Method for transmitting at least one group message, accompanying radio communication network, subsystem and mobile phone device

Procedure for transmitting at least one group message, the corresponding radio communications network, subsystem, as well as mobile telephone equipment.

Procedure for transmitting at least one group message, the corresponding radio communications network, subsystem, as well as mobile telephone equipment.

From WO 98/25422 a method and equipment are known by means of which group messages are transmitted in a packet-oriented radio network, with at least one support node, a set of subscribers of the group and at least one predetermined area (defined area).

From US 5,640,443 a mobile telephone system is known that carries out a telephone communication with a group, with mobile subscribers to improve the amount of incoming calls and the quality of communication, with a set of mobile subscribers, each sending an information that includes a stay number and the subscriber's number.

The invention has as a basic task to show a way to be able to transmit in a radio communication network at least one group message to one or more subscriber devices of at least one group in the most effective way possible.

This task is solved with the characteristics of claim 1.

The invention also relates to a radio communication network according to claim 4, to the corresponding subsystem according to claim 5, as well as to a radio communication apparatus according to claim 6.

The invention and its improvements will be described in more detail below on the basis of drawings.

It is shown in:

Figure 1: in schematic representation, network elements and their combination in the UTRAN subsystem

of UMTS (universal mobile telecommunication system, universal mobile system of

telecommunications),

Figures 2, 3: respective MBMS contexts in the UTRAN subsystem of Figure 1, representing

schematic, which are managed by at least one control unit of the radio network of

higher order of this subsystem according to the procedure corresponding to the invention, and

Figures 4 to 6: in respective schematic representations for performing the procedure corresponding to the invention, the signaling on the air interface between the corresponding subscriber apparatus and the control unit of the higher order radio network in the UTRTS UTRAN subsystem according to figure 1.

The elements with the same function and form of operation have been provided in Figures 1 to 6 in each case with the same references.

In many services and applications offered in modern mobile telephone systems, messages should be transmitted not only to one, but to two and several mobile telephone subscribers of at least one group that can be predetermined. Examples of such services and applications are news-groups (newsgroups), videoconferences, video-ondemand (video on demand), distributed applications, etc.

In the transmission of the messages to the different subscribers it is possible to send to each receiver separately a copy of the data. This technique is certainly simple to implement, but not suitable for large groups. Since the same message is transmitted through N (N = number of recipients of the message) individual links (unicast links) and then sent several times through common link paths, this procedure needs a very large bandwidth.

A better possibility is offered by the so-called multicast transmission. Here the different subscribers meet to whom the same message must be transmitted in a group (multicast group) and an address (multicast address) is assigned to it. The data to be transmitted is then sent only once to this multicast address. In the ideal case, the multicast message (= MC) is sent only once from the sender to the receivers. It is not necessary for the issuer to know where and how many issuers are behind the corresponding multicast address. In order to receive messages from a certain multicast group, a subscriber must be registered in this multicast group.

In broadcasting, messages are sent to a group of subscribers within a regional zone. The zone in which broadcast messages are sent is called the broadcast zone (Broadcast Area). The size of the broadcast zone is determined by the network operator. By means of common link routes, the message is then sent only once in the ideal case, as in the multicast. However, it is an inconvenience in this regard that all subscribers within the broadcast area have the ability to read broadcast messages, even when they do not have the right to do so. To read only certain messages and discard or filter others, the corresponding settings can be made by the subscribers on their terminal devices. No explicit registration is required in a broadcast service.

The so-called Multimedia Broadcast and Multicast Service (MBMS), (multimedia broadcasting and multimedia service), is described in the specifications of the third generation of mobile telephony systems, particularly in the UMTS (universal mobile telecommunication) mobile telephony system. multicast). This allows the transmission of multimedia data through multicast and broadcast.

Only the network elements corresponding to the UMTS access network, the so-called UTRAN (UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network, terrestrial radio access network UMTS), are considered in more detail as a subsystem of the UMTS radio communications network. In figure 1 the following components and links between them are schematically represented by way of example among their network elements:

NodeB:

A NodeB (base station), here both NodeB1 base stations, NodeB2, is a competent network component to power one or more radio cells through at least one air interface. With the help of the corresponding NodeB, communication is made between the fixed network part or the higher order radio part of the UMTS mobile telephone system and the subscriber devices, in particular mobile telephone devices, which are located in the cell radio from the base station environment, through at least one air interface.

Radio Network Controller (abbreviated: RNC) = radio network control unit:

An RNC controls the air interface resources and feeds and controls one or more base stations (NodeB).

User Equipment (EU) = subscriber device.

The UE (short for User Equipment) is in particular a mobile terminal device that is connected through the air interface with the UTRAN.

In Fig. 1, both base stations NodeB1, NodeB2, as well as their corresponding radio cells CE1, CE2, are controlled by way of example, by means of the higher order radio network control unit RNC1. The base station NodeB1 is then connected by a fixed line LI1, the base station NodeB2 by a fixed line LI2 with the control unit of the radio network RNC1 associated together. In the radio cell CE1 of the base station NodeB1 are the three subscriber devices UE1, UE2, UE3, which are registered and announced in the group GR1. They communicate via the air interface LS1 with the base station NodeB1, as well as with the control unit RNC1 there coupled.

