KR101081828B1 - Apparatus and method to provide a multimedia multicast broadcast service in a communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a femto base station apparatus for providing a multimedia multicast broadcast service (MBMS) in a communication system, the multimedia being provided within a femto cell area. A content storage unit for storing contents, and receiving the multimedia contents from the content storage unit, and performing an MBMS emulation for providing an MBMS at the femto base station regardless of whether an MBMS is provided from a core network. An MBMS emulator for generating corresponding similar MBMS contents, and an MBMS provider for providing the similar MBMS contents delivered from the MBMS emulator to at least one user terminal in the femto cell.

MBMS, femto base station, resource sharing

Description

Apparatus and method for providing a multimedia broadcast multicast service in a communication system {APPARATUS AND METHOD TO PROVIDE A MULTIMEDIA MULTICAST BROADCAST SERVICE IN A COMMUNICATION SYSTEM}

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for providing a multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS) in a communication system.

The communication system is developing in the form of providing various high-speed high-capacity services to user equipment (UE: User Equipment, hereinafter referred to as "UE"). In the communication system, it is important to service the shadow area in order to increase the overall system capacity and to improve the quality of service. The expansion of the service area of the base station and the increase of the capacity of the base station have a very important effect on the efficiency of the communication system. Because. There are a variety of ways to serve the shadow area, the representative of which is a method using a repeater providing an interface with a macro base station and a femto base station providing an interface with a core network (CN) (FAP: Femto Access Point).

The repeater is largely divided into a repeater and a relay, and the repeater transmits the downlink signal received from the base station to the UE as it is, and receives the uplink signal received from the UE as it is. Transmit to the base station. In contrast, the relay decodes the downlink signal received from the base station into a digital signal, and generates the decoded signal as a radio frequency (RF) signal. Transmit to the UE, decode the uplink signal received from the UE, generate the decoded signal as an RF frequency signal, and transmit to the base station.

The femto base station is a base station having a relatively small resource capacity. Unlike a general base station (hereinafter, referred to as a macro base station), the femto base station is located in a femtocell area, which is a small communication area such as an independent office, a residential area, or a building. It provides communication service to a small number of existing UEs. That is, the femto base station can not only service the shadow area but also reduce the load of the macro base station, thereby increasing the service capacity of the service provider unlike the repeater sharing the capacity of the macro base station.

MBMS is a representative service to be provided in a communication system. However, in the prior art, a method for providing MBMS in a femto base station has not been specifically presented. Therefore, there is a need for a specific method of providing MBMS in a femto base station.

The present invention proposes an apparatus and method for providing a multimedia broadcast multicast service in a communication system.

An apparatus proposed by the present invention is a femto base station apparatus for providing a multimedia multicast broadcast service (MBMS) in a communication system. A content storage unit for storing contents, and receiving the multimedia contents from the content storage unit, and performing an MBMS emulation for providing an MBMS at the femto base station regardless of whether an MBMS is provided from a core network. An MBMS emulator for generating corresponding similar MBMS contents, and an MBMS provider for providing the similar MBMS contents delivered from the MBMS emulator to at least one user terminal in the femto cell.

Another device proposed by the present invention is a device for receiving a Multimedia Multicast Broadcast Service (MBMS) in a communication system, and enters a femto cell area and manages the femto cell area from a femto base station. And a receiving unit for receiving the similar MBMS content, wherein the similar MBMS content is multimedia for being provided in the femto cell area. Using the multimedia contents delivered from the content storage unit for storing the content, it is generated through the MBMS emulation that operates to provide the MBMS in the femto base station regardless of whether or not the MBMS from the core network.

The present invention proposes a method for providing a multimedia multicast broadcast service (MBMS) in a communication system, the multimedia being provided in a femtocell area. Receives the multimedia contents from the content storage unit for storing the contents, and performs similar MBMS contents corresponding to the multimedia contents by performing MBMS emulation for providing the MBMS at the femto base station regardless of whether the MBMS is provided from the core network. Generating and providing the similar MBMS contents delivered from the MBMS emulator to at least one user terminal in the femto cell.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of receiving a multimedia multicast broadcast service (MBMS) in a communication system, the method comprising: entering a femto cell region and managing a femto cell region; Receiving similar MBMS content from a base station; The similar MBMS content is multimedia for providing in the femto cell area Using the multimedia contents delivered from the content storage unit for storing the content, it is generated through the MBMS emulation that operates to provide the MBMS in the femto base station regardless of whether the MBMS from the core network.

The present invention has the following effects.

According to the present invention, through the independent structure of the femto base station capable of providing MBMS, the femto base station can provide the MBMS to the UE in the femto cell area regardless of whether the CN provides the MBMS.

In addition, when a femto base station capable of providing the MBMS receives all of the available resources and receives a request for a service other than the MBMS while providing the MBMS, a service other than the MBMS is provided through a resource of a femto base station or a macro base station other than itself. By controlling as much as possible, there is an effect of efficiently providing services other than MBMS.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that in the following description, only parts necessary for understanding the operation according to the present invention will be described, and descriptions of other parts will be omitted so as not to distract from the gist of the present invention.

Hereinafter, an apparatus and method for providing a multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS) through a femto base station in a communication system will be described.

Specifically, the MBMS-provided femto base station (hereinafter referred to as 'M-femto base station') can operate in a conventional MBMS mode for providing a general MBMS provided from the CN and two modes proposed by the present invention. The two modes will be referred to as Hot Zone Limited (hereinafter referred to as "Hot Zone Limited") MBMS mode and Resource Sharing Control (hereinafter referred to as "Resource Sharing Control"). ) Mode, which will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in the case where the M- femto base station operates in the Hot Zone Limited mode (MB) providing the MBMS regardless of whether the CN provides the MBMS. For convenience of description, the operation of providing the MBMS contents in the femto cell in which the M-femto base station is located is defined as a hot zone limited mode. However, the MBMS provided by the M-femto base station includes not only a hot zone limited MBMS but also a general MBMS.

