CN100396146C - A method for a user to end a multimedia broadcast/multicast service session - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention discloses a method for a user to end an MBMS service session. During the MBMS service process, the UE sets and starts a timer according to the estimated session duration of the MBMS service sent to the UE by the network side; when the timer expires, the UE Stop receiving MBMS service data. Or, during the MBMS service process, when the UE receives a data block, it sets and starts a timer according to the data block reception interval sent by the network side to the UE; each time the UE receives the next data block, it resets the timer again; If the UE does not receive the next data block when the timing expires, the UE stops receiving MBMS service data. The application of the invention can make the UE stop receiving MBMS service without interacting with the network, thereby saving system resources.

Description

A method for a user to end a multimedia broadcast/multicast service session

technical field

The invention relates to a method for realizing multimedia broadcast/multicast service (MBMS), in particular to a method for a user to end an MBMS service session.

Background technique

Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service (MBMS) realizes the use of high-efficiency wireless transfer method to download the same data to multiple mobile users. The main content of service transmission is streaming service (Streaming) or background service (Background) QoS requirements multimedia data.

Referring to FIG. 1 for a network structure capable of implementing MBMS, FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a wireless network structure supporting multicast/broadcast services. Wherein, the Broadcast/Multicast Service Center (BM-SC) is connected to the Gateway General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) Support Node (GGSN, Gateway GPRSSupport Node) through the Gmb interface or the Gi interface, and one BM-SC can be connected to multiple GGSNs; The GGSN is connected to the Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN, Serving GPRS Support Node) through the Gn/Gp interface, and one GGSN can be connected to multiple SGSNs; the SGSN can be connected to the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN) through the Iu interface ), then the UTRAN is connected to the communication terminal through the Uu interface, and the SGSN can also be connected to the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) Enhanced Radio Access Network (GERAN) through the Iu/Gb interface, and then GERAN is connected to the communication terminal through the Um interface.

A user receives an MBMS service, including the following process:

1. User subscription (Subscription) process, which is used to establish the connection between the user and the service provider;

2. Service announcement (Service announcement) process, which is used to notify the user of the relevant information of the MBMS service;

3. Joining (joining) process, which is used for the user to notify the network to prepare to receive MBMS services;

4. Session Start (Session Start) process, which is used for BM-SC to prepare to send data;

5. MBMS notification (MBMS Notification) process, which is used for RNC to notify users of MBMS multicast data transmission;

6. Data transmission process;

7. The session ends (Session Stop) process, during which the BM-SC is not ready to send data, and the bearer resources can be released.

8. A leaving process. After executing this process, the user is no longer a member of the MBMS multicast group.

After the data transmission ends, the BM-SC needs to notify the user that the current session of the MBMS service is over, and the user does not need to receive the MBMS service anymore.

At present, the process of BM-SC notifying the end of the user session is: BM-SC first sends session stop information to the BSC/RNC of UTRAN through GGSN and SGSN, indicating that the MBMS service transmission has ended, and then UTRAN sends the message to the user through the MBMS control channel (MCCH) The device sends sessionstop signaling to notify the user that the session process of the MBMS service is over, and stops receiving the MBMS control channel (MTCH) used to transmit MBMS service data. The process is shown in Fig. 2, Fig. 2 is the flow of UTRAN sending session stop signaling to the user as stipulated in the existing protocol. The process consists of the following two steps:

1. UTRAN terminates MBMS service data transmission.

2. UTRAN instructs the user to release the radio bearer (RB) configuration of the MBMS service on the MBMS radio bearer information (MBMS RADIOBEARER INFORMATION) on the MCCH, and updates the MBMS service information (MBMS SERVICE INFORMATION) notification on the MCCH. MBMS SERVICE INFORMATION contains For the services provided by the current network, the modification here is to delete the MBMS service, so as to notify subsequent users who join or enter the cell.

After receiving the RB release information in the MCCH, the user stops receiving the MBMS service.

