CN1180639C - Method for selecting wireless channel configuration in multicast service - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an optimization realizing method for deciding a channel configuration according to the condition of multicast service users in a mobile communication network, which is realized in a network side and a mobile user (UE/MS) side. The present invention comprises the following steps that paging is initiated by the network side to the UE/MS when the data of a multicast service is sent to the UE/MS; the UE/MS determines the type of a wireless channel and the parameter of the quality of the service according to the own requirement to the quality of the service of the multicast; the UE/MS responds the paging and sends a multicast service request to the network side, the message of the request contains the determined type of the wireless channel and the parameters of the quality of the service; according to the requirements of the UE/MS for the type of the wireless channel and the parameters of the quality of the service, a point-to-point wireless channel or a point-to-muitipoint wireless channel is configured for the UE/MS by the network side, and the data of the multicast service is transmitted in an established wireless channel between the network side and the UE/MS. a traditional method that the type of the channel and the parameters of the quality of the service are determined by the network side is changed into a user-determining method by the present invention, and user requirements are satisfied.

Description

Method for selecting wireless channel configuration in multicast service

technical field

The present invention relates to the realization technology of multicast service in the mobile communication network, more precisely relates to a kind of in the mobile communication network, when sending the multicast service data to the mobile user who has subscribed the service, by determining the multicast service in each cell The distribution of multicast service subscribers is used to configure wireless channels and send multicast data.

Background technique

The multicast service is a service that transmits data from one source to multiple destinations. Through the multicast service, the same data content can be sent to multiple users only once, thereby saving network resources.

In mobile communication network systems including Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) and Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) network systems, with the continuous enrichment of service types, the demand for multicast services is also increasing. It is becoming more and more intense, for example, in the Universal Packet Radio Service (UMTS) network, the Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast (MBMS) service is introduced.

The following introduces some concepts involved in implementing multicast services in mobile communication networks:

Multicast subscription: It is a process in which a user actively or passively subscribes to a multicast service or a multicast subscription group. Only through multicast subscription can a certain multicast service be activated.

Multicast activation: It is the process for a user to join a multicast group. After multicast activation, the user can receive multicast service data. Multicast activation can be initiated by the user by selecting a certain multicast service, or by the owner Network initiated activation.

Multicast subscription group: refers to a group of users who have subscribed to the multicast service. Users in this group can activate and receive various multicast services related to the subscription group.

Multicast area: refers to a physical area that can receive multicast services.

Multicast group: refers to a group of users who are ready to receive and are receiving multicast services, that is, a multicast group is a subset of the multicast subscription group, and the users of the multicast subscription group, by activating the multicast service Join a multicast group to become a multicast group.

A kind of network structure that realizes multicast service in Universal Mobile Telecommunications System/Universal Packet Radio Service (UMTS/GPRS) network is illustrated in accompanying drawing 1 (this network structure, only plays the role of reference illustration, realizes the multicast service in reality The network structure may be as shown in the figure, or it may be an improved or optimized structure based on the structure in the figure).

In the figure, the left part is the wireless access network structure, the middle part is the core network structure, and the right side is the packet data network structure, such as INTERNET.

In the wireless access network, UE/MS 101, user equipment (UE: User Equipment) is a general term for mobile terminals in the UMTS network, and mobile station (MS: Mobile Station) is a general term for mobile terminals in the GPRS network. Similar to this, RNS/BSS 102, the radio network system (RNS: Radio Network System) is the radio access network part of the UMTS network, and the radio access network part of the base station system (BSS: Base Station System) GPRS network.

In the core network part, each functional entity has basically no difference between the UMTS network and the GPRS network, therefore, the core network of the UMTS network or the GPRS network can be processed in the same way. An internal multicast service source 107 is included in the core network.

In the packet data network, there are multicast service content providers 109 and external multicast service sources 108 .

In the process of realizing the multicast service, the main functions of each functional entity in the network structure are:

RNS/BSS 102 is used to configure wireless channels and establish multicast service data transmission channels on the wireless access side.

