USOO8144735B2
`
`(12) United States Patent
`Vayanos et al.
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 8,144,735 B2
`Mar. 27, 2012
`
`(54)
`
`(75)
`
`TRANSMISSION OF SIGNALING
`INFORMATION FOR BROADCAST AND
`MULTICAST SERVICES
`
`Inventors: Alkinoos Hector Vayanos, San Diego,
`CA (US); Francesco Grilli, San Diego,
`CA (US)
`
`(73)
`
`Assignee: Qualcomm Incorporated, San Diego,
`CA (US)
`
`(*)
`
`Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 1448 days.
`
`(21)
`
`Appl. No.: 11/054,771
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Feb. 9, 2005
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`US 2005/O1958.52 A1
`Sep. 8, 2005
`
`(60)
`
`(51)
`
`(52)
`
`(58)
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`Provisional application No. 60/544,147, filed on Feb.
`10, 2004.
`
`Int. C.
`(2008.01)
`H04H2O/7
`(2009.01)
`H0474/00
`(2006.01)
`H04L 2/28
`(2006.01)
`H043/26
`(2006.01)
`H043/12
`U.S. C. ........ 370/522; 370/312; 370/338; 370/390;
`37Of 432
`Field of Classification Search .................. 370/390,
`370/347,328, 312,338, 466, 465, 395.6;
`455/426.1,414.1, 450
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`5,598.417 A *
`1/1997 Crisler et al. ................. 370,348
`6,633,757 B1 * 10/2003 Hermann et al. ..
`455,414.1
`6,728,300 B1
`4/2004 Sarkar et al. .......
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`6,985.473 B2 *
`1/2006 Vayanos et al. ...
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`2/2006 Nguyen et al. ...
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`(Continued)
`
`AU
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`2003235065
`3, 2004
`(Continued)
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`"3" Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group
`Radio Access Network; Radio Interface for Broadcast Multicast Ser
`vices (Release 1999).”3GPP TR25.925 V3.4.0, Mar. 2001, pp. 1-31,
`XPOO219 1629.
`
`(Continued)
`Primary Examiner — Kevin C Harper
`Assistant Examiner — Thinh Tran
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm — Larry Moskowitz
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`Techniques for transmitting signaling information for broad
`cast and multicast services are described. A base station trans
`mits signaling information for each service in accordance
`with a schedule that includes a repetition period and a modi
`fication period. The signaling information is sent in each
`repetition period to allow wireless devices to quickly obtain
`this information. Changes to the critical signaling informa
`tion are permitted at the start of each modification period,
`which is an integer multiple of the repetition period. When
`ever the critical signaling information for a given service is
`changed in a given modification period, a notification indica
`tor for the service is set in an entire preceding modification
`period to inform the wireless devices of the impending
`change. The wireless devices can detect the notification indi
`cator being set in the preceding modification period and can
`retrieve the updated critical signaling information in the fol
`lowing modification period.
`43 Claims, 10 Drawing Sheets
`
`-DRX cycle
`
`Paging
`Occasions
`
`i
`
`Paging indicators
`ireless Devices
`
`Notification
`- Modification Period -
`indicators
`for Services
`
`Signaling
`for Services
`
`
`
`time
`
`time
`
`Pich
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Mitch
`
`Activation Tire
`
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`US 8,144,735 B2
`Page 2
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`7.623,542 B2 * 1 1/2009 Yonge et al. .................. 370,445
`2002/0090937 A1* 7/2002 Laroia et al. .................. 455,421
`2003/01 19452 A1
`6, 2003 Kim et al.
`2003/0134651 A1
`7, 2003 HSu
`2003. O157953 A1
`8, 2003 Das et al.
`2003,021.1860 A1
`11/2003 Sarkkinen et al.
`2004/0087320 A1* 5, 2004 Kim et al. ..................... 455,458
`2004/0103435 A1* 5, 2004 Yi et al. ......
`T25/81
`2004/0227618 A1* 1 1/2004 Hwang et al.
