Method and radio communication system for the transmission of useful information as a service to several user stations

Translation of description of equivalent WO 2004030385 A1

description

Procedures and Funkkom unikationssystem for transmitting user information as a service to multiple subscriber stations

The invention relates to a method for transmitting payload information in a radio communication system with at least one radio network controller, at least one base station and at least one subscriber station according to the preamble of claim 1.

The invention further relates to a radio communication system according to the preamble of claim 11.

Communication systems are becoming increasingly important. There are strong efforts exist to link wired communication systems with radio communication systems. The resulting hybrid communications systems lead to an increase in the number of available services, but also allow for greater flexibility on the part of communication. This equipment is designed to use different systems (multi-homing).

The radio communication systems is of great importance because of it OEG clear movement of participants.

In radio communication systems, information is transmitted (for example voice, image information, video information, SMS [Short Message Service] or other data) with the aid of electromagnetic waves via a radio interface between transmitting and receiving station (base station or subscriber station). The electromagnetic waves takes place using carrier frequencies that gen in the space reserved for the respective system frequency band lie. For the introduced GSM mobile radio system (Global System for Mobile Communication) can be used at frequencies 900, 1800 and 1900 MHz. These systems transmit substantially voice, fax and text messages SMS (Short Message Service) as well as digital data.

For future mobile radio systems using CDMA or TD / CDMA transmission methods, such as UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunication System) or other third-generation systems, frequencies in the frequency band around 2000 MHz are provided. This third-generation systems are developed with the goals of worldwide radio coverage, a wide range of services for data transmission and especially a flexible management of the capacity of the radio interface, the interface with the least resources is in radio communication systems. In these radio communication systems, it should be possible in particular, the flexible management of the radio interface that a subscriber station if necessary send a large amount of data at high data speed and / or receive.

The access of stations to the shared radio resources of the transmission medium, such as time, frequency, power or space is regulated in these radio communication systems by multiple access methods (Multiple Access, MA).

In time division multiple access method (TDMA) of each transmitting and receiving frequency band is divided into time slots, wherein one or several cyclically repeated time slots to the stations are allocated. By TDMA, the radio resource time separated in a station-specific.

In frequency division multiple access (FDMA), the entire frequency range is divided into narrow areas, where one or more narrow frequency bands the stations are allocated. By FDMA, the radio resource frequency station specifically separated.

Case of code division multiple access (CDMA) is a spreading code, which consists of many individual so-called chips, the power to be transmitted / information encoded station-specific, whereby the power to be transmitted code requires is spread randomly over a wide frequency range. The use of different stations spreading codes within a cell / base station are each mutually orthogonal or substantially orthogonal, whereby a receiver recognizes its intended signal power and suppresses other signals. Through CDMA radio resource power station specifically separated by spreading codes.

In orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDM), the data is transmitted broadband, wherein the frequency band is divided into equidistant orthogonal subcarriers, so that the simultaneous phase shift of the subcarriers spanning a two-dimensional data flow in the time-frequency domain. Using OFDM, the radio resource frequency is separated in a station-specific manner by orthogonal subcarriers. The transmitted during a time unit on the orthogonal subcarriers combined data symbols which are called OFDM symbols.

The multiple access method can be combined. Thus, many radiocommunication systems use a combination of TDMA and FDMA method, wherein each narrow frequency band is divided into time slots.

For the mentioned UMTS mobile radio system between a so-called FDD mode (Frequency Division Duplex) and TDD mode (Time Division Duplex) is discriminated. The TDD mode is characterized in particular by the fact that a common frequency band for both the signal transmission in the uplink direction (UL - uplink) and downlink (DL -

Downlink) is used, while the FDD mode for the two

Transmission directions in each case a different

uses frequency band.

In radio communication connections of the second and / or third-generation information can channel-mediated (CS Circuit Switched) or are transmitted packet-switched (PS Packet Switched).

The connection between the at least one base station and the at least one subscriber station via a radio communication interface. The base station can serve several radio cells.

Typically, the at least one base station and a radio network controller (RNC Radio Network Controller) components of a base station subsystem (RNS Radio Network Subsystem). A radio communication system generally includes multiple base station subsystems which are connected to a core network (CN Core Network). The radio network is connected control device of the base station subsystem with an access device (SGSN Serving GPRS Support Node) of the core network.