SGSN 103 (serving GPRS support node) performs various service control functions of multicast services, completes the paging process for multicast subscribers, manages user information of each multicast service, and forwards messages from GGSN (gateway GPRS support node) Multicast service data to each related RNS or BSS.

The GGSN 104 is responsible for contacting the internal or external multicast service sources of the network, and forwarding the data from the internal or external multicast service sources to the SGSN.

The multicast service center 106 is also a multicast service source. Different from other multicast service sources, the multicast service center can manage and arrange the multicast data from the content provider 110, and at the same time, the content provider 110 Perform authentication and billing.

The border gateway 105 controls the data transmission of the multicast service source from the external network (such as packet data network), for example, stipulates that only the data of a specific address or some specific interface can enter the mobile communication network.

The billing gateway 112 is connected with the SGSN 103, and is responsible for collecting the billing data records of the multicast service, and sends them to the billing center after relevant processing.

The home location register 111 (HLR: Home Location Register) stores the subscription information and routing information of the multicast service subscribers.

In this network structure, the line segment on the connecting line between each functional entity represents the interface part, and its function will not be repeated here.

When the GGSN receives multicast service data from inside or outside the network, it needs to notify the SGSN, and the SGSN will page all users of the multicast group through the RNS/BSS.

In order to send multicast service data to all mobile users who have signed up for the service, it is necessary to determine the distribution of the multicast service subscribers in each cell, so as to decide which channel to use to deliver the multicast data. Here is a multicast According to the distribution of broadcast users, determine which channel configuration optimization method to use, that is, how to configure channels to transmit multicast service data in the wireless network.

When transmitting multicast service content on the air interface, if the number of users is large, the point-to-point (PTP) method will definitely cause wireless channel congestion, and the utilization rate of the spectrum is also very low, so point-to-multipoint (PTP) should be used. PTM) mode to transmit multicast service content. However, if the number of multicast users in a cell is small, such as one or two users, if the point-to-multipoint mode is used to configure the shared channel, it is a waste of wireless resources. At this time, the point-to-point mode is adopted as It is more appropriate to configure a dedicated channel for each user. Therefore, the wireless network needs to be able to know the current distribution of multicast users in each cell, so as to decide whether to configure a shared channel or a dedicated channel for them.

Referring to Fig. 2, the figure schematically shows the process of the current MS, BSS, SGSN and GGSN functional entities implementing Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service (MBMS).

Step 1, the notification message of a multicast group X is sent to the SGSN by the GGSN, including contents such as the size of the file, the number of times of retransmission, and the quality of service (QoS) in the message;

Step 2, a paging request message is sent to BSS by SGSN, including Temporary Mobile Group Identity (TMGI), a list of multiple International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI), Quality of Service (QoS) etc. in the message (TMGI is assigned to a A common identifier for all multicast users in a multicast group, managed by SGSN, by using TMGI, all users belonging to the same multicast group can be paged with a paging message);

Step 3, the BSS sends the multicast paging request message to the MS, and uses TMGI to page all cells. The paging message includes a flag value (such as an 8-bit value), and all MSs will be on the uplink Send this tag value to confirm receipt of the multicast paging request;

Step 4, all MSs that subscribed to the multicast group X should return a multicast paging response message to the BSS, which must include the tag value (8-bit value) in step 3, by receiving the tag value, the BSS It can be known how many users in each cell will receive the multicast service content.

Step 5, BSS calculates the number of responding users received from each cell, and sends a paging response message to the SGSN for each cell, and the paging response message includes the number of responding users received in each cell , if the value of the response received by the BSS is greater than a certain set value (such as 3), the BSS allocates wireless resources for point-to-multipoint data transmission, thereby achieving the purpose of saving air interface resources, if the response received by the BSS If the value is less than a certain setting value (such as 4), the wireless resources required for point-to-point data transmission can be allocated according to the general situation;

Step 6, return the confirmation message to the notification message (step 1) of the multicast group X to the GGSN by the SGSN, and notify the GGSN that some users MS (not necessarily all users) in the multicast group X have responded to the multicast search. call message.

