CN1199393C - A Realization Method of Multicast Service Roaming - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention discloses a method for realizing the roaming of multicast services. Each multicast service area is divided into multicast service areas which are identified. A user adopts a multicast service context (MBMS context) comprising different parameters to send out a multicast service request to a network according to the requirement for obtaining services. The parameters comprise IP multicast addresses, access point names (APN) and multicast service area identification. The network determines the multicast service area selected by the user according to the request of the user, and sends out data of the selected multicast service area to the user. No matter whether the user lies in a roaming state or not, the user can freely select the multicast service area through the MBMS context according to the own requirements. The network distinguishes different multicast service sources according to the MBMS context, and thereby, the roaming of the multicast services is verily realized.

Description

A Realization Method of Multicast Service Roaming

technical field

The invention relates to a method for realizing multicast service roaming in a mobile communication network.

Background technique

The application of broadcast/multicast service (MBMS) technology in the mobile network makes the data packets on the same path only need to be transmitted once according to the service content, instead of being transmitted multiple times according to the number of subscribers, so that the network can be effectively used resource. In order to realize the roaming of multicast services, the 3rd generation mobile communication standards organization (3GPP) divides each multicast service area into multiple multicast service areas, so that multicast data can be broadcast to multicast groups in these multicast service areas . In this way, when using the existing method to realize multicast service roaming, the user first uses the multicast service context (MBMS Context) including IP multicast address and access point name (APN) to send a multicast service request to the network, and the network sends a multicast service request according to Based on the user request, it is judged which multicast service area the user is in, and then the local service data of the multicast service area where the user is located is played to the user. For the same service, the corresponding IP multicast address and APN may be the same in different places, so the MBMS Context for accessing the same service in different places may also be the same, no matter local users or roaming users, they can only receive local business data. It can be seen from the above that, with the existing method, no matter whether the user is in the place of origin or roaming in other places, the user uses the same MBMS Context to apply for multicast services, and can only apply for local service data, and cannot freely select a multicast service area. There is also no access to attributable business data. The reason for the above problems is that users use the same MBMS Context to identify services. Even if users can successfully apply for foreign services, when the service center sends data through the network, because the MBMS Contexts of foreign services and local services are the same, the network will consider This is because the same business serves the same user, so only one multicast connection is maintained, so the user still cannot receive the foreign and local data of the same business at the same time. Therefore, the existing methods for implementing multicast service roaming cannot fully meet the roaming requirements of users because they cannot freely select a multicast service area, and cannot apply for receiving service data from other places and home places.

Contents of the invention

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for realizing the roaming of the multicast service in which the multicast service area can be freely selected.

In order to achieve the above purpose, the implementation method of multicast service roaming provided by the present invention includes:

(1) dividing each multicast service area into multicast service areas, and identifying the multicast service areas;

(2) The user sends a multicast service request to the network using a multicast service context (MBMS Context) including different parameters according to the needs of obtaining services, and the parameters include IP multicast address, access point name (APN) and multicast Business area identification;

(3) The network determines the multicast service area selected by the user according to the user request, selects the corresponding multicast data source, and broadcasts the data of the selected multicast service area to the user.

When the non-roaming user accesses the multicast service in the local area, step (2) adopts the MBMS Context including the IP multicast address and the access point name corresponding to the multicast service to send a multicast service request to the network.

When the non-roaming user accesses the multicast service in the local designated area, step (2) adopts the MBMS Context that includes the IP multicast address corresponding to the multicast service, the name of the access point and the identification of the local destination multicast service area to send to the network Multicast service request.

When the non-roaming user accesses the multicast service in other places, step (2) adopts the MBMSContext that includes the IP multicast address corresponding to the multicast service, the name of the access point and the identification of the destination multicast service area in the other place to send the multicast service to the network ask.

When the roaming user accesses the local multicast service, step (2) adopts the MBMS Context including the IP multicast address corresponding to the multicast service and the name of the access point to send a multicast service request to the network.

When the roaming user accesses the multicast service in the local designated area, step (2) adopts the MBMS Context that includes the IP multicast address corresponding to the multicast service, the access point name and the local destination multicast service area identifier to send a multicast message to the network. broadcast service request.

