Transparent broadcast structure in communication systems

Abstract

A broadcast channel, such as a broadcast control channel that carries a short message service, in a GSM/EDGE or similar communication system can be extended with additional timeslots. These additional timeslots can be pointed out in a tree structure, the root of which is in the SMS broadcast channel. The extended broadcast channel can be used for broadcast-like services provided under a multimedia broadcast/multicast service.

1 . A channel structure configured for distribution of multimedia information in a communication system, comprising: 
 a broadcast communication channel divided into a plurality of timeslots; and    a pointer included in a predetermined one of the timeslots, the pointer pointing out at least one extension channel that is included in at least one other broadcast timeslot and that carries unacknowledged multimedia information.    
     
     
         2 . The channel structure of  claim 1 , wherein the communication channel is a broadcast control channel (BCCH) and the at least one other timeslot is included in the BCCH.  
     
     
         3 . The channel structure of  claim 2 , wherein the pointer is a character string included in a timeslot zero.  
     
     
         4 . The channel structure of  claim 2 , wherein the BCCH includes a short message service (SMS) channel.  
     
     
         5 . The channel structure of  claim 1 , wherein the pointer includes hidden information that comprises at least one of a modulation and coding scheme used on an extension channel and information on which timeslot corresponds to which broadcast channel.  
     
     
         6 . The channel structure of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of timeslots on the broadcast communication channel include a plurality of extension channels, and the extension channels are arranged in a tree structure having a root in the timeslot that includes the pointer.  
     
     
         7 . The channel structure of  claim 6 , wherein a first extension channel pointed to by the pointer carries service guide information.  
     
     
         8 . The channel structure of  claim 1 , wherein multimedia information carried by the extension channels comprises at least one of off-line information and streaming television programs, and service guide information that includes television program information.  
     
     
         9 . The channel structure of  claim 8 , wherein the off-line content is carried by an extension channel as a plurality of frames and each frame includes at least one of forward error correction and an error detection element.  
     
     
         10 . A radio access network configured for distribution of multimedia information, comprising: 
 a base station that broadcasts radio signals having a channel structure configured for the multimedia information, wherein the radio channel structure includes a broadcast communication channel divided into a plurality of timeslots, and a predetermined one of the timeslots includes a pointer that points out at least one extension channel that is included in at least one other timeslot in the radio signals and that carries unacknowledged multimedia information.    
     
     
         11 . The radio access network of  claim 10 , wherein multimedia information carried by at least one of the extension channels comprises at least one of off-line information and streaming television programs, and service guide information that includes television program information.  
     
     
         12 . The radio access network of  claim 11 , wherein the off-line content is carried by an extension channel as a plurality of frames and each frame includes at least one of forward error correction and an error detection element.  
     
     
         13 . A user equipment for a communication system in which a broadcast signal includes a succession of timeslots that carry unacknowledged multimedia information, comprising: 
 an input device configured for activation by a user;    a receiver configured to decode the broadcast signal, wherein a predetermined one of the timeslots includes a pointer that points out at least one extension channel that is included in at least one other timeslot of a broadcast signal; and    a control processor in communication with the input device and the receiver;    wherein, based on user-input information from the input device and information about the communication network, the control processor determines at least one timeslot to receive and decode and causes the receiver to receive and decode the determined timeslot.    
     
     
         14 . The user equipment of  claim 13 , wherein the broadcast signal includes a broadcast control channel (BCCH) and the at least one other timeslot is included in the BCCH.  
     
     
         15 . The user equipment of  claim 14 , wherein the pointer includes hidden information that comprises at least one of a modulation and coding scheme used on an extension channel and information on which timeslot corresponds to which broadcast channel.  
     
     
         16 . The user equipment of  claim 13 , wherein the receiver includes a front end receiver that is turned on only during the determined timeslot.  
     
     
         17 . The user equipment of  claim 13 , wherein the determined timeslot comprises at least one of off-line information, streaming television programs, and service guide information selected by the user through the input device.  
     
     
         18 . The user equipment of  claim 17 , wherein the user equipment further includes a memory configured to store unacknowledged multimedia information; the off-line content is carried by an extension channel as a plurality of frames; each frame includes at least one of forward error correction and an error detection element; and correctly decoded off-line content is stored in the memory.  
     
     
         19 . A method of distributing multimedia information in a communication system, comprising: 
 dividing a broadcast communication channel into a plurality of timeslots; and    including a pointer in a predetermined one of the timeslots, wherein the pointer points out at least one extension channel that is included in at least one other timeslot of a broadcast communication channel and that carries unacknowledged multimedia information.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the broadcast communication channel is a broadcast control channel (BCCH) and the at least one other timeslot is included in the BCCH.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the pointer is a character string included in a timeslot zero.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the BCCH includes a short message service (SMS) channel.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the including step comprises the step of including hidden information in the pointer, and the hidden information comprises at least one of a modulation and coding scheme used on an extension channel and information on which timeslot corresponds to which broadcast channel.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of timeslots include a plurality of extension channels, and the dividing step comprises the step of arranging the extension channels in a tree structure having a root in the timeslot that includes the pointer.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein a first extension channel pointed to by the pointer carries service guide information.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein unacknowledged multimedia information carried by the at least one extension channel comprises at least one of off-line information and streaming television programs, and service guide information that includes television program information.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the off-line content is carried by an extension channel as a plurality of frames and each frame includes at least one of forward error correction and an error detection element.