In step 7, the GGSN issues and transmits the multicast service content to these MSs through the multicast service dedicated data transmission channel.

The implementation process of the business shown in Figure 2 has the following problems:

The method of counting the number of users through the MS response to determine the channel configuration is currently only applicable to GSM and GPRS networks, because UMTS networks are different from GPRS networks and GSM networks in wireless channel configuration, so this method cannot Applied in UMTS wireless network, not universal;

Since the access network needs to count the number of multicast users through multicast paging responses, and make a point-to-point or point-to-multipoint link decision based on this, it will greatly affect the performance of the access network. At the same time, because the access network must wait for a certain period of time to correctly count the number of users, it also greatly affects the speed and efficiency of the network to provide multicast services;

The practice of counting the number of multicast users in units of cells is actually not feasible, because the position and status of MSs are constantly changing, and there is a high probability that MSs are crossing cells, resulting in inaccurate statistical results, and if you want to improve The accuracy of statistical results requires frequent initiation of multicast paging processes, which will waste air interface resources and may not be meaningful;

Since the access network must wait for a certain period of time before making a decision on the configured channel type, it will seriously affect the BSS's judgment on whether the network correctly receives the multicast service access request, making the MS mistakenly believe that it is necessary to resend the access request or give up Receive the multicast service, resulting in the incorrect implementation of the multicast service.

Another method more advanced than the above-mentioned method for realizing the configuration of wireless channels in multicast services (another application for an invention patent) is that the SGSN determines the type of channel to be established according to the number of multicast users in the routing area. When it is greater than or equal to a certain threshold value, the point-to-multipoint mode is used to configure the shared channel; when it is smaller than a certain threshold value, the point-to-point mode is used to configure the dedicated channel.

The common feature of the above two schemes is that the network decides to use point-to-point or point-to-multipoint channels to transmit multicast data. The common problems are:

The channel type is completely determined by the network side, and mobile users can only passively participate in the establishment process of the multicast link;

Mobile users cannot affect or decide whether to establish a point-to-point or point-to-multipoint link on the network side, and thus cannot reflect mobile users' requirements for multicast service quality (QoS).

Contents of the invention

The purpose of the present invention is to design a method for selecting wireless channel configuration in multicast service, which can reflect the requirements of mobile users on multicast service quality (QoS).

The realization method of the present invention is that the mobile user decides whether to adopt point-to-point or point-to-multipoint links. Mobile users send their own multicast service transmission requirements to the network, and then the network allocates corresponding types of wireless channels according to the mobile user's multicast service quality (QoS) requirements.

The technical scheme that realizes the object of the present invention is such: a kind of method for selecting wireless channel configuration in the multicast service, realizes at network side and mobile user (UE/MS) side, it is characterized in that comprising following processing steps:

A. When the multicast service data is to be delivered to the mobile user (UE/MS), the network side initiates paging to the mobile user (UE/MS);

B. The mobile user (UE/MS) determines the wireless channel type and service quality parameters according to its own requirements for multicast service quality;

C. The mobile user (UE/MS) performs a paging response, and sends a multicast service request to the network side, and the request message includes the determined wireless channel type and the multicast service quality parameter;

D. The network side configures point-to-point or point-to-multipoint wireless channels according to the requirements of mobile users (UE/MS) for wireless channel types and service quality parameters;

E. Transmit multicast service data on the established wireless channel between the network side and the mobile user (UE/MS).

Between step C and step D, there is also a process of further negotiation between the network side and the mobile user (UE/MS) on the wireless channel type and multicast service quality parameters until reaching a consensus.

The further negotiation of the wireless channel type and multicast service quality parameters includes the use of point-to-multipoint multicast shared channel or point-to-point dedicated channel, and the parameters of time delay and bit error rate.

