM mode. The MBMS services are in the PTP mode. The sent, not scheduled to be sent by PTM, or the pre-arranged PTM time is still early.

In the second embodiment, the network side directly switches to the PTM mode handover preparation according to the operator's request, and further determines that the UE is receiving the notification request, and transmits a notification message to the UE that is receiving the MBMS service in the PTP manner.

As shown in FIG. 2, the embodiment includes the following steps:

Step 201: The counting result reaches the preset threshold, and the network side performs the switching preparation of the MBMS service switching to the PTM mode;

In the second embodiment, the operator performs statistics on the MBMS service. The difference from the first embodiment is that the existing counting mechanism is not used here, and other methods are used, because the PTP mode requires the UE to be in the RRC-Connected connection. In the state of the network, the network side can check the MBMS service identifier that the UE is receiving for each connection state, so as to determine whether the UE receives a certain MBMS service, so that the network side can also know the reception status of the MBMS service in the PTP mode. .

This method only counts the number of UEs that are receiving the MBMS service in the PTP mode. After calculation, the number of UEs received by the PTP mode is large, so the MBMS service is in the MBSFN. In the area, the PTM method can be used to obtain higher efficiency, so it is ready to convert the transmission mode of the MBMS service.

The network side determines that the MBMS service sent by the PTP mode needs to be converted into a PTM mode for transmission. Then, the network side first performs the handover preparation to switch to the PTM mode, that is, configures the resources of the corresponding PTM mode, schedules priorities, determines the scheduled transmission time, and the like, and establishes a connection.

Step 202: When the network side determines that the condition for completing the handover preparation is completed, the UE sends a notification message to the UE that is receiving the MBMS service in the PTP manner, to notify that the MBMS service is about to be switched to be sent in the PTM mode.

The network side can pre-determine that the new transmission mode can be successfully established (for example, the resource for transmitting the service is sufficient, the priority of the sending service is sufficiently high, etc.), that is, when the condition for completing the handover preparation is already determined, the network side receives the PTP mode. The UE of the MBMS service sends a notification message, which is mainly for notifying the UEs. The original PTP transmission/reception mode of the MBMS service is about to stop, and the new PTM transmission/reception mode is further adopted. Different from the first embodiment, in order to help the UE quickly establish a PTM receiving mode, the notification message includes a start time of the MBMS service sent by the network side in the PTM mode.

In this step, the acknowledgment mechanism is required. As shown in FIG. 4, the network side sends the notification message to the UE. If the UE receives the message correctly, it needs to send the network side to confirm that the message has been correctly received. Because this message is in the PTP mode to PTM mode conversion process, the only message sent by the network side to the UE can be further ensured that the UE receives the continuity of the MBMS service only after the UE receives it correctly. Therefore, if the UE correctly receives the message, it needs to reply to the network side. If the UE does not receive the message correctly, the network side needs to adjust the message and then resend the message to the UE.

Step 203: The UE performs handover preparation to switch to the PTM mode according to the notification message. The UE performs handover preparation to switch to the PTM reception mode according to the notification message received by the network, including receiving related control information (MCCH), and discovering the location. Said MBMS service, connection establishment, etc.

Step 204: After completing the handover preparation, the network side and the UE switch to the PTM mode. After the UE completes the handover preparation, according to the start time in the received notification message, the UE starts to receive the MBMS service in the PTM mode at the start time of the corresponding PTM mode, and the UE stops the original mode to receive the MBMS service, and the network side The original mode is stopped, the UE continues to send the MBMS service, and the original PTP resource is released. At this time, the UE and the network side no longer need to interact.

Example 3

4 Some cells in a certain MBSFN area, which are composed of some fixed cells, are providing a certain MBMS service for some UEs in the PTP mode, and the MBMS service is not transmitted in the PTM mode.

