A method and apparatus for media independent handover capability discovery

(54) Title: METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISCOVERING INDEPENDENT MEDIA DELIVERY CAPACITY (30) Unionist Priority: 08/02/2007 us 60 / 888,789 (73) Holder (s): Interdigital Technology Corporatain (72) Inventor (s) : Khalid S. Hossain, Mahmoud Watfa, Ulises Olvera-Hernandez (74) Attorney (s): Advocacia Pietro Ariboni S / C (86) International Request: pct US2008001665 of 02/08/2008 (87) International Publication: wo 2008 / 09763ide 14/08 / 2008 (57) Abstract: method and apparatus for discovering INDEPENDENT MEDIA DELIVERY CAPACITY. A first media independent delivery (MIHF) function receives a discovery request for media independent delivery capabilities (MIH) from a second MIHF and generates an MIH capacity discovery response message, which includes one or more parameters. Then, the first MIHF sends the MIH capabilities discovery response to the second MIHF. Based on the information contained in the MIH capabilities discovery response, the first MIHF can receive a delivery request message from the second MIHF. The one or more parameters included in the discovery response message indicates the specific technologies for which the first MIHF supports an MMB delivery. The one or more parameters can include a list of the technologies for which a delivery to make before breaking (MMB) is sustained. A parameter can use, for example, a specific bit structure, where each bit is a Boolean representation of whether MMB delivery is supported for a specific type of technology.

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PI08Q64W-I

Method and apparatus for discovering the ability to deliver media independently.

BACKGROUND

The IEEE 802.21 standard includes mechanisms and procedures that assist in the execution and administration of deliveries between systems. In particular, IEEE 802.21 defines a media independent delivery (MIH) function (MIHF) that resides in communications entities of various wireless systems capable of supporting delivery between systems. Figure 1 shows an example of a network architecture for wireless systems capable of sustaining inter-system delivery. These underlying technologies may include, for example, 3GPP, 3GPP2 and IEEE-based systems such as IEEE 802.xx, multiple code division access (CDMA) 2000; universal mobile telephone system (UMTS), GSM, long-term evolution (LTE) or any other wireless communication system, including future and undeveloped wireless communication systems.

MIH functions can be implemented in any wireless communication system. The state of the art has suggested improvements with respect to the use of several messages, including an MIH Capacity Discovery Request / Confirmation message. These enhancements include modifications to the message parameters, so that MIH capable nodes can efficiently discover the capabilities of other MIH capable partners.

Modifications to the message parameters allow the use of a single MIH Capability Discovery message to discover all the important capabilities of a partner node, such as the number and type of sustained links and the link events belonging to specific link types, unlike the previous method, in which a message of this type needed to be sent for each type of link that is supported on a remote end.

Although the proposed structures can provide an efficient way of discovering link-related capabilities and the type of sustained transport, these structures do not facilitate the determination of other important capabilities of those links. Consequently, a vast improvement in the discovery of capabilities is still greatly needed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first MIHF receives an MIH capabilities discovery request from a second MIHF and generates an MIH capabilities discovery response message, which includes one or more parameters. Then, the first MIHF sends the MIH capabilities discovery response to the second MIHF. Based on the information contained in the capabilities discovery response

2/8 of MIH, the first MIHF can receive a delivery request message from the second MIHF.

The one or more parameters included in the discovery response message indicates the specific technologies for which the first MIHF supports an MBB delivery. The one or more parameters may include a list of the technologies for which a delivery to make before breaking (MBB) is sustained. A parameter can use, for example, a specific bit structure where each bit is a Boolean representation of whether MBB delivery is supported for a specific type of technology.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

- Figure 1 is an example of a wireless communication system configured to support inter-system delivery.

- Figure 2 is a block diagram of a typical wireless communication system.

- Figure 3 is a flow chart of a method for discovering MIH capabilities.