Described step A further comprises:

A11. A notification message of a multicast group X is sent to the serving GPRS support node (SGSN) by the gateway GPRS support node (GGSN) functional entity or the multicast service source on the network side, including the multicast group number and service quality in the message Require;

A12. Initiate paging to mobile users (UE/MS) in the multicast group by serving GPRS support node (SGSN);

In the step C, the mobile user (UE/MS) sends a multicast service request to the serving GPRS support node (SGSN), and performs paging response;

Described step D, is by serving GPRS support node (SGSN) according to mobile user (UE/MS) to the requirement of wireless channel type and quality of service parameter, in serving GPRS support node (SGSN) and mobile user (UE/MS) Establish point-to-multipoint or point-to-point radio access bearers between them;

Described step E further comprises:

E11. Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) returns an acknowledgment message to the Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) functional entity or the multicast service source for the notification message of step A11 after completing the establishment process of the radio access bearer;

E12. The gateway GPRS support node (GGSN) starts to send multicast service data on the established radio access bearer.

Described step A further comprises:

A21. The serving GPRS support node (SGSN) on the network side sends a paging request to the radio access network part (RNS/BSS), requesting the mobile user (UE/MS) in the multicast group to access the network;

A22. The radio access network part (RNS/BSS) initiates paging to the mobile user (UE/MS);

In the step C, the mobile user (UE/MS) sends a multicast service request to the radio access network part (RNS/BSS), and performs a paging response;

Described step D, is by radio access network part (RNS/BSS) according to mobile user (UE/MS) to the requirement of wireless channel type and service quality parameter, by radio access network part (RNS/BSS) for mobile The user (UE/MS) establishes a shared multicast channel or a dedicated channel on the air interface;

Described step E further comprises:

E21. Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) returns an acknowledgment message to Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) functional entity or multicast service source for the paging request of step A21 after completing the establishment process of the radio access bearer;

E22. The gateway GPRS support node (GGSN) starts to send multicast service data on the established radio access bearer.

The realization method of selecting wireless channel configuration of the present invention is that the mobile user selects the type of the multicast service channel, and the network side entity configures the corresponding type of channel to transmit the multicast data according to the selection of the mobile user.

The network side can negotiate with the mobile user on the channel type or the quality (QoS) parameters of the multicast service;

The wireless access network can configure multicast channels or dedicated channels according to the requirements of mobile users;

The SGSN can configure a point-to-multipoint radio access bearer (establish aRAB between SGSN and mobile station) or a point-to-point radio access bearer according to the requirements of the mobile station.

Compared with the existing implementation scheme, the implementation method of selecting wireless channel configuration of the present invention has the following advantages:

Avoid the complex process of selecting the wireless channel type by the network;

The quality (QoS) parameters of multicast services are determined by mobile users, which can better meet user needs;

It can cooperate with the scheme of selecting the wireless channel type by the network side, and provide a better solution for the optimization of transmission resources through the quality of service (QoS) negotiation mechanism.

Description of drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a network structure for realizing a multicast service in a UMTS network;

Fig. 2 is the realization process figure of multimedia broadcast/multicast service (MBMS);

Fig. 3 is the basic flow chart of the present invention by the network according to the mobile user's quality requirement of multicast service distribution corresponding type of wireless channel;

Fig. 4 is the flowchart of configuring corresponding radio access bearers for mobile users by SGSN according to the needs of mobile users for channel types in the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a flowchart of configuring a multicast channel or a dedicated channel for a mobile user according to the wireless channel type requirements of the mobile user in the wireless access network of the present invention.