It can be seen that the existing technology realizes the end of the session through a separate process, which not only consumes system resources, but also the user cannot obtain the information of the MBMS service stop transmission at the same time as the service data transmission ends, and the MBMS service stop transmission is not obtained. Continue to receive MTCH and MCCH before receiving information, which consumes terminal power.

Contents of the invention

In view of this, the main purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for a user to end an MBMS service session, so that the user can stop receiving the MBMS service in time and save system resources.

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a method for a user to end an MBMS service session, the method comprising the following steps:

A. During the MBMS service process, when the UE receives the MBMS service session time, it sets and starts a timer according to the MBMS service session time information; the MBMS service session time information is the estimated time of the MBMS service sent to the UE by the network side session duration;

B. When the timing expires, the UE stops receiving MBMS service data.

Wherein, the service session time information may be: the estimated session duration of the MBMS service sent by the network side to the UE;

In the step A, when receiving the session duration, the UE sets and starts a timer according to the session duration.

Wherein, the network side sending the estimated session duration to the UE in step A is implemented during the session start process, and the method for the network side to send the estimated session duration to the UE may include:

A1. When the broadcast/multicast service center BM-SC decides to deliver the MBMS service, it estimates the session duration of the MBMS service, and sends the estimated session duration to the gateway registered with the MBMS service along with the session start request GPRS support node GGSN;

A2. After receiving the session start request initiated by the BM-SC, the GGSN sends the MBMS session start request including the session duration to the serving GPRS support node SGSN;

A3. After receiving the MBMS session start request sent by the GGSN, the SGSN sends the MBMS session start request including the session duration to the base station controller BSC/radio network controller RNC;

A4. After receiving the MBMS session start request sent by the SGSN, the BSC/RNC sends the session duration to the UE expecting to receive the MBMS service.

The method for the BSC/RNC to send the session duration to the UE in step A4 may be: the BSC/RNC sends the session duration to the UE in a point-to-point transmission manner or in a point-to-multipoint transmission manner.

The BSC/RNC can send the session duration point-to-point to the UE through a dedicated channel, or send the session duration point-to-multipoint to the UE through a broadcast channel.

The method for setting the timer in step B may be: setting a timer whose timing time is greater than or equal to the estimated session duration.

The method for the UE to stop receiving MBMS service data in step B may be: the UE stops receiving the MBMS service channel MTCH.

The method may further include:

During the MBMS service data transmission process, the network side re-estimates the session duration of the MBMS service and sends it to the UE receiving the MBMS service;

When the UE receives the new session duration, it resets the timing of the timer according to the session duration.

The method for the network side to send the estimated session duration to the UE receiving the MBMS service may be: the network side attaches the session duration in a data block and sends it to the UE;

When the UE receives the service data, it demodulates the data block, and when the demodulated session duration is obtained, the timing time of the timer is set according to the session duration.

The process of sending the estimated session duration to the UE by the network side may include:

1) The BM-SC estimates the session duration of the MBMS service, and attaches the estimated session duration to the data block and sends it to the GGSN registered with the MBMS service;

2) GGSN forwards the data block containing session duration to SGSN after processing;

3) SGSN forwards the data block containing session duration to BSC/RNC after processing;

4) The BSC/RNC processes the data block containing the session duration and sends it to the UE.

The method of attaching the session duration to the data block may be: attaching the session duration to the start position or the end position or the middle position of the data block.

The present invention also proposes a method for the user to end the multimedia broadcast/multicast MBMS service session, the method is:

During the MBMS service process, when the UE receives the data block, it sets and starts a timer according to the MBMS service session time information; the MBMS service session time information is the data block reception interval time sent to the UE by the network side;

Each time the UE receives the next data block, the timer is reset again; if the UE does not receive the next data block when the timing expires, the UE stops receiving MBMS service data.

The data block receiving interval time is: the data block receiving interval time set by the network side according to the service type and sent to the UE during the session initiation process.