`340,746
`2005/0084.036 A1* 4/2005 Luo et al. ...................... 375.316
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`
`
`AU
`CA
`DE
`EP
`EP
`KR
`KR
`KR
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`2003252554
`3, 2004
`2690467 A1
`7/2005
`19623.299
`1, 1998
`1185.125
`3, 2002
`1351538 A1
`10, 2003
`20050O81836 A
`8, 2005
`2005O106845 A 11, 2005
`10O823903
`4/2008
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`International Search Report—PCT-US05/004862—International
`Search Authority—European Patent Office—Jun. 17, 2005.
`Written Opinion, PCT/US2005/004862, International Searching
`Authority, European Patent Office, Jun. 17, 2005.
`
`International Preliminary Report on Patentability, PCT/US2005/
`004862. International Preliminary Examining Authority, United
`States, Sep. 26, 2006.
`3GPP TSG-RAN2 Meeting #40 “Discussion and Decision” Sophia
`Antipolis, France, Jan. 12-16, 2004, pp. 1-7.
`3GPP TSG-RAN Working Group 2 Meeting “Transmission of
`MBMS Control Information'. Sophia Antipolis, France, Aug. 6-10,
`2003 pp. 2-6.
`TSG-RAN Working Group 2 #37 “MBMS Notification Based on
`SIB” Budapest, Hungary, Aug. 25-29, 2003 pp. 2-5.
`3GPP TSG-RAN1 Adhoc “Physical Layer Issues for MBMS Notifi
`cation”. Espoo, Finland, Jan. 27-30, 2004 pp. 1-7.
`LG Electronics Inc., “MBMS Notificatin Based on SIB', 3GPP TSG
`RAN Working Group 2 #37. Aug. 29, 2003, R2-031650, URL, http://
`www.3gpp.org/FTP/tsg ran/WG2 RL2ITSGR2 37/Docs/R2
`031650. Zip.
`Siemens, “Transmission of MBMS Control Information', 3GPP
`TSG-RAN Working Group 2 Meeting, Aug. 10, 2003, R2-032139,
`URL, http://www.3gpp.org/ftp/tsg ran/WG2 RL2ITSGR2 38/
`Docs/R2-032139. zip.
`European Search Report EP10157655—Search Authority—Ber
`lin—Jun. 6, 2011.
`Taiwan Search Report TWO94104219 TIPO-May 4, 2011.
`Qualcomm, 3GPP TSG-RAN WG2 meeting #41, “MBMS Notifica
`tion and counting procedures”. Feb. 16-20, 204, pp. 1-6.
`* cited by examiner
`
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`Mar. 27, 2012
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`Mar. 27, 2012
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`Mar. 27, 2012
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`U.S. Patent
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`Mar. 27, 2012
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`Sheet 6 of 10
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`US 8,144,735 B2
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`U.S. Patent
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`Mar. 27, 2012
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`Sheet 7 of 10
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`US 8,144,735 B2
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`New modification period?
`
`712
`
`NO
`
`700
`
`
`
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`
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`Determine a notification
`value for each service
`
`74
`
`716
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`Set the notification indicator for
`each Service to the notification value
`for the entire modification period
`
`Send updated signaling information
`and possibly early retransmission
`for each Service on the MCCH
`
`Activation time
`for any service?
`
`722 NO
`
`Apply the updated signaling
`information to the MTCH for
`each Service at the activation time
`
`New repetition period?
`
`732
`
`Resend the signaling information
`for each service on the MCCH
`
`New access info period?
`
`
`
`742
`
`744
`
`Send the counting flag for
`each Service on the MCCH
`
`746
`Send access information on the MCCH
`
`FIG. 7
`
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`U.S. Patent
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`Mar. 27, 2012
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`Sheet 8 of 10
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`US 8,144,735 B2
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`800
`1
`
`812
`Process the MCH and detect
`for the notification indicators
`for the desired Services
`
`
`
`O
`NO
`Notification
`indicator is set for any desiredd
`Service?
`
`814
`
`Process the MCCH at the next
`modification period and obtain
`MBMS change information
`
`
`
`ritical signaling
`information is changed for an
`desired Service?
`
`Process the MCCH and read the
`updated signaling information for
`each desired service identified by
`the MBMS change information
`
`ACtivation time for
`any desired Service?