When the roaming user accesses the multicast service of the home place, step (2) adopts the MBMSContext that includes the IP multicast address corresponding to the multicast service, the name of the access point and the identification of the destination multicast service area of the home place to send a multicast message to the network business request.

When the roaming user accesses the multicast service in other places, step (2) adopts the MBMSContext that includes the IP multicast address corresponding to the multicast service, the name of the access point and the identification of the destination multicast service area in the other place to send a multicast service request to the network .

Since the present invention identifies the multicast service area, the user can choose among parameters such as IP multicast address, access point name (APN) and multicast service area identification according to the needs of roaming and service acquisition, and adopts different The parameterized multicast service context (MBMS Context) sends a multicast service request to the network. In this way, no matter whether the user is in the roaming state, he can freely select a multicast service area through the MBMS Context according to his own needs. The network distinguishes different service areas according to the MBMSContext. Multicast service source, so as to truly realize multicast service roaming; compared with the existing method, it solves the problem of multicast service area selection during roaming. In addition, because there is no multicast service source information in MBMSContext, the GGSN (Gateway GPRS Support Node) of the mobile network cannot take advantage of the IGMP (Internet Group Management Protocol, currently in draft stage) version 3 that will be launched in the future. Sources have the option to accept data, affecting network efficiency.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 is a flowchart of an embodiment of the method of the present invention.

Detailed ways

In the actual implementation of the present invention, in order to meet the requirements of the multicast service of the mobile network for transmitting different data in different areas, each multicast service area is divided into one or more sub-areas, i.e. multicast service area, multicast service area The division is related to the requirements of specific multicast services, which may be a city, a residential area, or a scenic spot. The multicast service area is not associated with the mobile network cell (Cell), and can be smaller than the cell of the mobile network. In the same multicast service area, the mobile network sends the same multicast data for the service. The service area division of each multicast service may be different. In order to facilitate business development, in practice, network operators can divide regions according to certain unified principles to form the minimum granularity of multicast service areas, and service providers can form multicast service areas by merging some areas on the basis of operator division.

After the multicast service is divided into regions, it can provide characteristic services related to regions. In order to enable users to freely select multicast service areas according to their own needs regardless of whether they are roaming or not, it is necessary to identify each multicast service area so that users who are not in the area can also access the services of these identified areas. Featured services, for example, assume that the multicast service is weather forecast, and the service area is divided by city. Before going to a certain city, you can receive the weather forecast of the destination. The specific identification operation is completed by the wireless network operator or service provider. According to business needs, all service area identifications can be disclosed, and some service area identifications can also be selectively disclosed for users to choose.

The multicast service area identifier can be defined in the format of a Uniform Resource Locator (URL). The specific content of the logo is addressed and disclosed by the network operator or service provider, and the following addressing scheme can be used for specific implementation:

1. Use the URL related to the domain name, such as: MC: nangsang.shengzheng.gd.cn.

2. Add the same domain name as the multicast service area identifier to the MBMS service center (MB-SC) that provides services for this service area, so that the corresponding MBMS service center can be directly resolved through the service area identifier.

Based on the above multicast service area identifier, when the user selects a multicast service area, the identifier needs to be added to the multicast service context (MBMS Context). According to the provisions of the 3GPP 22.146 agreement, the PLMN network entity that provides MBMS services can provide one or more multicast contexts for each active multicast service, and a multicast context contains the necessary information and parameters for MBMS services. The MBMS context includes the IP multicast address of the MBMS multicast service, the APN and other information used to access the MBMS service, and the user uses the MBMS Context to apply for the multicast service. For the same service, the corresponding multicast address and APN may be the same everywhere. If the MBMS Context structure of "IP multicast address + APN" is adopted, such a multicast context only identifies a certain service, and does not reflect the region and multicast business area. For roaming users, since the characteristic service of the visited place and the characteristic service of the home place use the same MBMS Context, they can only obtain the local multicast data of the multicast service area where the visited place is located when applying for the multicast service. Therefore, according to the present invention, if the user needs To freely select a multicast service area, the identifier needs to be added to the multicast service context (MBMSContext). That is to say, in order to enable users to access the multicast data of a specific multicast service cell, it is necessary to add information attached to the multicast context. The new multicast context is the combination of the existing scheme and the multicast service area identifier, defined as follows:

MBMS Context＝IP multicast address+APN+[multicast service area identifier multicast service source URI]+[other information].