- Figure 4 is a flow chart of a method of providing MIH capabilities. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

When indicated below, the terminology “wireless transmission and reception unit (WTRU)” includes, but is not limited to, user equipment (UE), mobile station (STA), mobile node (MN), subscriber unit fixed or mobile, pager, cell phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), MIH function, computer or any other type of user device capable of operating in a wireless environment. When indicated below, the terminology “access point (AP)” includes, but is not limited to, Node B, site controller, base station, connection point (PoA), service point (PoS), MIH function or any other type of interface device capable of operating in a wireless environment.

Figure 2 is a block diagram of a wireless communication system 200 that includes a wireless transmit and receive unit 205 and an AP 210. The WTRU 205 and AP 210 communicate via a wireless communication link wire, 212.

As shown in Figure 2, the WTRU 215 includes a MIHF 215, a processor 220 and at least one transceiver 225a, 225b. Processor 220 is connected to MIHF 215 and each of the transceivers 225a, 225b. MIHF 215 is configured to conduct processes related to independent media delivery, which include generating an MIH capabilities discovery request and processing an MIH capabilities response.

Also shown in Figure 2, the AP 210 includes an MIHF 230, a processor 235 and at least one transceiver 240a, 240b. Processor 235 is connected to the MIH 215 function and to each of the transceivers 225a, 225b. MIHF 230 is

3/8 configured to conduct processes related to independent media delivery, which include processing an MIH capabilities discovery request and generating an MIH capabilities response. Optionally, the MIHF 230 can be located outside the AP 210 on the network (not shown). The AP can be connected, for example, to an access router (not shown) that can house the MIHF 230.

Figure 3 shows a flow chart of a method 300 for receiving MIH capabilities. First, the first MIHF sends a request to discover MIH capabilities to a second MIHF, at 310. For the purposes of the 300 method, the first MIHF may be located on AP 210 as MIHF 230, or the first MIHF may be located on WTRU 205 as MIHF 215. In a third alternative, MIHF may be located on the network (not shown). In response, the first MIHF receives an MIH capabilities discovery response from the second MIHF, in 320. Then, the first MIHF decides to surrender to the second MIHF based on information contained in the MIH capabilities discovery response, in 340.

The MIH capabilities discovery response message includes at least one Linc parameter and an MBB delivery support parameter (MBBHandoverSuppport). The Linc element will include a list of the types of networks supported by MIHF. The MBB Delivery Support parameter provides a list of the technologies for which MBB delivery is supported. The MBB Delivery Support parameter can use, for example, a specific bit structure, where each bit is a Boolean representation of whether MBB delivery is supported for a specific type of technology. It should also be noted that all available links are considered to support break-before-making (BBM) delivery as a standard and, therefore, information regarding BBM delivery capabilities is not required.

Table 1 shows an example of a possible bit structure for the MBB Delivery Support parameter; those skilled in the art will recognize, however, that several other structures are possible and Table 1 is in no way intended to limit the scope of the present invention to the specific bit structure contained therein.

Table 1

Example of Possible Bit Structure for the Proposed MSS Delivery Support Parameter

<td>Parameter</td><td>description</td>

<td>Delivery Support from MBB</td><td>Bit field containing as many bits as potential sustained lynxes. There should be as many entries in this field as possible sustained links.</td>

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<td></td><td>Bit n ° 0 - indicates whether an MBB delivery for 802.3 is sustained Bit n ° 1 - indicates whether an MBB delivery is sustained for 802.11 Bit n ° 2 - indicates whether an MBB delivery is sustained for 802.16 Bit n ° 3 - indicates whether an MBB delivery is sustained CDMA2000 Bit No. 4 - indicates whether MBB delivery for UMTS is sustained Bit n ° 5 - indicates whether an MBB delivery is sustained for CDMA2000-HRPD Bit n ° 6 - indicates whether MBB delivery to GSM is sustained Bit n ° 7 to Bit n ° 15 - reserved for future use</td>

Optionally, the MIH discovery response message can also include a series of sustained link parameters Number of Sustained Links. This parameter would indicate the number of links that the communication entity has associated with MIHF supports. Table 2 shows an example definition for the Number of Sustained Links parameter; those skilled in the art will recognize, however, that many other structures are possible and Table 2 is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention in any way to the specific bit definition or bit structure contained therein.