`
`Apply the updated signaling
`information to the MTCH for
`each Service at its activation time
`
`
`
`FIG. 8
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`U.S. Patent
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`Mar. 27, 2012
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`Sheet 9 of 10
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`US 8,144,735 B2
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`Read the counting flag for
`each desired service, e.g., at
`the start of the modification period
`
`
`
`900
`
`NO
`
`914
`Counting
`flag is set for any desired
`Service?
`YES
`
`916
`Obtain the access information
`
`918
`Attempt to establish an RRC
`Connection in accordance with
`the access information
`
`920
`
`Read the Counting flag, read
`the access information on the
`MCCH, and attempt to access
`the system based on the current
`access back-off parameter
`
`924
`Counting flag is reset?
`
`In RRC
`state in which counting is not
`required?
`
`FIG. 9
`
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`U.S. Patent
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`Mar. 27, 2012
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`Sheet 10 of 10
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`1.
`TRANSMISSION OF SIGNALING
`INFORMATION FOR BROADCAST AND
`MULTICAST SERVICES
`
`CLAIM OF PRIORITY UNDER 35 U.S.C. S 119
`
`5
`
`The present Application for Patent claims priority to Pro
`visional Application Ser. No. 60/544,147, entitled “Multime
`dia Broadcast/Multicast Service (MBMS) Notification and
`Counting Procedures, filed Feb. 10, 2004, and assigned to
`the assignee hereof and hereby expressly incorporated by
`reference herein.
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`10
`
`15
`
`I. Field
`The present invention relates generally to communication,
`and more specifically to techniques for transmitting signaling
`information for broadcast and multicast services in a commu
`nication system.
`II. Background
`A communication system may provide unicast, multicast,
`and/or broadcast services. A unicast service provides point
`to-point communication between at least one base station and
`a specific wireless device. A multicast service provides point
`to-multipoint communication between at least one base sta
`tion and a group of wireless devices. A broadcast service
`provides point-to-multipoint communication between at least
`one base station and all wireless devices within a designated
`broadcast area. Some examples of multicast and broadcast
`services include news and data services, subscription-based
`services, push-to-talk, and so on. Multicast and broadcast
`services may send data to wireless devices sporadically, peri
`odically, or continuously.
`The system may need to send signaling information for the
`broadcast and multicast services Supported by the system.
`This signaling information may also be called overhead infor
`mation, System information, and so on, and may include
`control information, configuration information, and other
`pertinent information used to receive services. The system
`may transmit the signaling information on a control channel.
`A wireless device receiving one or more services would then
`monitor the control channel for signaling information sent for
`the service(s) being received. It is desirable for the wireless
`device to be able to receive pertinent signaling information
`from the control channel in a quick and efficient manner in
`order to conserve battery power and attain other benefits.
`There is therefore a need in the art for techniques to trans
`mit signaling information for broadcast and multicast Ser
`vices in a manner to facilitate efficient reception of this infor
`mation.
`
`25
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 shows a wireless communication system.
`FIG. 2A shows the format of a PICH in Universal Mobile
`Telecommunication System (UMTS).
`FIG. 2B Shows the format of one frame of the PICH.
`FIGS. 3A and 3B show transmissions on a MCCH based on
`a schedule.
`FIG. 4 shows exemplary transmissions on a MICH and
`MCCH.
`FIG. 5 shows exemplary transmissions on the PICH,
`MICH, MCCH and MTCH.
`FIG. 6 shows exemplary transmissions on the MICH and
`MCCH for counting.
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`FIG.7 shows a process for transmitting the MICH, MCCH,
`and MTCH by a base station.
`FIG. 8 shows a process for receiving the MICH, MCCH,
`and MTCH by a wireless device.
`FIG. 9 shows a process for performing counting by the
`wireless device
`FIG. 10 shows a block diagram of the base station and the
`wireless device.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`The word “exemplary' is used herein to mean “serving as
`an example, instance, or illustration. Any embodiment
`described herein as “exemplary' is not necessarily to be con
`Strued as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments.