Multicast service source URI = Multicast service area identifier | Multicast service source host URL

When a user applies for a multicast service in a designated service area, he should use the MBMS Context with the identification of the multicast service area to initiate the application. If the aforementioned solution is adopted for the identification of the multicast service area, the multicast service center (MB-SC) that provides services for the designated service area can be directly resolved, and the service can be applied to the service center.

In practice, users can also use MBMS Context without multicast service area ID. No matter whether the user is roaming or not, they will obtain the local characteristic services provided by the multicast service area where the user is located by default. This is the possibility of using multicast service ID as MBMS Context Optional parameter, of course, it can also be used as a mandatory parameter in practice.

For the network, the multicast source that provides services for different multicast areas of the same service can be located by using the MBMS Context with the multicast service area identifier. This context is unique in the entire network. When the user roams, the network can still Distinguish non-local service sources from local service sources, thereby realizing multicast service roaming.

The MBMS Context attached with the "multicast service source host URL" is used to identify the corresponding multicast service sent by the specified multicast service source, and is mainly used to receive multicast data on the Internet in the mobile network.

Using the MBMS Context attached with the "multicast service source URI", if the mobile network and the multicast source support version 3 IGMP protocol, the GGSN of the mobile network can choose to accept the multicast data from certain service sources it needs, while Data from not all sources of the multicast group contributes to reduced network efficiency.

The present invention will be described in further detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a flowchart of an embodiment of the method of the present invention. According to Fig. 1, when the user sends a multicast service request to the network, at first in step 1, according to the needs of obtaining the service, select a multicast service context (MBMS Context) including different parameters, and the parameters include IP multicast address, access point Name (APN) and multicast service area identification etc.; Then in step 2, adopt the selected MBMSContext to send a multicast service request to the network, and the network determines the multicast service area selected by the user according to the user request in step 3, and then broadcasts the multicast service area to the user Data of the selected multicast service area.

In the specific implementation of the above step 3, if a non-roaming user accesses the MBMS service in the local area, the user can use the MBMS Context of "the corresponding IP multicast address+APN of the multicast service" to apply for the service, and the network locates the multicast service where the user is located. The service source of the area, and provide the corresponding service data to the user; if the non-roaming user accesses the MBMS service in the local designated area, the user can use the "IP multicast address corresponding to the multicast service + APN + local destination multicast service area identifier" MBMS Context application service, the network locates the service source in the local multicast area specified by the user, and provides the corresponding service data to the user; if the non-roaming user accesses the MBMS service in other places, the user can use the corresponding IP multicast Address + APN + destination multicast service area identifier in other places” to apply for services in MBMS Context, the network locates the service source in the multicast area specified by the user, and provides corresponding service data to the user; if the roaming user visits the local (visited place) For MBMS services, users can use the MBMS Context of "multicast service corresponding IP multicast address + APN" to apply for services, and the network locates the service source in the multicast area where the user is located, and provides corresponding service data to the user; To access the MBMS service in the local designated area, the user can use the MBMS Context of "IP multicast address corresponding to the multicast service + APN + local destination multicast service area identifier" to apply for the service, and the network locates the service source in the user-specified multicast area , and provide corresponding service data to the user; if the roaming user accesses the MBMS service at the home location, the user can use the MBMS Context application of "IP multicast address corresponding to the multicast service + APN + destination multicast service area identifier of the home location" For services, the network locates the service source in the multicast area designated by the user, and provides corresponding service data to the user; if the roaming user accesses MBMS services in other places (not the home place, nor the place of visit), the user can use the "multicast IP multicast address + APN + destination multicast service area identifier in other places” for MBMS Context application service, the network locates the service source in the foreign multicast area specified by the user, and provides corresponding service data to the user.

The Home Network mentioned above refers to the network that is fully responsible for providing and controlling the user's subscription information and providing services for it, that is, the network where the user signs up;

The above-mentioned visited network (Visited Network) refers to: the network that the user is currently visiting. In the present invention, it specifically refers to the network that the user is using after roaming.