In the third embodiment, the network side directly switches to the PTM mode switching preparation according to the operator's needs or system settings, and further determines that the UE is receiving the MBMS service in the PTP mode when the condition for completing the handover preparation is completed. As shown in FIG. 3, the embodiment of the MBMS service delivery mode switching method includes the following steps:

Step 301: The network side performs the handover preparation of the MBMS service switching to the PTM mode according to the operator's requirement or the system setting.

In some cases, the operator wants to change the sending mode of the MBMS service. For example, the operator considers that the resources in the area are not very tight, and wants to send the PTM mode to expand the coverage of the MBMS service transmission, or operate. In order to reach certain operational purposes, the quotient needs to use the PTM mode to transmit in the entire MBSFN area, and also considers that after the PTM mode is used, in order to save resources, the PTP mode is not further used for the UE to transmit. Said MBMS business. Then, the operator triggers the network side to perform handover preparation for switching to the PTM mode.

The network side knows that the MBMS service sent by the PTP mode needs to be converted into a PTM mode for transmission. Then, the network side first prepares the PTM mode, that is, configures the resources of the corresponding PTM mode, schedules priorities, determines the scheduled transmission time, and the like, and establishes a connection. Step 302: When the network side determines that the condition for completing the handover preparation is met, the network side sends a notification message to the UE that is receiving the MBMS service in the PTP manner, to notify that the MBMS service is about to be switched to the PTM mode.

The network side can pre-determine that the new transmission mode can be successfully established (for example, the resources for sending the service are sufficient, the priority of the sending service is sufficiently high, etc.), that is, when the condition for completing the handover preparation can be determined, the network side receives the PTP mode. The UE of the MBMS service sends a notification message, which is mainly for notifying the UEs. The original PTP transmission/reception mode of the MBMS service is about to stop, and the new PTM transmission/reception mode is further used. Different from the second embodiment, preferably, the notification message includes the start time of the MBMS service and the MBSFN area information (that is, the MBSFN area where the MBMS service is located in the new mode), and the network side uses the PTM method. TMGI information. This step requires the use of an acknowledgment mechanism. This message is the only message sent by the network to the UE during the PTP-to-PTM conversion process. Only after the UE receives it correctly can the UE further receive the MBMS. Business continuity. Therefore, if the UE correctly receives the message, it needs to reply to the network side. If the UE does not receive it correctly, the network side needs to adjust the message and then resend it to the UE.

Step 303: The UE performs handover preparation to switch to the PTM mode according to the notification message. The UE performs establishment of a new PTM reception mode according to the notification message received by the network.

Step 304: After completing the handover preparation, the network side and the UE switch to the PTM mode.

After the UE completes the handover preparation, the network side sends the MBMS service start time, the MBSFN area information (that is, the MBSFN area where the MBMS service is located in the new mode), and the used TMGI information according to the network side in the received notification message. Directly start receiving the service corresponding to the TMGI in the specified MBSN area at the start time of the corresponding PTM mode. After the start time point arrives, the UE autonomously stops the original PTP receiving mode and releases its original PTP. Way of resources. After the start time point arrives, the network side also releases the original PTP transmission mode, and releases the original PTP mode resources.

In the foregoing Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2, the network side is to know the actual situation and possible reception of the MBMS service by counting the UE that is receiving and/or interested in receiving the MBMS service. The situation, to trigger the switchover to switch to the ΡΤΜ mode.

In the second embodiment, compared with the third embodiment, the notification message in the second embodiment only carries the start time of the network side, and the UE needs to retrieve all the MBSFN areas of the current cell to find the original ΡΤΡ mode. The MBMS service has increased the retrieval process of the UE.

Alternatively, the notification message may carry any of the following information: The PTM mode sends the start time of the MBMS service, the MBSFN area information or the Temporary Mobile Group Identifier (TMGI), and of course, other modes that facilitate the UE to receive. Other information of the handover is not limited in the present invention.

In the foregoing embodiment, the specifically implemented network side network element may be a Multi-cell/Multicast Coordination Entity (MCE), a Broadcast-Multicast-Service Centre (BMSC), or an MBMS Gateway (MBMS). One or more of the GateWay, MBMS GW), the eNB, and the Mobility Management Entity (MME). If there are multiple, further information interaction is required between the multiple network elements.