Next, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the M-femto base station operates in the Hot Zone Limited MBMS mode, in a Resource Sharing Control mode for controlling a service other than the MBMS to be provided through available resources of another cell. The case of operation will be described.

In the above embodiments, for convenience of description, the operation when the M-femto base station provides a Hot Zone Limited MBMS is defined as a Hot Zone Limited MBMS mode operation, and when the M-femto base station provides Resource Sharing Control. Although the operation is defined as a resource sharing control mode operation, the M-femto base station does not operate in any one mode at a specific time point separately from the hot zone limited MBMS mode and the resource sharing control mode. That is, the M-femto base station may operate in one of the Hot Zone Limited MBMS mode and the Resource Sharing Control mode or in two modes simultaneously. Meanwhile, the conventional MBMS mode generally refers to an operation of providing an MBMS provided directly from a CN, and is similar to the operation of providing an MBMS in a conventional macro base station. Therefore, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

1 is a view schematically showing the structure of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Before describing FIG. 1, it will be assumed that the communication system is a wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) communication system. Of course, in the present specification, it is assumed that the communication system is a WCDMA communication system, but the communication system is not only the WCDMA communication system but also a code division multiple access (CDMA) communication system, an Institute of Electrical and IEEE (IEEE). Electronics Engineers (EPS) 802.16 communication system, Mobile Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) communication system, Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB) communication system, and Long Term Evolution (LTE) communication system, as well as to be.

Referring to FIG. 1, the communication system includes a mobile switching center (MSC) 111 and a service packet radio service support node (SGSN). ) Support Node, hereinafter referred to as 'SGSN' (113), femto base station gateway (FAP-GW (GateWay), hereinafter referred to as 'FAP-GW') 115, and general Internet protocol (generic IP (Internet Protocol)) access network (117), a radio network controller (RNC: RNC) 119, a macro base station 121, M-femto base station 123 and the UE (125). Here, the general IP access network 117 may be, for example, an Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL).

The M-femto base station 123 is an MBMS-provided femto base station, and may provide an interface with the UE 125, provide an interface with the base station 123, and provide an interface with the CN. The M-femto base station 123 may operate in the Conventional MBMS mode, the Hot Zone Limited MBMS mode, and the Resource Sharing Control mode, which provide a general MBMS provided from the CN. Here, the Hot Zone Limited MBMS mode is a mode in which the M-femto base station 123 provides MBMS contents by itself in a femto cell in which it is located (hereinafter, referred to as a 'like MBMS'). In the resource sharing control mode, the M-femto base station 123 has already provided MBMS (similar MBMS or general MBMS), and any UE in the UE 125 or femto cell area is other than the MBMS. When requesting another service or receiving paging from another CN, that is, when a dedicated physical channel needs to be created, a femto base station (not shown) or the macro base station 121 in which a service other than the MBMS is located in another cell. This mode is used to control it to be provided through. Since each of the Hot Zone Limited MBMS mode and Resource Sharing Control mode will be described in detail below, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 2, the MSC 211 excluding the femto base station 223, the SGSN 213, the FAP-GW 215, the general Internet protocol access network 217, the RNC 219, and the macro base station ( Operations of the 221 and the UE 225 are the same as those of the general WCDMA communication system, and thus a detailed description thereof will be omitted. 1 illustrates a structure of a communication system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Next, referring to FIG. 2, the M-femto base station according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention operates in a hot zone limited MBMS mode. The schematic structure of the communication system will be described. The M-femto base station can operate in Conventional MBMS mode as well as Hot Zone Limited MBMS mode when providing an MBMS. However, since the conventional MBMS mode is not specifically related to the present invention, a detailed description of the case in which the M-femto base station operates in the conventional MBMS mode will be omitted. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating a communication system including an M-femto base station operating in the Hot Zone Limited MBMS mode according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

 2, the communication system includes an M-femto base station 211, a UE 213, and a storage device 215 proposed in the present invention. In this case, the storage device 215 may be mounted inside the M-femto base station 211 or may be connected to the M-femto base station 211 through an external port of the M-femto base station 211.

The M-femto base station 211 is a femto base station that provides MBMS to a small number of UEs in the femto cell region, and its available resources are quite limited. The M-femto base station 211 has a main function of providing an MBMS. Accordingly, the M-femto base station 211 provides a limited or fully circuit switched / packet switched (CS / PS) service according to the amount of resources occupied by the provision of MBMS, or otherwise It is possible to provide only MBMS according to the standard defined in the communication system without supporting circuit exchange / packet exchange service. However, the M-femto base station 211 may provide a simple service that does not use a dedicated channel, such as a short message service (SMS), in addition to the MBMS.

The MBMS provided to the UE 213 by the M-femto base station 211 is largely similar to a general MBMS. When the M-femto base station 211 provides the general MBMS, the M- femto base station 211 operates in a conventional MBMS mode. The general MBMS is an MBMS provided from a CN. When the M-femto base station 211 operates in a conventional MBMS mode, the M-femto base station 211 simply receives the MBMS provided from the CN. It only plays the role of delivering to.

On the other hand, when the M-femto base station 211 provides the similar MBMS, the M- femto base station 211 operates in the Hot Zone Limited MBMS mode. That is, when the M-femto base station 211 operates in the Hot Zone Limited MBMS mode, it provides MBMS contents stored in the storage device 215 to the UE 213. Specifically, the M-femto base station 211 is an MBMS emulator (MBMS emulator) for changing the MBMS contents stored in the storage device 215 to the MBMS transmission format according to the standard of the communication system, for example, 3GPP ( Not shown). The MBMS emulator emulates MBMS-related functions of the CN and converts MBMS contents of any format stored in the storage device 215 into a transmission format that can be received by a UE 213 communicating according to 3GPP. The detailed description will be described later.