Table 2 _Example of the Parameter Number of Proposed Sustained Links__

<td>Parameter</td><td>description</td>

<td>Number of Links Sustained</td><td>Unsigned eight-bit integer representing the number of links supported on an MIH capable node</td>

Figure 4 shows a flow chart of a method 400 of providing MIH capabilities for a first MIHF. For the purposes of the 400 method, the first MIHF may be located on AP 210 as MIHF 230 or the first MIHF may be located on WTRU 205 as MIHF 215. In a third alternative, MIHF may be located on the network (not shown) . First, the second MIHF receives a request to discover MIH capabilities from the first MIHF, in 410. The second MIHF then generates an MIH capabilities discovery response message, which includes an MBB Delivery Support parameter that indicates the specific technologies for which the second MIHF supports an MBB delivery, at 420. The second MIHF then sends the MIH capability discovery response to the first MIHF, in step 430. Optionally, the second MIHF can send the MIH capability discovery response via broadcast, multicast or unicast. Based on the information contained in the MIH capabilities discovery response, the second MIHF may receive an

5/8 request for delivery of the first MIHF, in 440.

In an alternative embodiment, all available links may not be considered to support BBM delivery. In this situation, a third parameter can be included in the MIH capabilities discovery message to indicate the availability of BBM delivery for specific technologies (BBM Delivery Support). Table 4 shows an example of a possible bit structure for the BBM- Delivery Support parameter, the technicians in the subject will recognize, however, that many other structures are possible and Table 1 is not intended in any way to limit the scope of the present invention to the specific bit structure contained therein.

Table 3

Example for the Proposed BBM Delivery Support Parameter

<td>Parameter</td><td>description</td>

<td>Delivery Support from BBM</td><td>A bit field has as many bits as potential sustained links. There should be so many entries for this field as many sustained links as possible. Bit n ° 0 - indicates whether a BBM delivery for 802.3 is sustained Bit No. 1 - indicates whether a BBM delivery is sustained for 802.11 Bit No. 2 - indicates whether a BBM delivery is sustained for 802.16 Bit No. 3 - indicates whether a BBM delivery is sustained for CDMA2000 Bit No. 4 - indicates whether a BBM delivery for UMTS is sustained Bit n ° 5 - indicates whether a BBM delivery is sustained for CDMA2000-HRPD Bit 6 - indicates whether a BBM delivery to GSM is sustained Bit n ° 7 to Bit n ° 15 - reserved for future use</td>

According to procedures 300, 400 of Figures 3 and 4, the first and second MIHFs can be located on a WTRU 205, an AP 210 or some other network entity such as an access router (not shown). Optionally, procedures 300, 400 of Figures 3 and 4 can be performed in such a way that the AP can request the MIH capabilities of the WTRU 205 and the WTRU 205 can generate and send a MIH capabilities response message to the AP 210 with information regarding the WTRU 205's MIH capabilities.

Although the characteristics and elements are described above in specific combinations, each characteristic or element can be used alone, without the other characteristics and elements or in various combinations with or without other characteristics and elements. The methods or flowcharts provided

6/8 at present can be implemented in a computer program, software or hardware in tangible realization in a computer-readable storage medium for execution by a general purpose computer or processor. Examples of computer-readable storage media include read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), registry, cache memory, semiconductor memory devices, magnetic media such as internal hard drives and removable disks, magnetic media optical and optical media such as CD-ROM discs and digital versatile discs (DVDs).

Suitable processors include, for example, a general purpose processor, special purpose processor, conventional processor, digital signal processor (DSP), a series of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in association with a DSP core, controller, microcontroller, Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Field Programmable Portal Sets (FPGAs), any other type of integrated circuit (IC) and / or state machine.