`FIG. 1 shows a wireless communication system 100
`capable of Supporting broadcast and multicast services. Sys
`tem 100 includes base stations 110 that communicate with
`wireless devices 120. For simplicity, only two base stations
`110 and six wireless devices 120 are shown in FIG.1. A base
`station is a fixed station and may also be called a Node B, a
`base transceiver Subsystem (BTS), an access point, or some
`other terminology. A wireless device may be fixed or mobile
`and may also be called a user equipment (UE), a mobile
`station, a terminal, or some other terminology.
`A radio network controller (RNC) 130 couples to base
`stations 110 and provides coordination and control for these
`base stations. RNC 130 may also be called a base station
`controller (BSC) or some other terminology. A core network
`(CN) 132 couples to RNC 130 and other systems and net
`works, such as a public switched telephone network (PSTN),
`a packet switched data network, and so on. Core network 132
`interconnects system 100 with these other systems and net
`works.
`System 100 may be a Code Division Multiple Access
`(CDMA) system, a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA)
`system, a Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) sys
`tem, an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access
`(OFDMA) system, or some other multiple access system. A
`CDMA system may implement one or more CDMA radio
`access technologies (RATs) such as Wideband-CDMA
`(W-CDMA) and cdma2000. cdma2000 covers IS-2000,
`IS-856, and IS-95 standards. A TDMA system may imple
`ment one or more TDMA RATs such as Global System for
`Mobile Communications (GSM). These various RATs and
`standards are well known in the art. UMTS is a system that
`uses W-CDMA and/or GSM as radio access technologies and
`is described in documents from a consortium named "3rd
`Generation Partnership Project” (3GPP). cdma2000 is
`described in documents from a consortium named "3rd Gen
`eration Partnership Project 2 (3GPP2). 3GPP and 3GPP2
`documents are publicly available. For clarity, the signaling
`transmission techniques are specifically described below for
`UMTS. These techniques may be used for multimedia broad
`cast multicast service (MBMS) in UMTS.
`In UMTS, a Page Indicator Channel (PICH) is used to send
`paging indicators to idle wireless devices. An idle wireless
`device is a wireless device for which the PICH and MICH are
`useful. An idle wireless device may be a wireless device
`operating in an idle mode, a wireless device operating in an
`RRC connected modebut in a CELL PCH/URA PCH state.
`The paging indicators for each idle wireless device indicate
`whether messages might be sent on a Paging Channel (PCH)
`for the wireless device. The PCH is a transport channel that is
`carried in a Secondary Common Control Physical Channel
`(S-CCPCH). Eachidle wireless device monitors the PICH for
`its paging indicators. If these paging indicators are set to 1.
`
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`3
`then the wireless device processes the S-CCPCH to look for
`any messages sent for the wireless device.
`FIG. 2A shows the format of the PICH in UMTS. The
`PICH is partitioned into frames, with each frame having a
`duration of 10 millisecond (ms). Each frame is identified by a
`12-bit system frame number (SFN) that is simultaneously
`transmitted on a Primary CCPCH (P-CCPCH). The SFN is
`reset to 0 at a specific time, is incremented by one for each
`frame thereafter, and wraps around to Zero after reaching the
`maximum value of 4095.
`Each idle wireless device is assigned paging occasions,
`which are specific frames in which the wireless device can
`receive its paging indicators. The paging occasions for each
`wireless device are separated by a time interval called a DRX
`15
`(discontinuous receiving mode) cycle. The DRX cycle is
`configurable for each wireless device and is typically 1.28
`seconds. In general, the DRX cycle can range from 80 milli
`seconds (ms) to 5.12 seconds, or from 8 frames to 512 frames.
`The paging occasions for each wireless device are determined
`based on several parameters including an International
`Mobile Subscriber Identifier (IMSI), which is an identifier
`that is unique for each wireless device. Different wireless
`devices with different IMSIs may be assigned different pag
`ing occasions even if they have the same DRX cycle.