MBMS contents stored in the storage device 215 are MBMS contents to be provided in a femtocell area managed by the M-femto base station 211, and are generated by user-generated MBMS contents created by an individual operator and a large service provider. Included broadcast content. In this case, the format of the MBMS contents may be in accordance with the communication system, for example, as defined in the MBMS standard of 3GPP or may have an arbitrary format. Hereinafter, the MBMBS contents stored in the storage device 215 through the MBMS emulator (not shown) will be defined as Hot Zone limited MBMS contents in a format defined by the MBMS standard of 3GPP or an arbitrary format. The operation of the MBMS emulator will be described later in detail. Since the format of the Hot Zone limited MBMS contents itself is not directly related to the present invention, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. The Hot Zone limited MBMS contents are contents to be provided to UEs located in the femto cell region of the M-femto base station 211 (for example, the location limited service region 413 of FIG. 4), for example, a store. MBMS content for unidirectional-like MBMS that provides specific advertisements, restaurant menu guides, product information, performance information, etc. according to the requirements of the respective business owner (information provider) in restaurants, restaurants and theaters.

When the M-femto base station 211 provides the contents for the unidirectional pseudo-MBMS to the UE, the UE arbitrarily selects the contents for the unidirectional pseudo-MBMS divided by channel, thereby determining whether to receive the corresponding information. Can be. In this case, the content of the content for the one-way-like MBMS is a simple application that provides a text message, multimedia information in the form of a short video, still picture information, convenience information according to voice information, and menu selection. Programs and the like. As another example, the Hot Zone limited MBMS contents may include Hot Zone limited advertisement contents, Hot Zone limited guide contents, and Hot Zone limited game services.

As the method of storing the MBMS contents in the storage device 215, a method of directly inputting MBMS contents into the storage device 215 by an individual operator and automatically storing the MBMS contents in the storage device 215 is provided. There is a way. In detail, the method of directly inputting MBMS contents by the individual operator may include content information acquired by the individual employer through external means, such as downloading through the Internet, or the MBMS contents generated by the individual operator. Enter directly in). Next, the method of automatically storing MBMS contents in the storage unit 215 stores MBMS contents automatically and manually downloaded to the storage unit 215 through an Ethernet port connected to the CN. . The storage unit 215 includes all types of storage devices present or future, such as a hard disk, a solid state disk (SSD), and a flash memory.

When the UE 213 decides to receive an MBMS through the M-femto base station 211, the UE 213 receives a general MBMS or a similar MBMS from the M-femto base station 211. That is, when a similar MBMS is provided from the M-femto base station 211, the UE 213 stores the storage unit 215 from an MBMS emulator (not shown) inside the M-femto base station 211. ) Receives the Hot Zone limited MBMS contents through the M-femto base station 211 in which the format of the MBMS contents stored in the < RTI ID = 0.0 > When the general MBMS is provided from the M-femto base station 211, the contents of the general MBMS provided from the CN are received through the M-femto base station 211.

FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic structure of a communication system including an M-femto base station operating in a Hot Zone Limited MBMS mode according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Next, referring to FIG. An internal structure of the M-femto base station according to an embodiment will be described.

3 is a diagram illustrating an internal structure of an M-femto base station according to an embodiment of the present invention. Here, for the convenience of description, the operation of the internal components when the M-femto base station operates in the Hot Zone Limited MBMS mode will be described. Only the fisherman will operate.

Referring to FIG. 3, the M-femto base station 311 includes an MBMS provider 317, a content storage unit 319, an MBMS emulator 321, and a controller 323.

The controller 323 controls the overall operations of the MBMS provider 317, the content storage unit 319, and the MBMS emulator 321. The controller 323 determines a mode in which the M-femto base station operates in a conventional MBMS mode or a Hot Zone Limited MBMS mode according to whether an MBMS is provided from a CN. The controller 323 may operate in the Hot Zone Limited MBMS mode even if it receives or does not receive the MBMS join message from the UE in the femto cell area. When the controller 323 determines to operate in the Hot Zone Limited MBMS mode, the MBMS provider 317 performs hot zone limited through MBMS logical channels generated by the MBMS emulator 321. MBMS contents are provided to UEs located in a femto cell area managed by the femto base station 311. The Hot Zone limited MBMS contents are contents whose format of MBMS contents stored in the content storage unit 319 is changed to a format defined by the MBMS standard of 3GPP.

The MBMS provider 317 may provide a conventional circuit exchange / packet exchange service even in a general MBMS mode in the conventional MBMS mode or a similar MBMS in the Hot Zone Limited MBMS mode. However, according to the amount of resources occupied by the similar MBMS or the general MBMS provided by the M-femto base station 311, the circuit switched / packet switched service may be provided completely or limitedly. That is, the available resources of the M-femto base station 311 is limited, so if all available resources are occupied by the provision of a similar MBMS requiring high speed / capacity data, a dedicated physical channel for services other than the similar MBMS ( There are no available resources available to allocate Dedicated Physical Channels.

For example, when the MBMS provider 317 receives a circuit exchange / packet exchange service request from the UE while all available resources of the M-femto base station 311 are occupied due to similar MBMS provision, the controller ( 323 controls the M-femto base station 311 to operate in a resource sharing control mode. Resource sharing control mode operation of the M-femto base station 311 will be described in detail below.

The MBMS emulator 321 generates the MBMS logical channels to provide a similar MBMS under the control of the controller 323, and provides channel information related to the MBMS logical channels to the MBMS provider 317. . Meanwhile, channel information related to general logical channels for providing general MBMS for providing MBMS contents obtained from the CN is also provided to the MBMS provider 317. Subsequently, the MBMS provider 317 transmits channel information related to the MBMS logical channels and general logical channels through a broadcast channel (BCH), hereinafter referred to as 'BCH'. To pass.