The data block reception interval is: during the data transmission process, the network side sets the data block reception interval according to the service type and sends it to the UE through in-band signaling.

The receiving interval of the data block is: the receiving interval of the data block set by the network side according to the service type and sent to the UE along with the data block;

After receiving the data block, the UE demodulates the receiving interval time of the data block.

The process of sending the data block reception interval to the UE by the network side may include:

1) BM-SC sets the data block reception interval time according to the service type, attaches the data block reception interval time to the data block and sends it to the GGSN registered with the MBMS service;

2) GGSN forwards the data block containing the data block receiving interval time to SGSN after processing;

3) SGSN forwards the data block containing the data block receiving interval time to BSC/RNC after processing;

4) The BSC/RNC processes the data block including the receiving interval of the data block and sends it to the UE.

The method of attaching the receiving interval of the data block to the data block may be: attaching the receiving interval of the data block to the start position or the end position or the middle position of the data block.

The method for setting the timer in step A may be: setting a timer whose timing time is greater than or equal to the data block receiving interval time.

It can be seen from the above technical solution that in the method for the user to end the MBMS service session of the present invention, during data transmission, the UE sets and starts a timer according to the time information of the MBMS service session, and when the timer expires, the UE automatically stops receiving MBMS service data . Therefore, by applying the present invention, the user can decide to end the data transmission without information interaction with the network, so that the UE stops receiving the MBMS service in time, thereby saving system resources.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a wireless network supporting multicast/broadcast services;

Fig. 2 is the process that the UTRAN specified in the existing protocol sends the session stop signaling to the user;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a session start process in a first preferred embodiment of the first embodiment of the present invention;

4 is a schematic flow diagram of a second preferred embodiment of the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a session start process of the first preferred embodiment of the second embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 6 is a schematic flowchart of a second preferred embodiment of the second embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed ways

In order to make the object, technical solution and advantages of the present invention clearer, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and four embodiments.

The present invention proposes a method for a user to end an MBMS service session, the method comprising:

A. During the MBMS service process, the UE sets and starts a timer according to the MBMS service session time information;

B. When the timing expires, the UE stops receiving MBMS service data.

There are two specific implementations of this method:

In the first embodiment, during data transmission, the UE sets and starts a timer according to the estimated session duration, and when the estimated session duration expires, the UE automatically stops receiving MBMS service data.

In the second embodiment, during data transmission, the UE sets and starts a timer according to the data block interval time, and when the waiting time for the next data block time exceeds the data block interval time, the UE automatically stops receiving MBMS service data.

The two implementations will be described in detail below with two preferred examples respectively.

The embodiment of the first kind of user ending the MBMS service session of the present invention comprises the following steps:

A. During the MBMS service process, the network side sends the estimated session duration of the MBMS service to the user equipment UE;

B. When the UE receives the session duration, it sets and starts a timer according to the session duration;

C. When the timer expires, the UE stops receiving MBMS service data.

The first method of the present invention for the user to end the MBMS service session has two implementations:

1. During the session start process, the network side sends the estimated session duration of the MBMS service to the UE.

2. During the data transmission process, the network side sends the estimated session duration of the MBMS service to the UE.

Referring to FIG. 3 , FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a session start flow in a first preferred embodiment of the first implementation manner of the present invention. This embodiment is an implementation manner in which the network side sends the estimated session duration of the MBMS service to the UE during the session start process. The process specifically includes the following steps:

Step 301, when the BM-SC decides to deliver the MBMS service, it estimates the session duration of the MBMS service, and sends the estimated session duration along with the session start request message to the GGSN registered with the MBMS service.

Step 302, after receiving the session start request message initiated by the BM-SC, the GGSN sends an MBMS session start response message to the BM-SC.

In step 303, the GGSN sends an MBMS session start request message including the session duration to the SGSN.

Step 304: After receiving the MBMS session start request message sent by the GGSN, the SGSN sends an MBMS session start response message to the GGSN.

