Method for broadcasting/multicasting transmissions in wireless networks

Abstract

In a wireless communications network comprising a plurality of multicast and broadcast service (MBS) zones each of which comprises at least one base station, there is provided a method for providing a multicast and broadcast service to a mobile terminal capable of moving from one MBS zone to another. The method comprises the steps of: providing the mobile terminal with one or more multicasting/broadcasting transmissions comprising at least one multicast connection identification (MCID) associated with an MBS zone other than a current MBS zone at which the mobile terminal is currently receiving the one or more multicasting/broadcasting transmissions; retrieving information regarding the at least one MCID; and upon detecting that the mobile terminal is capable of receiving transmissions associated with the other MBS_ZONE, utilizing the MCID associated with that other MBS_ZONE to receive multicasting/broadcasting transmissions intended for that mobile terminal.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method for providing a multicast and broadcast service (MBS) in a wireless communications network where one or more base stations transmit synchronously, comprising:
 enabling a base station of the one or more base stations to simultaneously support MBS services and unicast services;   associating a first MBS service flow with a first logical channel identifier for a first MBS zone and a second MBS service flow with a second logical channel identifier for a second MBS zone;   establishing an MBS connection between the base station and a mobile terminal presently located in a first MBS zone;   receiving and storing at the mobile terminal the first and second logical channel identifiers;   receiving at the mobile terminal the base station the first MBS service flow associated with the first logical channel identifier; and   when the mobile device detects a zone change from the first MBS zone to the second MBS zone, receiving at the mobile terminal the first MBS service flow associated with the second logical channel identifier, while retaining continuity of the MBS service.   
     
     
         2 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the mobile station receives the second MBS zone identifier from the base station. 
     
     
         3 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a zone hand-over is performed during the mobile station operation in an idle mode. 
     
     
         4 . A method for providing a multicast and broadcast service (MBS) in as wireless communications network by a base station transmitting synchronously with other base stations, comprising:
 transmitting at least one unicast service flow;   establishing an MBS connection to as mobile terminal in to first MBS zone;   associating an MBS service flow with a logical channel identifier for the first MBS zone;   transmitting to the mobile terminal the MBS service flow associated with the logical channel identifier; and   transmitting to the mobile terminal a second logical channel identifier associated with a second MBS service flow for a second MBS zone;   wherein the second logical channel identifier is for use by the mobile terminal in a hand-over from the first MBS zone to the second MBS zone, during the mobile station operation in an idle mode, using the second logical channel identifier, while retaining continuity of the MBS service.   
     
     
         5 . A method for maintaining continuity of service of a multicast and broadcast service (MBS) in a wireless communications network where one or more base stations transmit synchronously, comprising:
 establishing at least one unicast connection with a first base station;
 receiving from the first base station a first logical channel identifier associated with a first MBS service flow in a first MBS zone; 
 receiving from a first base station a second logical channel identifier associated with a second MBS service flow in a second MBS zone; and 
 performing, during the mobile station operation in an idle mode, a hand-over from the first base station to a second base station of the one or more base stations using the second logical channel identifier, while retaining the continuity of the MBS service.