`FIG. 2B Shows the format of one frame for the PICH. Each
`PICH frame includes 300 bits, which are labeled as bits bo
`through boo. The first 288 bits are used for Np paging indi
`cators, and the last 12 bits are reserved. The number of paging
`indicators (Np) in each PICH frame is configurable by the
`system and can take on a value of 18, 36, 72 or 144. Each
`paging indicator is sent in 288/Np consecutive bits in the
`PICH frame, where 288/Np can take on a value of 16, 8, 4 or
`2. The 288/Np bits are all set to 1 if the paging indicator is
`equal to 1 and are set to 0 if the paging indicator is equal to
`0. The Np paging indicators are sent in Np paging indicator
`locations that are numbered from 0 through Np-1 (not shown
`in FIG. 2B).
`Each idle wireless device is mapped to a specific PI value
`based on its IMSI. The wireless device is also assigned a
`paging indicator in each paging occasion. This paging indi
`cator is sent at a location that is determined based on a hash
`function f(PI, SFN). The location of the paging indicator for
`the wireless device is thus determined by both the IMSI for
`the wireless device and the SFN for the paging occasion.
`In UMTS, an MBMS Indicator Channel (MICH) is used to
`send MBMS notification indicators (or simply, notification
`indicators) that indicate whether updated signaling informa
`tion is being sent on an MBMS point-to-multipoint Control
`Channel (MCCH). The MCCH is a transport channel that is
`also carried in the S-CCPCH. The signaling information on
`the MCCH allows the wireless devices to receive an MBMS
`point-to-multipoint Traffic Channel (MTCH). The signaling
`information may indicate, for example, which services are
`active, how to decode the MTCH, whether soft combining is
`possible, and so on. The MTCH is a transport channel that
`carries traffic data or content for the services.
`The MICH has a format that is similar to the PICH format
`shown in FIG. 2B. Each MICH frame includes 300 bits,
`which are labeled as bits bothrough boo. The first 288 bits are
`used for Nn notification indicators, and the last 12 bits are
`reserved. The number of notification indicators (Nn) in each
`MICH frame is configurable by the system and can take on a
`value of 18, 36, 72 or 144. Each notification indicator is sent
`in 288/Nn consecutive bits in the MICH frame, where 288/Nn
`can take on a value of 16, 8, 4 or 2. The Nn notification
`indicators are sent in Nn indicator locations that are num
`
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`US 8,144,735 B2
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`bered from 0 through Nn-1. Notification indicators may also
`be sent using the last 12 bits in each PICH frame.
`Each multicast/broadcast service is mapped to a specific NI
`value based on a Temporary Mobile Group Identity (TMGI)
`that identifies that service. The service is also assigned noti
`fication indicators, which are sent in locations determined
`based on a hash function f(NI, SFN). The locations of the
`notification indicators for the service are thus determined by
`both the TMSI for the Service and the SFN for the frame. The
`notification indicators for the service are used to indicate
`whether updated signaling information is being sent on the
`MCCH for the service. Each wireless device monitors the
`notification indicators for all of the services desired by the
`wireless device (or “desired services'). Whenever the notifi
`cation indicator for any desired service is set to 1, the wire
`less device further processes the S-CCPCH to look for
`updated signaling information sent for that service.
`The MCCH carries signaling information used to support
`broadcast and multicast services. The wireless devices may
`need to read the MCCH for various reasons such as:
`Start/end a service;
`Change service specific re-location information;
`Change S-CCPCH information (code, TFCS) for the
`MTCH:
`Change radio bearer (RB) information for the MTCH; and
`Start counting/re-counting as defined by UMTS and
`described below.
`In an embodiment, signaling information is sent in accor
`dance with a schedule on the MCCH. The MCCH schedule
`may be sent on a Broadcast Control Channel (BCCH) and
`made available to all wireless devices. In an embodiment, the
`MCCH schedule includes a repetition period, a modification
`period, and an access info period, which are described in
`Table 1.
`
`TABLE 1
`
`Period
`
`Definition
`
`Repetition The time interval in which signaling
`Period
`information is sent on the MCCH.
`Modification The time at which critical signaling
`Period
`information can change, e.g., changes to
`the critical signaling information can be
`applied at the first MCCH transmission
`in a modification period.
`Access Info The time interval in which access
`Period
`information is sent on the MCCH
`
`Duration
`
`Any time
`duration.
`Integer multiple
`of the repetition
`period.
`
`Integer divider
`of the repetition
`period.