The content storage unit 319 delivers the MBMS content stored under the control of the controller 323 to the MBMS emulator 321. The MBMS emulator 321 receiving the hot zone changes the format of the MBMS contents into an arbitrary MBMS transmission format in order to provide similar MBMS to UEs located in the femto cell area managed by the femto base station 311. Limited MBMS contents are generated and provided to the MBMS provider 317. Since the content storage unit 319 is the same device as the storage device 215, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Next, an internal structure of the MBMS emulator according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 4.

4 is a configuration diagram of a communication system including an internal structure diagram of an MBMS emulator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, the communication system is a femto base station in a femto cell area, that is, a location limited service area 413, and an M-femto base station 411 capable of connecting to the CN and the Internet and providing MBMS, and the location limitation. At least one UE 415 located in the service area 413. The M-femto base station 411 includes an MBMS provider 417, an MBMS emulator 419, a content storage unit 425, and a controller 427. In this case, the location limited service area 413 is a femto cell that the M-femto base station 411 can serve, and includes, for example, a store, a restaurant, and a theater.

The controller 427 determines whether the M-femto base station 411 operates in a general MBMS mode or a hot zone limited MBMS mode according to whether an MBMS is provided from a CN, thereby providing a general or similar MBMS to the UE. . In another embodiment, when the content storage unit 425 stores MBMS contents to be provided through the hot zone limited MBMS mode, the controller 427 may determine to always operate in the hot zone limited MBMS mode.

The UE 415 transmits an MBMS join message to the M-femto base station 411 or requests a service other than the MBMS, for example, a circuit exchange / packet exchange service.

Then, the MBMS provider 417 identifies available resources for providing the circuit exchange / packet exchange service while providing a general MBMS or similar MBMS to the UE 413 under the control of the controller 427. . According to the check result, that is, the controller 427 may determine whether to provide a limited or complete circuit exchange / packet exchange service according to the size of available resources when providing the general or similar MBMS.

The content storage unit 431 stores MBMS contents to be provided as a similar MBMS to the UE 415, and provides them to the MBMS emulator 419 under the control of the controller 427.

Since detailed operations of the MBMS provider 413 and the content storage unit 431 are the same as those of the MBMS provider 317 and the content storage unit 319 of FIG. 3, detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted. The MBMS emulator 419 includes an integrated function block 421 and a Broadcast / Multicast-Service Center (BM-SC) to emulate MBMS-related functions of the CN. -SC ') functional block (423).

The integrated function block 421 is a communication system, for example, an RNC constituting a CN of 3GPP, an SGSN, a home location locator (HLR), and a gateway. The wireless service support node (GGSN: Gateway GPRS Suppport Node, hereinafter referred to as 'GGSN') is configured to perform a new protocol that simplifies each function. That is, the MBMS emulator 419 emulates the operation of each of the CN nodes from the BM-SC function block 423 to the RNC under the control of the controller 427, thereby providing the MBMS provider ( 417 serves to receive signals and data just as it is connected to the BM-SC functional block 423. In this case, since the M-femto base station 411 provides a service within the location limited service area 413, the location registration function of the M-femto base station 417 does not need to be separately provided. Therefore, since the HLR functional block does not need to exist substantially in the MBMS emulator 419, it can be deleted or implemented as a dummy block. Similarly, since the charging and network management functions are not directly related to the present invention, RNC functional blocks and SGSN and GGSN functional blocks related thereto may also be implemented as a single block to simplify the function to which the corresponding protocol is applied.

Under the control of the controller 427, the MBMS emulator 419 generates MBMS logical channels for providing a similar MBMS to emulate functions performed when the CN provides an MBMS. The MBMS logical channels are referred to as MBMS Control Channel (MCCH: hereinafter referred to as 'MCCH'), MBMS Traffic Channel (MTCH: hereinafter referred to as 'MTCH') and MBMS It includes a scheduling channel (MSCH: MBMS Scheduling Channel, hereinafter referred to as 'MSCH').

Channel information related to general logical channels for providing a general MBMS generated from the CN is received from the CN and provided to the MBMS emulator 419. Then, the MBMS emulator 419 transfers channel information related to MBMS logical channels for general MBMS and / or similar MBMS to the MBMS provider 417. Then, the MBMS provider 417 transfers the information related to the MBMS logical channels to the UE 415 through a Broadcast Control Channel (BCCH).

The content storage unit 425 transfers the stored MBMS contents to the MBMS emulator 419 under the control of the controller 427. In order to provide a similar MBMS, the MBMS emulator 419 receives the MBMS emulator 419 and generates Hot Zone limited MBMS contents in which the format of the transferred MBMS contents is changed to an arbitrary MBMS transmission format and delivers the contents to the MBMS provider 417. do.

Since the content storage unit 425 is the same device as the storage device 215 of FIG. 2, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

5 is a protocol structure diagram of an M-femto base station according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, the protocol structure of the M-femto base station 511 is the same as a general femto base station. However, the M-femto base station 511 further includes a protocol structure between the content storage unit 513 and the MBMS emulator 515 added to provide a similar MBMS.

Specifically, the protocol structure of the M-femto base station 511, the RNC function block 517, the radio resource control connected to the RNC function block 517 and U-plane radio bearers (User plane radio beares) ( RRC: Radio Resource Control (hereinafter referred to as 'RRC') block 519, packet data switching protocol (PDCP: referred to as 'PDCP') and broadcast / multicast control ( BMC: Broadast / Muticast Control (BMC) block 523 and a Radio Link Control (RLC) block 525 connected to the RRC block 519 and signaling radio bearers (525). ), A Media Access Controller (MAC) connected to the RLC block 525 and logical channels, and a physical layer connected to the MAC layer 527 and physical channels. (PHY: Physical, hereinafter referred to as 'PHY') It is composed of a layer 529. Here, the MBMS emulator 515 is connected to the RRC 519 and the RLC 525.

FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic protocol structure of an M-femto base station according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 6, a specific interface of an MBMS emulator for the case where the M-femto base station provides a similar MBMS is described. This will be described.