To implement the above embodiment method, the present invention further provides an MBMS service transmission mode switching system. As shown in FIG. 5, the system includes:

a handover preparation module on the network side, configured to perform handover preparation for switching the MBMS service to the PTM mode;

The network side switching notification module is configured to send a notification message to the UE that is receiving the MBMS service in a PTP manner, to notify that the MBMS service is about to be switched to a PTM mode transmission;

The switching module of the network side and the UE is configured to switch the network side and the UE to the PTM mode respectively after completing the handover preparation.

In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the system is different from the system shown in FIG. 5, wherein the network side further includes a statistic module, where the statistic module is configured to perform statistics when the MBMS service is sent by using the PTP mode on the network side. The number of UEs that are receiving the MBMS service by the PTP mode and/or the number of UEs that are interested in receiving the MBMS service in the PTM manner; When the preset threshold is reached, the handover preparation module on the network side triggers handover preparation for switching to the PTM mode.

In addition to the above triggering manners, the triggering conditions for the handover preparation module of the network side to perform the handover preparation of the MBMS service to the PTM mode include: manual triggering or system setting.

Further, the notification message carries at least one of the following information:

The start time of the MBMS service, the information of the MBSFN area or the TMGI, and the information identifying the MBMS service of the PTP method that needs to be switched to the PTM mode. Here, the information of the MBSFN area is information indicating which MBSFN area the MBMS service is transmitted in the PTM mode, for example, the MBSFN area ID. The TMGI here refers to the MBMS service being transmitted in the MBSFN area by the PTM method. The TMGI used.

Further, the handover preparation of the UE to switch to the PTM mode includes receiving control information related to the MBMS and discovering an identifier of the MBMS service.

Further, the handover notification module on the network side sends the notification message by using an acknowledgement mechanism, and when the UE fails to receive the UE correctly, the notification message is resent.

Further, the handover notification module on the network side determines that the handover preparation is completed or determines that the handover preparation condition is completed, and then sends a notification message to the UE that is receiving the MBMS service in the PTP manner.

Further, when the notification message includes the start time of sending the MBMS service in the PTM mode, the switching module on the network side enables the network side to start transmitting the MBMS service by using the PTM mode when the start time arrives. And stopping to send the MBMS service in the PTP mode, the handover module of the UE enables the UE to start receiving the MBMS service in the PTM mode when the start time arrives, and stop receiving the MBMS service in the PTP mode.

One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that all or a portion of the above steps may be performed by a program to instruct the associated hardware, such as a read only memory, a magnetic disk, or an optical disk. Alternatively, all or part of the steps of the above embodiments may also be implemented using one or more integrated circuits. Correspondingly, each module/unit in the foregoing embodiment may be implemented in the form of hardware, or may be implemented in the form of a software function module. The invention is not limited to any specific form of combination of hardware and software. It can be found that the network side and the UE only interact once in the whole process, which can reduce the interaction between a large number of UEs and the network side. Make the conversion process simple and easy to implement.

Industrial applicability

Compared with the prior art, in the present invention, when the network side determines that the handover preparation is completed or determines that the handover preparation condition is completed, the network side sends a notification message to the UE that is receiving the MBMS service in the PTP manner to notify the MBMS service that the MBMS service is about to be sent. The switching is performed in the PTM mode, so that the UE that receives the notification message starts to prepare for handover and smoothly switches from the PTP mode to the PTM mode, thereby reducing a large number of interactions between the UE and the network side, and the conversion process is simplified and easy to implement.

Claims

Claim

1. A method for switching an MBMS transmission mode, comprising:

The network side is receiving the user equipment of the MBMS in a point-to-point (PTP) manner

(UE) sending a notification message to notify the MBMS that the handover is to be performed in a PTM manner; the UE performs handover preparation to switch to the PTM mode according to the notification message; and after the handover preparation is completed, the network side and the UE switch To the PTM mode.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the notification message carries at least one of the following information: a start time of the MBMS in a PTM manner, and a multimedia broadcast multicast single frequency network.