Detailed ways

Referring to Fig. 3, it is the basic process of realizing the method of the present invention. The mobile user first sends the transmission quality requirement of the multicast service to the network side, and then the network side allocates the corresponding type of wireless channel according to the demand, and realizes the basic process yes:

Step 1, when the network side wants to send multicast data to the mobile user and the corresponding wireless channel has not been established, the network initiates paging to the mobile user;

Step 2, the mobile user determines the wireless channel type and other quality of service (QoS) parameters according to his own requirements for multicast quality of service (QoS);

Step 3, the mobile user sends a paging response to the network side, and the response message includes the mobile user's requirements for the wireless channel type and other quality of service (QoS) parameters;

Step 4, the network side can further negotiate with the mobile user on the quality of service (QoS) requirements, and determine the channel type, time delay, bit error rate, etc. acceptable to both parties;

Step 5, the network side configures a corresponding wireless channel according to the requirements for the wireless channel type and other quality of service (QoS), and establishes a point-to-point or point-to-multipoint wireless access bearer;

Step 6, the network side sends the multicast service data to the mobile station through the established wireless channel.

Referring to Fig. 4, the process in the figure is implemented between the mobile user (UE/MS), radio access network part (RNS/BSS), serving GPRS support node (SGSN) and gateway GPRS support node (GGSN) functional entities. When the SGSN on the network side receives the multicast service access request sent by the mobile user to the network side, it can configure a point-to-point or point-to-multipoint wireless access bearer for the mobile user according to the channel type requirements of the mobile user.

Step 1, when the multicast service data needs to be sent to the mobile user, the GGSN or the multicast service source sends a notification message of the multicast group X to the SGSN, and the message includes the X multicast group number, the size of the file, The number of retransmissions, quality of service (QoS), etc.;

Step 2, SGSN initiates paging to the mobile users in the X multicast group;

Step 3, the mobile user determines the required wireless channel type and other QoS parameters according to his own requirements for multicast quality of service (QoS);

Step 4, the mobile user responds to the paging, and initiates a service access request to the SGSN, and the request message includes the required wireless channel type and other multicast service quality (QoS) parameters;

Step 5, the SGSN and the mobile user can renegotiate the quality of service (QoS) parameters;

Step 6, the SGSN configures a corresponding type of radio access bearer according to the determined quality of service (QoS) requirement;

Step 6a, if the determined quality of service (QoS) requirement is to establish a point-to-multipoint link, then establish a point-to-multipoint radio access bearer link between the SGSN and the mobile user;

Step 6b, if the determined quality of service (QoS) requirement is to establish a point-to-point link, then establish a point-to-point radio access bearer link between the SGSN and the mobile user;

Step 7, after the SGSN completes the establishment of the wireless link, for the multicast indication in step 1, return an acknowledgment message to the GGSN or the multicast service source, respond to the multicast indication, and notify the GGSN or the multicast service source that it can start Send multicast service data;

In step 8, the GGSN or the multicast service source service starts to send multicast service data on the established wireless link.

Referring to Fig. 5, the flow in the figure is realized between the mobile user (UE/MS), the radio access network part (RNS/BSS) and the serving GPRS support node (SGSN) functional entity. When the wireless access network receives the wireless link connection request sent by the mobile user to the wireless access network, it can configure a point-to-multipoint multicast channel or a point-to-point multicast channel for the mobile user according to the wireless channel type requirements of the mobile user. dedicated channel.

Step 1, when the multicast service data needs to be sent to the mobile users, the SGSN sends a paging request to the radio access network part (RNS/BSS), requesting the mobile users in the X multicast group to access the network;

Step 2, the radio access network part (RNS/BSS) initiates paging to the mobile user (UE/MS);

Step 3, the mobile user selects the required wireless channel type and other quality of service (QoS) parameters according to his own requirements for multicast quality of service (QoS);

Step 4, the mobile user responds to the paging, and initiates a wireless connection establishment request to the radio access network part (RNS/BSS), and the request message includes the selected radio channel type and other multicast quality of service (QoS) parameters;

Step 5, the required quality of service (QoS) parameters can be renegotiated between the radio access network part (RNS/BSS) and the mobile user;

Step 6, the radio access network part (RNS/BSS) configures a corresponding type of radio channel according to the determined quality of service (QoS) requirement;