Besides individual payload data are transmitted in radio communication systems, which are made available to multiple users. For example, such a payload video streams or other broadcast and / or multicast information. The services for transmitting user information, which are not only provided individually for a single participant, but made several participants are available, summarized under the term MBMS (Multimedia Broadcast / Multicast Service). Different MBMS services (Multimedia Broadcast / Multicast Service) are provided by the core network usually as separarte streams.

Before the useful information is provided as a service more subscribers available, a notification is the subscriber stations of the subscribers who wish to use the service, before the actual transmission of the payload of the service. This alerts the subscriber stations is necessary so that the receiver can be configured. Depending on which mode the subscriber stations are located (eg "connected mode * or" idle mode "), the notification takes place for example in the form of a" Notification "or" paging ". Usually, group-specific mechanisms are being used for notification, in which several subscriber stations are addressed simultaneously.

The transmission of broadcast / multicast information as services should be advantageous. In particular, a preventable assignment of radio resources should be avoided.

The invention is therefore based on the object to disclose a method and a radio communication system of the type mentioned, which satisfy these requirements.

The object is achieved for the method by the features of claim 1 and for the radio communication system with the features of claim 11.

Advantageous and further developments are subject of the dependent claims.

According to the invention, the notification to the subscriber stations of the participants at least partially a request for a reply and the transfer of Payload carried at least partially by the response received.

The invention assumes that in general, the subscriber stations of MBMS services-using participants are not evenly distributed in the radio network. Therefore, it is usually also provide areas in the radio network, in which a transmission of the payload of the MBMS services is unnecessary because a subscriber-use does not exist there. This means that if a request for a reply in

Frame is a notification to the subscriber stations of the subscribers of a MBMS service received through the network side does not answer, is omitted quote at least partially the transmission of the payload. In this way, radio resources are used unnecessarily.

The invention takes advantage of that not in all radio cells of the radio communication system subscriber stations must be available from the MBMS service-using participants. Therefore, in principle, unnecessary transfer of

Useful information is avoided in the radio cells or sectors of radio cells where was no appropriate response to calls to the subscriber stations.

Advantageously, a grouping of the subscriber stations is carried out to groups with regard to the notification. In particular, an identical notification can be sent to a group of subscriber stations of the subscribers. Due to the already available radio network architecture, it is particularly favorable when the grouping of the subscriber stations by reference to which allocation to radio cells. Then, the invention is particularly easy to insert into existing systems.

According to the invention, the notification to the subscriber stations of the participants - as mentioned above - at least in part a request for a reply, that at least some subscriber stations and one or more Groups of subscriber stations receive a request for a reply. In embodiment of the invention comprises the notification to the subscriber stations of the participants either a request for a reply or information that no reply is necessary, which is independent of a reply in the latter case the transmission of the payload.

Here, for example, in radio cells that provide a hotspot, dispensed request for a reply because it is very likely due to eg high density and large number of subscriber stations that at least one of the offered MBMS service-use subscriber exists. The fact that in this case no request for a reply has been made, not only radio resources can be saved, but it is also unnecessary delays in the transmission of MBMS services are avoided. It can overload situations when accessing shared resources in the uplink, for example in the case-using a large number of MBMS services

Participants can be effectively prevented in a radio cell, which would just yes occur when a very large number of participants would be asked to respond.

The subscriber stations or groups of

Subscriber stations is informed via an appropriate Infromationsfeld in the notification, obsie to make a response or not. The request for a reply (RESP) or the information that no reply is necessary, in the form of a bit - are transmitted (eg "response bit).

In development of the invention is defined as a function of at least one criterion for deciding whether the wireless network control device a notification request for a reply, or the information that no response is required, the groups of Subscriber stations, the subscriber is transmitted. The determination is preferably carried out in the radio network controller.

It can basically a static and / or dynamic, in any case, a radio network specific decision criteria are used. The decision on whether a notification request for a reply, or the information that no reply is necessary, takes place can be adjusted according to the static and dynamic conditions, for example in a radio cell.

The decision criterion may, for example, the configuration of the radio network, radio network's existing knowledge of participants, the utilization of radio resources (eg, a large number of subscribers who use the common resource in the uplink) thereof in the radio network or in areas, specific characteristics of the service (eg, frequency and duration of the transmission) or a combination of the above possibilities into account. Information on the configuration can be supplied in this case for example of the operation and maintenance center (OMC Operation and Maintanance Centre).