6 is a diagram illustrating an interface of an MBMS emulator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, the M-femto base station 611 further includes a content storage unit 613 and an MBMS emulator 615 to provide a similar MBMS, compared to a general femto base station.

The MBMS contents stored in the content storage unit 613 are generated as Hot Zone Limited MBMS contents in a format allowed by the MBMS proposed by the 3GPP standard through the MBMS emulator 615, so that the M-femto base station 611 It is supplied to UEs located in the managing femto cell. Since the format of the Hot Zone limited MBMS contents itself is not directly related to the present invention, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The MBMS emulator 614 generates an MBMS logical channel for the similar MBMS, that is, the MCCH, MTCH, and MSCH, and sets it between the RLC blocks 619. The MBMS logical channel related information, which is related information of each of the MCCH, MTCH, and MSCH, is transmitted to the RRC block 617. Then, the RRC block 617 transfers general MBMS logical channel related information obtained from the actual BM-SC of the CN and the MBMS logical channel related information for the similar MBMS to the RLC block 619 through the BCH. In addition, channel information related to logical channels for services other than MBMS may also be delivered from the CN to the RLC 619 block via the RRC block 617. The MBMS logical channel related information for the similar MBMS is not transferred from the actual BM-SC to the RRC block 617 via the actual RNC as in a general base station, but directly in the MBMS emulator 515. 617).

Due to the interface of the MBMS emulator 614 as described above, M-femto base station according to an embodiment of the present invention can provide a similar MBMS to the UE more quickly, regardless of whether the connection with the CN.

7 is a diagram illustrating a map of channels corresponding to a protocol structure of an M-femto base station according to an embodiment of the present invention. Since the map of the channels shown here is almost the same as the map of a typical femto base station, only the parts changed by the present invention will be described.

Referring to FIG. 7, the BCCH 711 maps the MBMS logical channel related information directly transmitted by the MBMS emulator 615 to the RLC, and general logical channel information that has been passed through an RNC block (not shown) of the actual CN. Channel, which is passed to RLC block 723.

MBMS logical channels 721 generated by the MBMS emulator 615, that is, MCCH, MTCH, and MSCH, are delivered directly to the RLC block 723 without passing through the RNC of the actual CN.

When the M-femto base station 611 provides a similar MBMS to the UE in the femto cell area, each of the Hot Zone limited MBMS contents stored in the content storage unit 613 may include at least one secondary common control physical channel ( SCCPCH: Secondary Common Control Physical Channel (hereinafter referred to as 'SCCPCH') 715). The SCCPCH 715 includes two transport channels (TCHs), that is, a paging channel (PCH) (hereinafter referred to as a 'PCH') 717 and a forward access channel (FACH). It is mapped as 719. When some of the SCCPCHs are allocated to the PCH 717, Hot Zone limited MBMS content is transmitted at low speed to the UE in the femto cell.

When the M-femto base station 611 provides a similar MBMS requiring high speed / capacity data, a plurality of SCCPCHs are mapped as a physical channel for providing the MBMS requiring high speed / capacity data. That is, most of the resources of the M-femto base station 611 are occupied by Hot Zone Limited contents for MBMS where the high speed / capacity data is required. In this case, as an example of services other than MBMS, available resources for allocation of a dedicated physical channel for providing a circuit exchange / packet exchange service and the like are greatly reduced.

In a state where an MBMS requiring high speed / capacity data is provided, the M-femto base station 611 does not have an available resource for allocating a dedicated physical channel for services other than the MBMS. This is because the M-femto base station 611 has the smallest size and the size of basic available resources is very small. Therefore, an M-femto base station in a state of providing an MBMS requiring high speed / capacity data cannot add additional dedicated physical channels for services other than the MBMS. Accordingly, removable dedicated physical channels 713 may be allocated or removed depending on the available resource state of the M-femto base station 611.

In the second embodiment of the present invention described below, when a service other than the MBMS is requested while the M-femto base station is providing a general or similar MBMS, the M-femto base station is another femto or macro other service than the MBMS We propose an operation of an M-femto base station operating in a resource sharing control mode for switching to be provided through the resources of the base station. For convenience of explanation, the operation when the M-femto base station provides a similar MBMS will be described. However, the description below will be equally applicable to the operation of the M-femto base station operating in the Resource Sharing Control mode even when the M-femto base station provides a general MBMS delivered from the CN.

The M-femto base station detects a state in which a dedicated physical channel needs to be created while already providing a similar MBMS. Here, the state in which the dedicated physical channel should be generated may include paging to a UE that receives a request for a circuit switching / packet switching service or a similar MBMS from other UEs in the femto cell area. Received cases are included.

In this case, it is assumed that the M-femto base station does not have available resources for generating an additional dedicated physical channel due to the provision of the similar MBMS. Accordingly, the M-femto base station stops providing the similar MBMS, and determines another femto base station or macro base station in which available resources to allocate the dedicated physical channel to be handed over by the UE as a target base station for handover. do. The M-femto base station instructs the UE to handover to the determined other femto base station or macro base station. The control operation of the M-femto base station is divided into a handover and a cell reselection operation according to whether the UE has an RRC connection.

For example, when the M-femto base station recognizes the presence of the UE transitioned to the RRC connection state with itself due to paging reception or call access request while receiving the similar MBMS, the provision of the similar MBMS is stopped, The UE controls the handover to another cell of the target base station. The UE then establishes an RRC connection with the target base station and receives the requested service. The method for controlling the UE to be handed over to another cell follows, as an example, the handover related content defined in the 3GPP standard, which is not related to the gist of the present invention, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Subsequently, when the RRC connection with the target base station to which the UE has handed over is released and transitions to an idle state, the UE may receive the M-B so that the UE may receive the similar MBMS again through the M-femto base station. A cell reselection operation for moving to the femto base station is performed. After the cell reselection operation, the idle UE maintains a camp on state at the M-femto base station for receiving the similar MBMS.