`
`The MCCH schedule also identifies the specific frame or
`transmission time interval (TTI) containing the beginning of
`a MCCH transmission. The same MCCH schedule may be
`used for all services to simplify both transmission and recep
`tion of signaling information for the services, as described
`below. Alternatively, different services or different groups of
`services may use different MCCH schedules. The various
`parts of the MCCH schedule are described in further detail
`below.
`Table 2 lists various channels used to Support broadcast and
`multicast services.
`
`TABLE 2
`
`Channel Definition
`
`BCCH Carry the MCCH schedule and the configuration of the radio
`bearer carrying the MCCH.
`
`
`Ex.1006 / Page 14 of 22Ex.1006 / Page 14 of 22
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`US 8,144,735 B2
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`TABLE 2-continued
`
`Channel Definition
`
`MICH Carry notification indicators that indicate whether updated
`critical signaling information is being sent on the MCCH.
`Carry signaling information for the services.
`Carry content for the services.
`
`MCCH
`MTCH
`
`6
`FIG.3B shows another embodiment of signaling transmis
`sion on the MCCH. The signaling information for each ser
`vice is sent periodically on the MCCH in every repetition
`period, and the critical signaling information may be changed
`in each modification period, as described above for FIG. 3A.
`At the beginning of each modification period, the system also
`transmits MBMS change information, which may include,
`e.g., the identifiers of the services whose critical signaling
`information is changed in that modification period. The
`change information may be sent at least once in each modi
`fication period. The wireless devices can read the change
`information and can quickly ascertain whether the device
`needs to read updated signaling information for any of the
`desired services.
`A notification mechanism is used to inform the wireless
`devices of an upcoming change in the critical signaling infor
`mation sent on the MCCH. In an embodiment, the notification
`mechanism is implemented using the MICH. The MICH car
`ries notification indicators that prompt the wireless devices
`interested in the services mapped to these indicators to read
`the MCCH for updated signaling information. The notifica
`tion indicators for all of the services may be sent in a manner
`that is highly tolerant to channel errors. The MICH carries a
`single bit of information for each service, and the wireless
`devices are not able to verify whether the information
`received on the MICH is correct (no CRC). Also, the MCCH
`is transmitted on the S-CCPCH using an RLC-unacknowl
`edged mode (UM), and the wireless device may miss one or
`even two MCCH transmissions before decoding it correctly.
`The wireless device may have to wait for one or more repeti
`tion periods before being able to decode the critical informa
`tion, and after all the effort, the wireless device may find out
`that it was a false alarm. A reliable notification helps to avoid
`unnecessary receptions of the MCCH.
`Second, the notification indicators may be sent on the
`MICH in a manner to allow the wireless devices to detect the
`notification indicators during their paging occasions, which
`can reduce battery consumption. The notification indicators
`should also be sent such that wireless devices in various
`MBMS-related states can receive these indicators. These
`include wireless devices expecting a service to come on,
`wireless devices actively monitoring a service but interested
`in other services, and wireless devices that just turned on, or
`just moved from other cells, or are becoming interested in
`MBMS.
`FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of transmissions on the
`MICH and MCCH. Each service is assigned a notification
`indicator on the MICH in each frame. In an embodiment, the
`notification indicator for each service is set to 1 for the entire
`modification period preceding a change in the critical signal
`ing information for that service.
`The wireless devices can read the MICH in different
`frames (e.g., in their paging occasions) and can become aware
`of the need to read the MCCH in an asynchronous manner.
`The wireless devices are also aware of the MCCH schedule
`and are ready to start receiving the MCCH at the beginning of
`the next modification period. It is not necessary for the timing
`of the notification indicators sent on the MICH to convey any
`information about the timing of the MCCH, which is the case
`for the PICH and PCH since the timing of the PICH and PCH
`is related.
`The wireless devices that have detected the notification
`indicator for a desired service being set in a prior modification
`period can read the MCCH at the start of the current modifi
`cation period. The updated signaling information may be
`retransmitted shortly (e.g., immediately) after the first
`MCCH transmission in the current modification period, as
`
`
`Ex.1006 / Page 15 of 22Ex.1006 / Page 15 of 22
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`TESLA, INC.TESLA, INC.