In the MBMS specifications it is determined that the data of an MBMS service should only be sent in the radio cells in which subscriber devices or UEs that wish to receive this service are actually located. In order to do this, the UTRAN needs, in particular the RNC, knowledge and information regarding whether subscribers or UEs wishing to receive a certain MBMS service are in one of the radio networks for which it is competent. This information is not available according to the state of the art of the UTRAN, in particular the RNC. It is also determined that a subscriber device (= UE) MBMS must also be able to receive in the so-called "idle mode" (idle mode). In this state (idle mode) there is no UTRAN knowledge about the UE, that is, He doesn't know at all that he is in one of his radio cells.

The UTRAN cannot therefore, according to the state of the art, make a decision as to whether MBMS data should be sent in radio cells, even when there are UEs wishing to receive the service.

For this example of execution, a radio cell is considered (cell ID = N; cell id = cell identity) such as CE1, which is fed by a NodeB, such as NodeB1 and an RNC, such as RNC1 . It is also considered an MBMS service (MBMS group id = XYZ).

It will first be shown how advantageously an MBMS context can be configured and introduced in the UTRAN, in particular in the RNC. This will be shown based on two examples.

Example 1:

In the radio cell CE1 with the cell Id, "N = 1" 1 is found (a) subscribed with the EU ID "A" [this information element is optional], which wishes to receive the MBMS service with the Id MBMS "XYZ". In figure 2 it

represents this context of MBMS as an example.

Example 2:

Suppose that in the radio cell CE1, with the cell id "N = 1" there are now 3 UEs UE1, UE2, UE3 with the IDs of UE "A", "B" and "C" [this element of information is optional!], who would like to receive the MBMS service with the MBMS service id "XYZ". Figure 3 shows this MBMS context as an example.

When no subscriber wishing to receive the considered MBMS service is considered in the radio cell CE1, no MBMS context in the RNC is managed or stored for this MBMS service in this radio cell.

It will now be shown in second place what an advantageous signaling between UE and RNC is, based on which the MBMS context in the RNC is established, adapted and / or eliminated.

For this, it is assumed that no UE is yet to be found in the considered radio cell, such as CE1

You want to receive the MBMS “XYZ” service. Therefore no MBMS context is retained in the RNC for this MBMS service and this radio cell. It is further assumed that a UE such as UE1 with the UE Id "A" changes to the radio cell CE1 considered with the cell Id "N = 1" and is already subscribed to the MBMS service considered with the MBMS service Id "X AND Z". Based on measurements, it now detects the UE = UE1 found

In a new cell. According to the invention, the subscriber apparatus UE1 now sends an information signal IS1 ("MBMS notification") to the control unit of the higher order radio network (= RNC) RNC1. This MBMS notification contains the ID of the MBMS group in which the subscriber device UE1 will be registered (for example the TMGI (=

temporary mobile group identifier ”= acronym for“ temporary group identifier ”) and optionally a

information about your identity (EU Id).

The RNC, here RNC1, now establishes the MBMS context corresponding to the invention. This is in the present case.

as in example 1 above. The same "MBMS notification" is sent by the subscriber device (= UE) also to the

RNC, when the UE is already in the considered radio cell and subscribes as new in the MBMS service considered, that is, it is registered and with it is in the corresponding online group, that is, actively connected. This signaling scenario is depicted in Figure 4.

The sending of the information signal IS1 ("MBMS notification") is now done to the control unit of the higher order radio network, here RNC1, for each UE that switches to the radio cell considered and that is registered for the MBMS service considered, and for each UE that is already in the radio cell considered and that has subscribed to the MBMS service considered. The MBMS context in the RNC for this radio cell and this MBMS service are then adapted accordingly.

If necessary, such warning or information elements can be integrated, for example, MBMS Group ID, EU ID, optionally also in existing messages according to the state of the art and sent to the competent RNC.

When the radio cell considered leaves a UE, it then conveniently sends the same in the new radio cell again an MBMS notification such as IS1 to the responsible RNC, such as RNC1, which then manages or preserves the corresponding MBMS context for the new radio card, as well as the MBMS service. Additionally or independently thereof, it transmits the UE that changes the radio cell, conveniently in the old radio cell, that is, in the radio cell that the UE has just left, another information signal such as IS2 ("MBMS leave", in English leave = leave), that is, a warning or a message to the competent RNC, so that it knows that there is now a UE less than those who wish to receive the MBMS service considered in the radio cell considered. The message "MBMS leave" conveniently contains the information elements Id of the MBMS group (for example the TMGI) and optionally the UE ID of the subscriber device (= UE) that sends the message "MBMS leave". The RNC then conveniently adapts the MBMS context for this radio cell and this MBMS service accordingly. This signaling scenario is depicted in Figure 5. There, the information or warning signal of the "MBMS leave" message that the subscriber device UE1 sends to the control unit of the higher order radio network RNC1 when leaving the radio cell CE1 is called IS2.