A processor in association with software can be used to implement a radio frequency transceiver for use in a wireless transmission and reception unit (WTRU), user equipment (UE), terminal, base station, radio network controller (RNC) ) or any host computer. The first MIHF can be used in conjunction with modules, implemented in hardware * and / or software, such as a camera, video camera module, videophone, headset, vibrating device, speaker, microphone, television transceiver , handsfree headset, keyboard, Bluetooth® module, frequency modulated radio (FM) unit, liquid crystal display unit (LCD), organic light-emitting diode (OLED) unit, music player digital, media device, video game module, Internet browser and / or any wireless local area network (WLAN) or Ultra Wide Band (UWB) module.

Achievements

1. Independent media delivery function (MIHF) for use in a wireless communication system connected to a transceiver configured to perform independent media delivery (MIH).

2. MIHF as per realization 1, in which the MIHF is configured to transmit and receive delivery messages regardless of means.

3. MIHF according to any of the previous accomplishments, in which MIHF is configured to transmit and receive delivery messages regardless of means that include a Number of Sustained Links parameter.

4. MIHF according to any of the previous accomplishments, in which MIHF is configured to transmit and receive delivery messages regardless of means that include a

7/8 MBB Delivery Support parameter.

5. MIHF according to any of the previous accomplishments, in which MIHF is configured to transmit and receive delivery messages independent of means that include a BBM Delivery Support parameter.

6. MIHF according to any of the previous accomplishments, in which MIHF is configured to make deliveries to be made before the break.

7. MIHF according to any of the previous achievements, in which MIHF is configured to make break deliveries before making.

8. MIHF according to any of the previous accomplishments, in which MIHF is configured to transmit and receive messages that contain MIH link capability.

9. MIHF according to any of the previous achievements, in which MIHF is configured to transmit and receive messages that contain a number of MIH links.

10. MIHF according to any of the previous accomplishments, in which MIHF is configured to transmit and receive a Delivery Support Message.

11. MIHF in accordance with any of the previous achievements, in which the

Delivery Support comprises information regarding device delivery support for a number of protocols.

12. MIHF in accordance with any of the previous achievements, in which the

Delivery Support comprises a series of bits configured to indicate device delivery support for a number of protocols.

13. MIHF according to any of the previous accomplishments, in which the series of

Delivery Support Message comprises information regarding device delivery support for a number of protocols.

14. MIHF in accordance with any of the previous achievements, in which the

Delivery Support comprises information regarding device delivery support for a number of protocols.

15. MIHF according to any of the previous achievements, in which the MIH is delivery to do before the break.

16. MIHF according to any of the previous accomplishments, in which MIH is break delivery before making.

17. MIHF according to any of the previous achievements, where MIHF is located in a wireless transmission and reception unit for use in a 3GPP system.

18. MIHF according to any of the previous achievements, in which MIHF is located in a Node B for use in a 3GPP system.

19. MIHF according to any of the previous achievements, where MIHF is located at the base station for use in a 3GPP system.

20. MIHF according to any of the previous achievements, where MIHF is located on a mobile unit for use on a wireless local area network.

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21. MIHF according to any of the previous achievements, where MIHF is located at an access point for use on a wireless local area network.

22. MIHF according to any of the previous achievements, in which MIHF is configured to:

- transmitting an information request message from a first node to a second node; and

- transmitting a series of parameters from the second node to the first node, where the series of parameters indicates delivery information independent of means.

23. MIHF according to embodiment 22, wherein the independent delivery information 10 of means comprises a series of bits indicating protocol support.

24. MIHF according to any of the realizations 22 or 23, in which the parameters indicate delivery support to do before the break.

25. MIHF according to any of the realizations 22 to 24, in which the parameters indicate break delivery support before making.

26. MIHF according to any of the achievements 22 to 25, in which the parameters include a Number of Sustained Links parameter.

27. MIHF according to any of the realizations 22 to 26, in which the parameters include an MBB Delivery Support parameter.

28. MIHF according to any of the realizations 22 to 27, in which the parameters include 20 a BBM Delivery Support parameter.

29. Wireless transmission and reception unit configured for use with an MIHF according to any of the previous accomplishments.

30. Access point (AP) configured for use with an MIHF according to any of the previous achievements.

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