Step 6a, if the determined quality of service (QoS) requirement is to establish a point-to-multipoint communication link, a multicast is established on the air interface between the radio access network part (RNS/BSS) and the mobile user (UE/MS) A channel is a point-to-multipoint wireless access bearer link, and the multicast channel is shared by all multicast service users in the X multicast group;

Step 6b, if the determined quality of service (QoS) requirement is to establish a point-to-point link, then establish a dedicated channel on the air interface between the radio access network part (RNS/BSS) and the mobile user (UE/MS), which is a point-to-point link The point-to-point wireless access bearer link is dedicated to the requesting multicast service user;

Step 7, after the radio access network part (RNS/BSS) completes the establishment process of the wireless link, return a confirmation message of the multicast indication to the SGSN or the multicast service source for the multicast indication in step 1, and notify the SGSN or the multicast The broadcast service source can start sending multicast service data;

In step 8, the SGSN starts to send multicast service data on the established wireless channel.

In the method for selecting wireless channel configuration in multicast service of the present invention, multicast service users decide to select point-to-point or point-to-multipoint wireless channel according to their own requirements for channel quality, which provides a solution for the optimization of transmission resources .

Claims (5)

1. a method for selecting wireless channel configuration in a multicast service, realized at the network side and the mobile user side, is characterized in that it comprises the following processing steps: A. When the multicast service data is to be delivered to the mobile user, the network side initiates paging to the mobile user; B. Mobile users determine the wireless channel type and service quality parameters according to their own requirements for multicast service quality; C. The mobile user performs a paging response, and sends a multicast service request to the network side, and the request message includes the determined wireless channel type and the multicast service quality parameter; D. The network side configures point-to-point or point-to-multipoint wireless channels according to the requirements of mobile users for wireless channel types and service quality parameters; E. Transmit multicast service data on the established wireless channel between the network side and the mobile user. 2. The method for selecting wireless channel configuration in a multicast service according to claim 1, characterized in that: between said step C and step D, a wireless channel between the network side and the mobile user is also included. The process of further negotiating the type and multicast service quality parameters until reaching a consensus. 3. the method for selecting wireless channel configuration in a kind of multicast service according to claim 2, is characterized in that: the further negotiation of described wireless channel type and multicast service quality parameter, content comprises adopting point-to-multipoint Multicast shared channel or point-to-point dedicated channel, and the delay and bit error rate parameters used. 4. The method for selecting wireless channel configuration in a multicast service according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said step A further comprises: A11. send a notification message of a multicast group X to the serving GPRS support node by the gateway GPRS support node functional entity or the multicast service source on the network side, which includes the multicast group number and service quality requirements in the message; A12. The serving GPRS support node initiates paging to the mobile users in the multicast group; In the step C, the mobile user sends a multicast service request to the serving GPRS support node, and performs paging response; The described step D is to establish a point-to-multipoint or point-to-point wireless access bearer between the serving GPRS support node and the mobile user according to the requirements of the mobile user for wireless channel type and service quality parameters by the serving GPRS support node ; Described step E further comprises: E11. After the serving GPRS support node completes the establishment process of the radio access bearer, it returns a confirmation message to the gateway GPRS support node functional entity or the multicast service source for the notification message in step A11; E12. The gateway GPRS support node starts to send multicast service data on the established radio access bearer. 5. The method for selecting wireless channel configuration in a multicast service according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said step A further comprises: A21. The serving GPRS support node on the network side sends a paging request to the wireless access network part, requesting the mobile users in the multicast group to access the network; A22. The radio access network part initiates paging to the mobile user; In the step C, the mobile user sends a multicast service request to the radio access network part, and performs paging response; In the step D, the wireless access network part establishes a shared multicast channel or a dedicated channel for the mobile user on the air interface according to the requirements of the mobile user for the wireless channel type and service quality parameters; Described step E further comprises: E21. After the serving GPRS support node completes the establishment process of the radio access bearer, it returns a confirmation message to the gateway GPRS support node functional entity or the multicast service source for the paging request in step A21; E22. The gateway GPRS support node starts to send multicast service data on the established radio access bearer.

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