In conclusion, the M-femto base station according to the second embodiment of the present invention is required to additionally create a dedicated physical channel for services other than MBMS in the absence of available resources due to provision of similar or general MBMS. In this case, it operates in the resource sharing control mode. That is, when the M-femto base station receives a service request requiring creation of a dedicated physical channel from the UE in the femto cell area while providing a similar or general MBMS, the M-femto base station identifies available resources for providing the requested service. If there is available resource for providing the requested service as a result of the checking, the M-femto base station provides the requested service limitedly or completely according to the amount of available resources. On the other hand, if there is no available resource for providing the requested service as a result of the check, by handing over the UE to another macro base station or femto base station that has the available resource to provide the requested service, Service to the dedicated physical channel through the available resources of the other macro base station or femto base station.

8A and 8B illustrate an example of an operation of an M-femto base station operating in a resource sharing control mode according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 8A, a communication system includes an M-femto base station 811, a UE 813, and another femto / macro base station 815. In this case, although the M-femto base station 811 is assumed to provide a similar MBMS, the M-femto base station 811 operates the same even in a state of providing a general MBMS.

The UE 813 is either receiving a similar MBMS from the M-femto base station 811 or is not receiving the similar MBMS, but is camped on the M-femto base station. In this case, when the UE 813 receives a voice or video call service request from the outside through the M-femto base station 811 (817), the M-femto base station 811 And the UE 813 are first switched to an RRC connected mode for signaling exchange (819).

Upon providing a similar MBMS, when it is recognized that the UE 813 switches to the RRC connected mode, the M-femto base station 811 operates in a resource sharing control mode to control the UE 813. At this time, if the UE 813 is receiving a similar MBMS from the M-femto base station 811, the UE 813 stops receiving the similar MBMS. The M-femto base station 811 in the resource sharing control mode controls the UE 813 to handover to a macro or femto base station in which available resources for providing the requested voice or video call service exist. The method of controlling the M-femto base station 811 to handover the UE 813 may be the same as the method of determining a target base station during a normal handover. For example, the M-femto base station selects another femto / macro base station 815 having the highest priority according to the pilot measurement result of the base stations included in the neighbor base station lists received from the UE 813, the UE 813. Determines as the target base station to hand over to. Herein, an operation of determining a target base station to be handed over through a general handover operation has been described as an example, but various other methods may be applied.

Thereafter, the M-femto base station 811 transmits a handover indication message including the base station information of the determined target base station, that is, the femto / macro base station 815, to the UE 813, thereby allowing the UE 813 to receive the message. Instructs handover to femto / macro base station 815. Here, since the method of instructing the UE 813 to handover is irrelevant to the gist of the present invention, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

When the UE 813 receives a handover instruction from the M-femto base station 811, the UE 813 performs a handover 821 to the femto / macro base station 815 to establish a data traffic with the femto / macro base station 815. Set up an RRC connection for the exchange and receive the requested service.

Referring to FIG. 8B, the communication system includes an M-femto base station 823, a UE 827, and another femto / macro base station 825. In this case, although the M-femto base station 811 is assumed to provide a similar MBMS, the M-femto base station 811 operates the same even in a state of providing a general MBMS.

The UE 827 is in the middle of receiving a similar MBMS from the M-femto base station 823 or not receiving the similar MBMS, but is camped on the M-femto base station. At this time, when the UE 827 wants to request a voice or video call service to the outside through the M-femto base station 823 (829), the M-femto base station 823 and the UE (827). Is first switched to the RRC connected mode for signaling exchange (831).

Upon providing a similar MBMS, the M-femto base station 823 operates in a resource sharing control mode and controls the UE 827 when it is recognized that the UE 827 switches to the RRC connected mode. In this case, if the UE 827 is receiving the similar MBMS from the M-femto base station 823, the UE 827 stops receiving the similar MBMS. The M-femto base station 823 in the resource sharing control mode controls the UE 827 to handover to another base station in which available resources for providing the requested voice or voice call service exist. Since the method for controlling to handover is the same as the method described with reference to FIG. 8A, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

That is, the M-femto base station 823 instructs the UE 827 to handover to a cell of a macro or femto base station 825 in which available resources for providing the requested voice or voice call service exist. When the UE 827 receives a handover instruction from the M-femto base station 823, the UE 827 hands over 833 to an area of the femto / macro base station 825, and thus the femto / Establish an RRC connection for the exchange of data traffic with the macro base station 825 and receive the requested service.

9 is an operation flowchart of a UE according to an embodiment of the present invention. Here, a description will be given on the assumption that the M-femto base station provides a similar MBMS, but the M-femto base station operates in the same manner even when a general MBMS is provided.

Referring to FIG. 9, in step 911, the UE enters a serviceable area of an M-femto base station and proceeds to step 913. In step 913, the UE camps on the M-femto base station and proceeds to step 915. In step 915, the UE confirms that an MBMS is provided from the M-femto base station. As an example, the UE confirms that the MBMS is provided through MBMS related system information or control information broadcast from the M-femto base station, or receives the response after transmitting an MBMS join message to the M-femto base station. By doing so, it can be confirmed that the MBMS is provided. Here, it is assumed that the MBMS provided from the M-femto base station is a similar MBMS.

In step 917, the UE determines the MBMS reception from the M-femto base station according to user control or device configuration. If it is determined that the MBMS is not received from the M-femto base station, the UE switches to an idle mode in step 919, and determines whether an RRC connection is required in step 921. If not, return to step 919 to maintain the idle mode. As a result of the check, if the RRC connection is required, the UE proceeds to step 931.

If it is determined in step 917 to receive the MBMS from the M-femto base station, in step 923 the UE receives a similar MBMS through the M-femto base station.