(MBSFN) Area information, Temporary Mobile Group Identifier (TMGI), and MBMS information identifying the PTP mode that needs to be switched to the PTM mode.

The method of claim 1, wherein the step of the UE performing the handover preparation to the PTM mode comprises: the UE further determining the MBSFN area according to the notification message, and receiving the multicast control channel corresponding to the MBSFN area. Information and discover the MBMS from the received multicast control channel information

The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the step of the network side switching to the PTM mode comprises: the network side starting to use the PTM mode to send the MBMS, and stopping sending the MBMS in a PTP manner. The step of the UE switching to the PTM mode includes: the UE starts to receive the MBMS in a PTM manner, and stops receiving the MBMS in a PTP manner.

The method of claim 1, wherein the network side sends the notification message by using an acknowledgement mechanism; the method further includes: if the UE fails to correctly receive the notification message, The internet The notification message is sent.

The method of claim 1, wherein the triggering condition for the network side to perform the handover preparation of the MBMS handover to the PTM mode comprises:

Manual triggering;

System setting

Or, when the network side performs the PTP transmission of the MBMS, the number of UEs that are receiving the MBMS in the PTP mode and/or the UE that is interested in receiving the MBMS in the PTM manner

The number of UEs reaches a preset threshold.

7. The method according to claim 4, wherein the notification message includes a start time of transmitting the MBMS in a PTM manner, and the network side and the UE switch to the PTM mode when the start time arrives .

The method of claim 1, wherein the step of the network side transmitting the notification message to the UE that is receiving the MBMS in the PTP manner comprises: determining, by the network side, that the handover preparation is completed or determining that the handover preparation is completed. After the condition, a notification message is sent to the UE that is receiving the above MBMS in PTP mode.

9. A MBMS transmission mode switching system, comprising:

The network side handover notification module is configured to send a notification message to the user equipment (UE) that is receiving the MBMS in a point-to-point (PTP) manner, to notify the MBMS that the MBMS is about to be switched into a PTM mode transmission;

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the network side further comprises a statistics module, The statistics module is configured to: when the network side uses the PTP mode to send the MBMS, the number of UEs that are receiving the MBMS in the PTP mode and/or the number of UEs that are interested in receiving the MBMS in the PTM manner; The preparation module is further configured to trigger the handover preparation to switch to the PTM mode under the following trigger conditions: manually triggering, the system setting or the number of UEs counted by the statistics module reaches a preset threshold.

The system according to claim 9, wherein the notification message carries at least one of the following information: a start time of the MBMS in a PTM manner, and a multimedia broadcast multicast single frequency network.

(MBSFN) Area information or Temporary Mobile Group Identifier (TMGI), and information identifying the MBMS of the PTP mode that needs to be switched to the PTM mode.

12. The system according to claim 9, wherein the handover preparation module of the UE is configured to perform handover to switch to a PTM mode by: receiving control information related to the MBMS and discovering the MBMS. Logo.

13. The system according to claim 9, wherein the network side handover notification module is configured to send the notification message by using a band acknowledgement mechanism, and is further configured to fail to correctly receive the notification at the UE When the message is received, the notification message is resent.

The system according to claim 9, wherein the network side switching notification module is configured to receive the MBMS in a PTP manner after determining that the handover preparation is completed or determining that the handover preparation condition is completed. The UE sends a notification message.

15. The system according to claim 11, wherein the notification message includes a start time of transmitting the MBMS in the PTM manner;

The switching module on the network side is configured to switch the network side to the PTM mode by: causing the network side to start sending the MBMS in the PTM mode when the start time is reached, and stop sending the MBMS in the PTP manner;

The handover module of the UE is configured to switch the UE to the PTM mode by: causing the UE to start receiving the MBMS in the PTM mode when the start time arrives, and stop receiving the MBMS in the PTP mode.