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`The signaling information sent on the MCCH may be
`arranged into two categories called critical signaling infor
`mation and non-critical signaling information. The signaling
`information may be service independent information and/or
`service specific information. The critical signaling informa
`tion includes signal information that is needed to receive
`MBMS content for services. For example, the critical signal
`ing information may include MBMS neighboring cell infor
`mation, MBMS service information, and MBMS radio bearer
`information. The non-critical signaling information includes
`all signaling information that is not critical signaling infor
`mation. For example, the non-critical signaling information
`may include MBMS access information. These various types
`of MBMS signaling information are described in a document
`3GPP TS, 25.346, which is publicly available.
`FIG. 3A shows an embodiment of signaling transmission
`on the MCCH. Signaling information for each service is sent
`periodically on the MCCH in every repetition period to allow
`wireless devices that just started monitoring the service to
`receive the information. These wireless devices may have just
`powered on, just become interested in the service, and/or just
`changed cells. For all of these scenarios (except possibly for
`the cell-change scenario), the wireless devices can tolerate
`relatively long delay in receiving the signaling information.
`The repetition period may thus be made relatively long to
`reduce signaling overhead. In general, the repetition period
`may be any time duration and may span any number of
`frames.
`The signaling information may be sent on the MCCH start
`ing in the first frame of each repetition period and for as many
`frames as needed. The repetition period thus identifies the
`beginning of a MCCH transmission. The duration of the
`MCCH transmission does not need to be specified and may be
`determined from a transport format combination indicator
`(TFCI) sent in the S-CCPCH. A wireless device can continue
`to process the S-CCPCH until the device determines that (1)
`all of the MCCH information has been received, (2) a TTI that
`does not include any MCCH data is received for the
`S-CCPCH, or (3) the received signaling information on the
`MCCH indicates that further reception of the MCCH is not
`required (e.g., if there are no changes to the signaling infor
`mation for any of the desired services). The wireless device
`can stop processing the S-CCPCH for MCCH data upon
`encountering any one of the three conditions.
`The modification period may span any number of repeti
`tion periods and represents the time at which critical signaling
`information may be changed. In FIG. 3A, different markings
`(e.g., diagonal hashing, grey shading, and cross hashing) are
`used for the MCCH in different modification periods and
`represent potentially different signaling information being
`sent on the MCCH. Time aligning the changes in the critical
`signaling information sent on the MCCH allows the wireless
`devices to know when it might be useful to read the MCCH.
`This time alignment also results in Some additional delays as
`well as certain restrictions in sending the updated critical
`signaling information. The non-critical signaling information
`may be changed at any time, e.g., in any repetition period.
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`shown in FIG. 4. This quick retransmission on the MCCH can
`improve reliability and ensure that all or most wireless
`devices can receive the updated signaling information on the
`MCCH as soon as possible.
`FIG. 5 shows exemplary transmissions on the PICH,
`MICH, MCCH and MTCH. Paging indicators for each idle
`wireless device are sent on the PICH in the paging occasions
`for the wireless device, as shown at the top of FIG. 5. The
`notification indicator for each service is sent in each frame on
`the MICH and is set to the same notification value (either 1
`or 0) for the entire modification period. The notification
`indicator is set to 1 for the entire modification period imme
`diately preceding a change in the critical signaling informa
`tion for the service.
`The modification period is selected to be sufficiently long
`so that all wireless devices (even wireless devices with the
`longest possible DRX cycle) can process the MICH and reli
`ably detect at least one notification indicator for each desired
`service during the modification period. This allows most idle
`wireless devices to receive their paging indicators as well as
`the notification indicators for the desired services in their
`paging occasions, which can reduce battery consumption. A
`wireless device with a DRX cycle that is shorter than the
`modification period can read the MICH during its paging
`occasion in each DRX cycle. A wireless device with a DRX
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`cycle that is longer than the modification period can wake up
`between its paging occasions to read the notification indica
`tors sent on the MICH. The modification period may be
`selected to be equal to or longer than a predetermined mini
`mum duration (e.g. 2 seconds) so that the wireless d