While receiving the similar MBMS, in step 925, the UE checks whether or not to receive downlink paging. If the downlink paging is received as a result of the checking, the process proceeds to step 929. If the downlink paging is not received, the UE checks whether an uplink call access request has been received in step 927. If the uplink call access request is received as a result of the check in step 927, in step 929, the UE stops receiving the similar MBMS from the M-femto base station and proceeds to step 931. In step 931, the UE performs a switch procedure to the RRC connected mode, and proceeds to step 933. In step 933, the UE receives a handover indication message including information indicating a target base station to be handed over from the M-femto base station operating in a resource sharing control mode, and performs handover to the target base station. In step 935, the UE receives a circuit exchange / packet exchange service from the target base station. When the circuit exchange / packet exchange service is terminated, the UE releases the RRC connection mode in step 937 and performs a cell reselection procedure in step 939 to move to a serviceable area of the M-femto base station, in step 917. Return to step

10A is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a communication system including an M-femto base station operating in a hot zone limited MBMS mode according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 10A, the communication system includes a UE 110, an M-femto base station 120, and a CN 106. The M-femto base station 120 includes an MBMS provider 1030, an MBMS emulator 1040, a content storage unit 1050, and a controller 1055. Although not shown, the MBMS provider 1030, the MBMS emulator 1040, and the content storage unit 1050 may perform the following procedures under the control of the controller 1055.

In step 1011, the UE 1010 moves to the location limited service area of the M-femto base station 120, and proceeds to step 1013.

In step 1013, the UE 1010 performs a registration procedure with the M-femto base station 1020 through the controller 1055. Since the registration procedure is the same as that of a general femto base station and has no specific relationship with the present invention, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. When the registration procedure of the UE 1010 is completed, the UE 1010 camps on the M-femto base station 1020 in step 1015, and MBMS emulator through the MBMS provider 1030 in steps 1017a and b. Request MBMS to 1040.

After receiving the MBMS request, the MBMS emulator 1040 generates MBMS logical channels, that is, MCCH, MTCH, and MSCH signals, for providing a similar MBMS to the UE 1010 in step 1019, and the MBMS provider 1030. To pass. In this case, when information related to general logical channels is received from the core network in steps 1021a and b, related information of the general logical channels may also be delivered to the MBMS provider 103. Then, in step 1023, the MBMS provider 1030 delivers the relevant information of the MBMS logical channels and the related information of the general logical channels to the UE 1010 through BCCH.

Thereafter, in step 1025, the MBMB emulator 1040 checks whether the CN 1060 provides MBMS if necessary according to the instructions of the controller 1055. As a result of the check, the CN 1060 determines a general MBMS. If not provided, the MBMS emulator 1040 acquires MBMS contents stored in the content storage unit 1050 in step 1027a according to the instruction of the controller 1055, and converts the formats into arbitrary MBMS transmission standards. After changing and generating hot zone limited MBMS contents, in step 1029a, the generated hot zone limited MBMS contents are transferred to the MBMS provider 103, and in step 1029b, the MBMS provider 1030 generates the MBMS contents. The obtained hot zone limited MBMS contents are transmitted to the UE 1010 using logical channels.

10B is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a communication system including an M-femto base station operating in a resource sharing control mode according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 10B, the communication system includes a UE 110, an M-femto base station 120, and another femto base station 1060. The M-femto base station 120 includes an MBMS provider 1030, an MBMS emulator 1040, a content storage unit 1050, and a controller 1055. The MBMS provider 1030, the MBMS emulator 1040, and the content storage unit 1050 may operate under the control of the controller 1055.

In step 1033, the M-femto base station 1020 is providing a similar MBMS to the UE (1010). Here, for convenience of description, an operation of a state in which a similar MBMS is provided will be described. However, in the case of providing a general MBMS, the operation description described below is equally applicable.

When the UE 1010 requests a circuit exchange / packet exchange service to the M-femto base station 1020 in step 1035, the circuit exchange / packet exchange service request is transmitted to the controller 1050. Then, in step 1036, the reception of the MBMS for the UE is stopped, and the flow proceeds to step 1037. In step 1037, the controller 1037 determines whether there are available resources in the M-femto base station that can allocate a dedicated physical channel for the requested circuit exchange / packet exchange service. If there is no available resource, the controller 1055 determines that the UE 1010 can be allocated a dedicated physical channel for the requested circuit exchange / packet exchange service in step 1039. The target base station to be overwritten, that is, another femto or macro base station in which available resources exist.

Here, as another example, the other femto base station 1060 is illustrated as the target base station, but a plurality of femto base stations or macro base stations exist around the M-femto base station 1020, and any one of them may be determined as a target base station. Of course. The process of determining the other base station as the target base station is the same as the method determined in the general handover procedure as described above, and thus the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

When the target base station, that is, the femto base station 1060 is determined, in step 1041, the controller 1055 transmits a handover instruction message including the information of the femto base station 1060 to the UE 1010.

Thereafter, in step 1043, the UE 1010 receiving the handover indication message performs a handover to the other femto base station 1060.

On the other hand, although not shown in the figure, when the determination result in step 1037, if there is available resources, the controller 1055 through the MBMS provider 1030 according to the amount of available resources limited or complete circuit exchange / packet Exchange service can be provided.

Meanwhile, in the detailed description of the present invention, specific embodiments have been described, but various modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the described embodiments, but should be defined not only by the scope of the following claims, but also by the equivalents of the claims.

1 schematically illustrates the structure of a communication system according to the invention;

2 is a schematic diagram of a communication system including an M-femto base station operating in Hot Zone Limited MBMS mode in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a diagram illustrating an internal structure of an M-femto base station according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a block diagram of a communication system including an internal structure diagram of an MBMS emulator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a protocol structure diagram of an M-femto base station according to an embodiment of the present invention.

6 illustrates an interface of an MBMS emulator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

7 is a diagram illustrating a map of channels corresponding to a protocol structure of an M-femto base station according to an embodiment of the present invention.

8A and 8B illustrate a schematic structure of a communication system including an M-femto base station operating in a Resource Sharing Control mode according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

9 is an operation flowchart of a UE according to an embodiment of the present invention.