This "MBMS leave" IS2 message is also conveniently sent when the UE remains in the considered radio cell and eliminates its subscription to the MBMS service considered. This signaling scenario is depicted in Figure 6.

If necessary, information elements can be integrated and sent to the RNC, for example, MBMS group ID and EU ID, optionally also in existing messages according to the state of the art.

When the last UE that wishes to receive data from the corresponding MBMS service has left the corresponding radio cell or has deleted its subscription to the corresponding MBMS service and has sent the corresponding message “MBMS leave” to the RNC, it eliminates the MBMS context for this radio cell and this MBMS service either deletes them.

Considered in general, an MBMS context is therefore advantageously introduced into the UTRAN, which describes for each radio cell whether subscribers have subscribed, and how many, in an MBMS group (for example described by an MBMS group identity) . The MBMS context is preserved, managed and modified in the UTRAN, in particular in the RNC. Through the MBMS context it is possible for UTRAN to know if there are UEs in the radio cells that it manages and have subscribed to a certain MBMS service and how many. Based on this information, the UTRAN subsystem, in particular the RNC, can decide whether MBMS data is sent to a radio cell or not. In addition, UTRAN may decide, based on the MBMS context, if a small number of subscribers have to carry out a point-to-point transmission (each subscriber receives their data through the links associated with it) or point-to-multipoint transmission (the subscribers receive their data through a common link).

Optionally it also contains the MBMS context in the UTRAN the information on which UEs (in particular which UE identities) are in an MBMS group. This information can be used, for example, when UTRAN makes the decision, for a small number of receivers, to use point-to-point transmissions for the transmission of MBMS data. The UE identities are then used to establish the subscriber specific point-to-point links.

The specific MBMS service context and MBMS specific context of the radio cell is preferably set in the corresponding control unit of the competent higher order radio network, as soon as the first UE wishes to receive an MBMS service in the radio cell. The MBMS context is modified or adapted there in the control unit as soon as new subscriber devices (UEs) are found in the radio cell that wish to receive the same MBMS service or when there are UEs that leave the radio cell or that They no longer wish to receive the service. The MBMS context is conveniently removed as soon as no UE that wishes to receive the special MBMS service is no longer in the radio cell.

As soon as a new UE is found in a radio cell, it sends a communication, called

in what follows "MBMS notification", to the UTRAN, in particular to the RNC. This MBMS notification contains

preferably at least the MBMS group identity (for example the TMGI [Temporary Mobil Group Identity]), or several identities (when the UE is subscribed to several MBMS services), which unequivocally identifies an MBMS service. Optionally it can contain the "MBMS notification" in addition to the UE identity corresponding to the UE that sent the message.

The corresponding UE sends the "MBMS notification" to the competent higher order radio network (RNC) control unit, in particular when:

is in a radio cell and subscribes to a new MBMS service, and / or

it moves from a radio cell to a new radio cell. The UE then detects, for example based on

measurements, which is in a new radio cell and automatically sends an MBMS notification to

UTRAN

In order for UTRAN to adapt the MBMS context when the UEs leave the radio cell, they disconnect and / or eliminate their subscription to the MBMS service considered, the corresponding UE transmits a message to UTRAN in these cases, so that the UTRAN knows that one less UE is now in this radio cell. Upon leaving the "old" radio cell, a message in the "old" cell is therefore sent to its base station with the associated control unit relative that there is now one less UE and one message in the cell " new "to your base station with the associated control unit related to the fact that there is now one more UE that wishes to receive a certain MBMS service. This message is called "MBMS leave" in the context of the invention. This "MBMS leave" message preferably contains the MBMS group identity (for example the TMGI [Temporary Mobil Group Identity]) or if necessary several identities (when the corresponding UE has subscribed to several MBMS services), which clearly identifies a service MBMS Optionally it can contain the message "MBMS leave" additionally the UE identity corresponding to the UE that sent the message.

Within the framework of the invention, the following abbreviations and concepts have been used, which in particular have been introduced in a standard manner or are customary in the mobile telephone technique as an acronym and if necessary definitions:

<dl><dt>Id </dt><dd>identity (for example, EU ID unequivocally describes the EU) </dd></dl>

<dl><dt>MBMS</dt><dd> Multimedia Broadcast / Multicast Service (multimedia broadcasting / multicast service) </dd></dl>

<dl><dt>NodeB </dt><dd> base station in the UMTS </dd></dl>

<dl><dt>5 </dt><dd>RNC TMGI Radio Network Controller (radio network control unit) Temporary Mobile Group Id (identifies the MBMS group unequivocally) </dd></dl>

<dl><dt>EU </dt><dd>User Equipment (mobile phone device in the UMTS network) </dd></dl>

<dl><dt>UMTS</dt><dd> Universal Mobile Telecommunication System </dd></dl>

UTRAN UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (terrestrial radio access network to UMTS)

10 In this way a subsystem for a radio communications network is prepared to transmit at least one group message to at least one receiving subscriber apparatus. This radio communication network subsystem is formed by at least one subscriber apparatus, as well as at least one control unit of the upper radio network, configured to perform the procedure corresponding to the invention.