The present invention will be further described below in conjunction with specific application examples.

Assume that a service provider provides two multicast services, weather forecast and shopping guide, for a city (city name: sz) in a certain province (province name: gd), and the multicast IP addresses of the two multicast services are IP1 and IP2 respectively. The weather forecast service is divided according to the administrative area of the city (assuming that the city is divided into 4 districts, namely east, west, north, and south), and the service provider assigns signs to these 4 business districts. The shopping guide service provides services for the commercial centers in the city, and the service provider decides to disclose only the multicast service area identification of one of the bustling commercial areas hqb.

Both mobile users ms1 and ms2 in sz city have signed two multicast services of weather forecast and shopping guide. Mobile user ms1 does not leave sz city, uses IP1+APN to apply for service, receives the weather forecast information of his administrative area, uses IP2+APN to apply for service, and receives the shopping guide information of the commercial center near him. ms1 users use IP1+APN+ weather forecast multicast service east area identification, so as to understand the weather conditions in the east area of the city. And through the IP2+APN+shopping guide multicast service hqb area logo, you can browse the latest shopping trends of the hqb commercial center in sz city.

ms2 has roamed to gz city, he uses IP1+APN to apply for services (IP1 and APN are the same as when he was in sz city), receives the weather forecast information of a certain area of gz city where he is located, and uses IP2+APN to apply for services (IP2 and APN The APN is the same as when he was in sz city), received the shopping guide information of a nearby commercial center in gz city where he was located, applied for business using "IP1+APN+multicast service area logo of east district of sz city", received the east District weather forecast.

Claims (9)

1, a kind of implementation method of multi-casting roam comprises:

(1) each multicast service service area is divided into the multicast service district, the district identifies to multicast service;

(2) user adopts to comprise that the multicast service context (MBMS Context) of different parameters sends the multicast service request to network according to the needs of the service of obtaining, and described parameter comprises ip multicast address, APN (APN) and multicast service district sign;

(3) network based user asks to determine the multicast service district of user's selection, selects corresponding multi-case data source, broadcasts the data in selected multicast service district then to this user.

2, the implementation method of multi-casting roam according to claim 1, it is characterized in that: when the multicast service of the local region of non-roaming user capture, step (2) adopts the MBMS Context that comprises with multicast service corresponding ip multicast address and APN to send the multicast service request to network.

3, the implementation method of multi-casting roam according to claim 2, it is characterized in that: when the multicast service of the local appointed area of non-roaming user capture, step (2) adopts the MBMSContext that comprises with the corresponding ip multicast of multicast service address, APN and local purpose multicast service district sign to send the multicast service request to network.

4, the implementation method of multi-casting roam according to claim 3, it is characterized in that: when the multicast service in non-roaming user capture other places, step (2) adopts the MBMSContext that comprises with the corresponding ip multicast of multicast service address, APN and nonlocal purpose multicast service district sign to send the multicast service request to network.

5, the implementation method of multi-casting roam according to claim 4, it is characterized in that: when the roamer visited local multicast service, step (2) adopted the MBMS Context that comprises with the corresponding ip multicast of multicast service address, APN to send the multicast service request to network.

6, the implementation method of multi-casting roam according to claim 5, it is characterized in that: when the roamer visited the multicast service of the local appointed area of O, step (2) adopted the MBMS Context that comprises with the corresponding ip multicast of multicast service address, APN and local purpose multicast service district sign to send the multicast service request to network.

7, the implementation method of multi-casting roam according to claim 6, it is characterized in that: when the roamer visited the multicast service of ownership place, step (2) adopted the MBMSContext that comprises with the corresponding ip multicast of multicast service address, APN and ownership place purpose multicast service district sign to send the multicast service request to network.

8, the implementation method of multi-casting roam according to claim 7, it is characterized in that: when the roamer visited the multicast service in other places, step (2) adopted the OMBMSContext that comprises with the corresponding ip multicast of multicast service address, APN and nonlocal purpose multicast service district sign to send the multicast service request to network.

9, according to the implementation method of claim 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 or 8 described multi-casting roams, it is characterized in that: the described formal definition that adopts uniform resource locator (URL) that the multicast service district is identified of step (1).

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