10A is a flowchart of an operation of a communication system including an M-femto base station operating in the Hot Zone Limited MBMS mode according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10B is an operation flowchart of a communication system including an M-femto base station operating in a Resource Sharing Control mode according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG.

Claims (20)

A femto base station apparatus for providing a multimedia multicast broadcast service (MBMS) in a communication system, Multimedia to be provided within femtocell area A content storage unit for storing contents, MBMS which receives the multimedia contents from the contents storage unit and performs similar MBMS contents corresponding to the multimedia contents by performing MBMS emulation for providing MBMS at the femto base station regardless of whether MBMS is provided from a core network. With the emulator, And a MBMS provider for providing the similar MBMS contents delivered from the MBMS emulator to at least one user terminal in the femto cell. The method of claim 1, The MBMS emulator is Generating at least one logical channel for providing the similar MBMS contents to the user terminal and channel information related to the at least one logical channel, and transferring the channel information to the at least one user terminal through the MBMS provider; Femto base station device characterized in that. The method of claim 1, The content storage unit, The femto base station apparatus, which is mounted inside the femto base station apparatus or directly connected to the femto base station through an external port of the femto base station. The method of claim 1, The multimedia contents, And unidirectional contents which are business-related information located in the femto cell area, wherein the femto base station apparatus comprises at least one of contents generated and input directly by an individual operator and contents downloaded through external means. The method of claim 1, During the provision of the similar MBMS contents or during the provision of general MBMS contents delivered from the core network, when the request for a circuit switching / packet switching service for the user terminal in the femto cell is received, the user terminal is switched to the circuit switching. And a control unit for handing over to another base station having an available resource for providing a packet exchange service to receive the circuit exchange / packet exchange service. The method of claim 5, The control unit, The presence or absence of available resources for allocating a dedicated physical channel for the circuit switching / packet switching service in the femto base station is determined, and if the available resources do not exist, the circuit switching / packet switching service is provided. And determining another base station in which available resources exist, and transmitting a handover indication message including information on the other base station to the user terminal. The method of claim 5, The request of the circuit exchange / packet exchange service, Femto base station apparatus comprising one of downlink paging and an uplink call access request. An apparatus for receiving a multimedia multicast broadcast service (MBMS) in a communication system, It enters the femto cell area, and includes a receiving unit for receiving similar MBMS content from the femto base station managing the femto cell area, The similar MBMS content is multimedia for providing in the femto cell area And using the multimedia contents delivered from the content storage unit for storing contents, through the MBMS emulation operating to provide the MBMS at the femto base station regardless of whether the MBMS is provided from the core network. The method of claim 8, The multimedia contents, MBMS receiving apparatus, characterized in that the unidirectional content that is the business-related information located in the femtocell area, at least one of contents generated and input directly by the individual operator, and downloaded content through external means . The method of claim 8, The receiving unit, Available resources to provide the circuit exchange / packet exchange service from the femto base station when receiving a request for a circuit exchange / packet exchange service while receiving the similar MBMS content or providing general MBMS content received from a core network. Receiving a handover indication message including base station information for another base station having a handover, handing over to another base station corresponding to the base station information, and receiving the circuit switched / packet switched service from the other base station. Device. In the method for providing a multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS) in a communication system, Multimedia to be provided within femtocell area Receives the multimedia contents from the content storage unit for storing the contents, and performs similar MBMS contents corresponding to the multimedia contents by performing MBMS emulation for providing the MBMS at the femto base station regardless of whether the MBMS is provided from the core network. Creating process, Providing the similar MBMS contents delivered from the MBMS emulator to at least one user terminal in the femto cell. The method of claim 11, Generating at least one logical channel for providing the similar MBMS contents to the user terminal and channel information related to the at least one logical channel; And providing the channel information to the user terminal. The method of claim 11, The multimedia contents, And stored in the content storage unit mounted inside the femto base station apparatus or directly connected to the femto base station through an external port of the femto base station. The method of claim 11, The multimedia contents, Method for providing MBMS, characterized in that the unidirectional content that is the business-related information located in the femto cell area includes at least one of contents generated and input directly by the individual operator and downloaded contents through external means. . The method of claim 11, Available resources for the user terminal to provide the circuit exchange / packet exchange service when the circuit exchange / packet exchange service is requested while providing the similar MBMS content or while providing general MBMS content received from a core network. And handing over to another base station having a control to receive the circuit switched / packet switched service. The method of claim 15, The control process, Checking whether there is an available resource to allocate a dedicated physical channel for the circuit switched / packet switched service in the femto base station; Determining, when the available resources do not exist, determining another base station in which there are available resources for providing the circuit exchange / packet service; And transmitting a handover indication message including information on the other base station to the user terminal. The method of claim 15, The above circuit exchange / packet exchange service request, And one of downlink paging and uplink call access request. In the method for receiving a Multimedia Multicast Broadcast Service (MBMS) in a communication system, Entering the femto cell area, Receiving similar MBMS content from a femto base station managing the femto cell area; The similar MBMS content is multimedia for providing in the femto cell area MBMS receiving method, characterized in that it is generated through the MBMS emulation that operates to provide the MBMS at the femto base station regardless of whether or not the MBMS from the core network using the multimedia contents delivered from the content storage unit for storing the contents . The method of claim 18, The multimedia contents, Method for receiving MBMS, characterized in that the unidirectional contents which are business-related information located in the femto cell area, include at least one of contents generated and input directly by an individual operator and downloaded contents through external means. . The method of claim 18, Available resources to provide the circuit exchange / packet exchange service from the femto base station upon request of a circuit exchange / packet exchange service while receiving the similar MBMS content or while receiving general MBMS content received from a core network. Receiving a handover indication message including base station information for another base station having a; Handing over to the other base station corresponding to the base station information; And receiving the circuit switched / packet switched service from the other base station.

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