Step 305, the SGSN sends the MBMS session start request message including the session duration to the BSC/RNC.

Step 306: After receiving the MBMS session start request message sent by the SGSN, the BSC/RNC sends an MBMS session start response message to the SGSN.

Step 307: After receiving the MBMS session start request sent by the SGSN, the BSC/RNC sends the session duration to the UE expecting to receive the MBMS service, and establishes radio resources.

The BSC/RNC can send the session duration point-to-point to the UE through a dedicated channel, or send the session duration point-to-multipoint to the UE through a broadcast channel.

Then, the UE sets and starts a timer according to the session duration, and the timing time of the timer may be greater than or equal to the estimated session duration.

During the data transmission, once the timing is up, the UE stops receiving the MTCH, thus ending the MBMS service session.

In practical application, during the MBMS service data transmission process, the network side may re-estimate the session duration of the MBMS service regularly or irregularly and send it to the UE receiving the MBMS service through in-band signaling.

When the UE receives the new session duration, it resets the timing of the timer according to the remaining session duration.

Referring to FIG. 4 , FIG. 4 is a schematic flowchart of a second preferred embodiment of the first embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is an implementation manner in which the network side sends the estimated session duration of the MBMS service to the UE during the data transmission process. The process specifically includes the following steps:

Step 401, the BM-SC on the network side estimates the session duration of the MBMS service, and attaches the estimated session duration to the first data block. The session duration can be attached to the start position or the end position or the middle position of the first data block, that is, it can be attached to any position of the data block.

Step 402, BM-SC sends the data block to UE through GGSN, SGSN and BSC/RNC registered with the MBMS service. Specifically, it includes the following 4 steps:

1) The BM-SC sends the data block with the estimated session duration attached to the GGSN registered with the MBMS service;

2) GGSN forwards the data block containing session duration to SGSN after processing;

3) SGSN forwards the data block containing session duration to BSC/RNC after processing;

4) The BSC/RNC processes the data block containing the session duration and sends it to the UE.

The processing of data blocks by GGSN, SGSN, and BSC/RCN may be cascading, splitting, and adding protocol headers to data blocks. The specific processing methods are the same as those in the prior art, and will not be repeated here.

In step 403, the UE demodulates the data block when receiving the service data, and sets the timing time of the timer according to the session duration when the session duration is demodulated. The timing time of this timer may be greater than or equal to the estimated session duration.

Step 404, the network side sends subsequent data blocks.

Step 405, during the data transmission, once the timing is up, the UE stops receiving the MTCH and the MCCH triggered by the MBMS service, thereby ending the MBMS service session.

In this embodiment, the session duration is attached to the first data block and delivered to the UE. In fact, the remaining session duration of the MBMS service can be attached to any data block and sent to the UE to start the timer.

Likewise, in this embodiment, during the MBMS service data transmission process, the network side re-estimates the session duration of the MBMS service regularly or irregularly and attaches it to the data block and sends it to the UE receiving the MBMS service.

When the UE receives the new session duration, it resets the timing of the timer according to the remaining session duration.

The second embodiment of the present invention that the user terminates the MBMS service session includes the following steps:

A. During MBMS service transmission, when the UE receives a data block, it sets and starts a timer according to the data block reception interval;

B. When the UE receives the next data block, it resets the timer again;

C. If the UE does not receive the next data block when the timing expires, the UE stops receiving MBMS service data.

The method for the second user of the present invention to end the MBMS service session has three implementations:

1. The operator sets the data block receiving interval time in advance according to the service type, and stores it in the UE. This implementation method is relatively simple, and the UE only needs to perform the above-mentioned steps A-C.

2. During the session start process, the network side sends the data block reception interval of the MBMS service to the UE.

3. During the data transmission process, the network side sends the data block reception interval of the MBMS service to the UE.