In embodiment of the invention are the answers of the subscriber stations of the participants who have been invited to answer, in particular the replies of the subscriber stations within a group of subscriber stations, transmitted not at the same time. This measure effectively contributes to a temporally distributed use of radio resources.

The replies of the subscriber stations of the participants who have been invited to answer, in particular the replies of the subscriber stations of a group, can randomly with respect to the time of transfer or preferably transmitted regulated.

Advantageously, the transmission of the payload for a group of receipt of the response from at least one subscriber station of the group can be carried out. This prevents the one delays and also saves radio resources. Because in connection with the requirement of time spread replies of the subscriber stations, the subscriber stations which want to transfer their answers after the receipt of a reply to a first subscriber station, for example, with the start of transmission of the payload of the service to be aware of or due to the start of the transfer of payload information of the service to recognize that a response is no longer required.

When radio communication system according to the invention means are provided so that the notification to the subscriber stations of the participants at least partially includes a request for a reply and that zumi nd partially the transmission of the payload is made ​​after receipt of the response.

The radio communication system may have means, so that a notification is sent to groups of subscriber stations of the subscribers.

There may be means for determining a function of at least one decision criterion provided if an update request for a reply, or the information that no reply is necessary, is transmitted to a group of subscriber stations of the subscribers of the radio network controller. These means are preferably located in the radio network controller (RNC). The

then, for example, expanded radio network controller to a function that evaluates whether, for example due the specific configuration of a radio cell a response should be requested or not.

The radio communication system described is suitable in particular for implementing the method according to the invention. In the radio communication system or its individual components in each case the necessary means and equipment for performing the method and its embodiments and further developments may be present.

The invention with reference to embodiments and two figures is explained in detail.

In the figures:

Fig. 1: a schematic representation of a radio communication network according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a flow diagram for the transmission according to the invention between the core network, radio network controller, base station and subscriber station.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a

Radio communication network for an inventive transmission between a radio network controller RNC, two base stations and NodeBl NodeB2 and mobile subscriber stations UE1, UE2, UE3, UE4, UE5 and UE6.

The radio network controller RNC is a hand with an access device of a core network CN and the other hand to the two base stations and NodeBl NodeB2. NodeBl base station serving the radio cells A and B, and base stations NodeB2 the radio cells C and D.

Radio cell B are the subscriber stations UE1 and UE2. The subscriber stations UE3, UE4, UE5 and UE6 the radio cell C are assigned.

In the radio cell B of the base station NodeBl to a MBMS service, which can be signaled, for example via a group control channel of the radio network controller RNC via the radio cell B via the radio communication interface, are received by the mobile subscriber station UE2. The notification in the radio cell B includes a request for a reply. Subscriber station UE1 is currently not interested in using a MBMS service. After the subscriber stations UE2 has prompted in the notification responds by sending a reply, begins in the radio cell B, the Conference of the payload of the service. The

Payload of the service are transmitted, for example, over a traffic channel.

In the radio cell C also a MBMS service is to be transferred. Radio cell C supplies such as a potential hotspot. Because of this knowledge will be omitted in the radio network controller RNC to a request for a reply within the radio cell C, as is expected here with a larger number of users of the MBMS service. Without delay NodeB2 is therefore in the radio cell C to the base station transmitted via the radio communication interface payload of the MBMS service and of the mobile subscriber stations UE3, UE4, UE5 and UE6 In the illustrated case there was a group of subscriber stations based their assignment to the radio cells.

In the radio cells A and D no subscriber stations are shown.

In FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a

Flowchart for the transmission according to the invention shown between the core network CN, radio network controller RNC, NodeB base station and subscriber station UEn.

About an access device of the core network CN, the radio network controller RNC receives the message NOTIF-1 that payload of an MBMS service subscriber stations UEn to be made available.

Referring to the embodiment described in connection with FIG. 1 of the MBMS service is to be made available, for example, the subscriber station UE2 in the radio cell B of NodeBl and the subscriber stations UE3, UE4, UE5 and UE6 in the radio cell C of NodeB2 of FIG. 1 , The radio network controller RNC impinges the decision DECIS that the notification NOTIF-2 to the subscriber station UE2 contains a request for a reply RESP and the notification NOTIF-2 to the subscriber station UE3 to UE6 information that no response is required including,. In the radio cell of the base station B NodeBl then a transfer of the

Payload of the MBMS service after receiving the response RESP. In the radio cell C the base station NodeB2 the transmission of the payload information is performed independently of a reply RESP.