Referring to FIG. 5 , FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a session start flow in the first preferred embodiment of the second implementation manner of the present invention. This embodiment is an implementation manner in which the network side sends the data block reception interval of the MBMS service to the UE during the session start process. The process specifically includes the following steps:

Step 501, when the BM-SC decides to deliver the MBMS service, it sets the data block reception interval according to the service type of the MBMS service, and sends the data block reception interval to the GGSN registered with the MBMS service along with the session start request message.

Step 502, after receiving the session start request message initiated by the BM-SC, the GGSN sends an MBMS session start response message to the BM-SC.

In step 503, the GGSN sends an MBMS session start request message to the SGSN, which includes the interval for receiving data blocks.

Step 504: After receiving the MBMS session start request message sent by the GGSN, the SGSN sends an MBMS session start response message to the GGSN.

In step 505, the SGSN sends to the BSC/RNC an MBMS session start request message containing the interval time for receiving data blocks.

Step 506: After receiving the MBMS session start request message sent by the SGSN, the BSC/RNC sends an MBMS session start response message to the SGSN.

Step 507: After receiving the MBMS session start request sent by the SGSN, the BSC/RNC sends the data block reception interval time to the UE expecting to receive the MBMS service, and establishes radio resources.

Then, the UE sets and starts a timer according to the data block reception interval, and the timing of this timer may be greater than or equal to the data block reception interval.

During data transmission, the UE restarts the timer once receiving a data block. If the timer expires but does not receive the next data block, the UE stops receiving MTCH and MCCH triggered by the MBMS service, thus ending MBMS business conversation.

Referring to FIG. 6 , FIG. 6 is a schematic flowchart of a second preferred embodiment of the second embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is an implementation manner in which the network side sends the data block reception interval of the MBMS service to the UE during the data transmission process. The process specifically includes the following steps:

Step 601, the BM-SC on the network side sets the data block receiving interval time according to the service type of the MBMS service, and attaches the data block receiving interval time to the first data block. The data block reception interval can be attached to the start position or the end position or the middle position of the first data block.

Step 602, BM-SC sends the data block to UE through GGSN, SGSN and BSC/RNC registered with the MBMS service. The specific process includes the following 4 steps:

1) The BM-SC sends the data block attached with the receiving interval time to the GGSN registered with the MBMS service.

2) The GGSN processes the data block including the receiving interval of the data block and forwards it to the SGSN.

3) The SGSN forwards the data block including the receiving interval time of the data block to the BSC/RNC after processing.

4) The BSC/RNC processes the data block including the receiving interval of the data block and sends it to the UE.

The processing of data blocks by GGSN, SGSN, and BSC/RCN may be cascading, splitting, and adding protocol headers to data blocks. The specific processing methods are the same as those in the prior art, and will not be repeated here.

In step 603, the UE demodulates the data block when receiving the service data, and sets the timing of the timer according to the data block reception interval when the demodulated data block reception interval is obtained. The timing time of this timer may be greater than or equal to the data block receiving interval time.

Step 604, during the data transmission, the UE judges whether the next data block is received within the timing time, if so, restarts the timer, otherwise the UE stops receiving the MTCH and the MCCH triggered by the MBMS service, and ends MBMS business session.

In this embodiment, the data block reception interval is attached to the first data block and sent to the UE. In fact, the data block reception interval of the MBMS service can be attached to any data block and sent to the UE to start the timing device.

It can be seen from the above four embodiments that by applying the method for the user to end the MBMS service session of the present invention, the user can decide to end the data transmission without information interaction with the network, so that the UE stops receiving the MBMS service in time, Therefore, system resources are saved and power consumption of the UE is reduced.

Claims (17)

1. A method for a user to end a multimedia broadcast/multicast MBMS service session, characterized in that the method may further comprise the steps: A. During the MBMS service process, when the UE receives the MBMS service session time information, it sets and starts a timer according to the MBMS service session time information; the MBMS service session time information is the estimated MBMS service sent to the UE by the network side session duration; B. When the timing expires, the UE stops receiving MBMS service data. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the network side sends the estimated session duration to the UE during the session start process, and the network side sends the estimated session duration to the UE Methods include: A1. When the broadcast/multicast service center BM-SC decides to deliver the MBMS service, it estimates the session duration of the MBMS service, and sends the estimated session duration to the gateway registered with the MBMS service along with the session start request GPRS support node GGSN; A2. After receiving the session start request initiated by the BM-SC, the GGSN sends the MBMS session start request including the session duration to the serving GPRS support node SGSN; A3. After receiving the MBMS session start request sent by the GGSN, the SGSN sends the MBMS session start request including the session duration to the base station controller BSC/radio network controller RNC; A4. After receiving the MBMS session start request sent by the SGSN, the BSC/RNC sends the session duration to the UE expecting to receive the MBMS service. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the BSC/RNC in step A4 sends the session duration to the UE as follows: BSC/RNC adopts a point-to-point transmission mode or adopts a point-to-multipoint The sending method sends the session duration to the UE. 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein: the BSC/RNC sends the session duration point-to-point to the UE through a dedicated channel; or the BSC/RNC sends the session duration point-to-multipoint to the UE through a broadcast channel . 5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the method for setting the timer in step A is: setting a timer whose timing time is greater than or equal to the estimated session duration. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method for the UE to stop receiving the MBMS service data in step B is: the UE stops receiving the MBMS service channel MTCH. 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising: During the MBMS service data transmission process, the network side re-estimates the session duration of the MBMS service and sends it to the UE receiving the MBMS service; When the UE receives the new session duration, it resets the timing of the timer according to the session duration. 8. The method according to claim 1 or 7, wherein the network side sends the estimated session duration to the UE receiving the MBMS service as follows: the network side attaches the session duration to the data block send to UE; When the UE receives the service data, it demodulates the data block, and when the demodulated session duration is obtained, the timing time of the timer is set according to the session duration. 9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the process of the network side sending the estimated session duration to the UE comprises: 1) The BM-SC attaches the estimated session duration to the data block and sends it to the GGSN registered with the MBMS service; 2) GGSN forwards the data block containing session duration to SGSN after processing; 3) SGSN forwards the data block containing session duration to BSC/RNC after processing; 4) The BSC/RNC processes the data block containing the session duration and sends it to the UE. 10 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein the method of attaching the session duration to the data block is: attaching the session duration to a start position or an end position or a middle position of the data block. 11 . 11. A method for a user to end a multimedia broadcast/multicast MBMS service session, characterized in that the method comprises the following steps: During the MBMS service process, when the UE receives the data block, it sets and starts a timer according to the MBMS service session time information; the MBMS service session time information is the data block reception interval time sent to the UE by the network side; Each time the UE receives the next data block, the timer is reset again; if the UE does not receive the next data block when the timer expires, the UE stops receiving MBMS service data. 12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the data block reception interval is: the data block reception interval set by the network side according to the service type and sent to the UE during the session initiation process. 13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the data block reception interval is: during the data transmission process, the network side sets the data block reception interval according to the service type and sends it to the UE through in-band signaling time. 14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the data block reception interval is: the data block reception interval set by the network side according to the service type and sent to the UE along with the data block; After receiving the data block, the UE demodulates the receiving interval time of the data block. 15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the process of sending the data block reception interval to the UE by the network side comprises: 1) BM-SC sets the data block reception interval time according to the service type, attaches the data block reception interval time to the data block and sends it to the GGSN registered with the MBMS service; 2) GGSN forwards the data block containing the data block receiving interval time to SGSN after processing; 3) SGSN forwards the data block containing the data block receiving interval time to BSC/RNC after processing; 4) The BSC/RNC processes the data block including the receiving interval of the data block and sends it to the UE. 16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the method of attaching the data block receiving interval to the data block is: attaching the data block receiving interval to the start position or the end position or the middle of the data block Location. 17. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that, the method for setting the timer is: setting a timer whose timing time is greater than or equal to the data block receiving interval time.

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