Panasonic Corporation

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Jose Luis Rey

Rolf Hakenberg

Ralf Becker

Ivica Rimac

Carsten Burmeister

Osvaldo Gonsa

Daiji Ido

Michael Zink

Genadi Velev

Dragan Petrovic

Rico Tunk

The invention relates to group communication services, i.e. communication services involving two or more users (or service participants). The invention provides a method for distributing multicast data of a multicast service to different domains and a method for distributing multicast data to service participants in a domain. Further, the invention relates to a control node and system implementing the respective methods. To improve resource utilization when providing a multicast service, including inter alia PoC services, to service participants the invention provides mechanisms to avoid unnecessary multiplication of multicast data in the distribution tree for multicast services with service participants of different domains. For this purpose the controlling node that is initiating the multicast service upon request determined to which domains the multicast data is to be provided and only forwards the multicast data on a per-domain basis. Another aspect of the invention is the avoidance of unnecessary duplications of multicast data within individual domains.

Inter-domain group-communications

The invention relates to a method for controlling feedback of mobile terminals receiving via an air interface of a mobile communication system a multicast or broadcast service transmitted or forwarded by a feedback control entity and to a mobile terminal, the feedback control entity using this method. Further, a system comprising a feedback control entity and a mobile terminal receiving a multicast or broadcast service is provided. To enable configurable and adaptive feedback for multicast or broadcast services provided via an air interface maintaining the end-to-end session concept the invention suggests selecting a subset of the mobile terminals of the mobile communication system and which receive the multicast or broadcast service for providing feedback to a feedback control entity. In one embodiment of the invention the terminals may decide whether to provide feedback based on a probabilistic experiment performed based on parameters determined and provided by the feedback control entity.

Feedback control for multicast or broadcast services

The invention relates to a method for efficiently providing a bidirectional multicast service (e.g. IMS) to a user equipment (), located in a radio cell, controlled by a control entity (). For the downlink data of the bidirectional service a downlink multicast service (e.g. MBMS) is utilized. In case the control entity (e.g. RNC) decides for a point-to-point radio link to the UE, the bidirectional service is notified and system resources, established for the bidirectional service are utilized for providing the bidirectional service downlink data. This includes radio resources in the radio access network and may include connections in the core network. Optionally, the downlink multicast service may be de-activated for the specific mobile terminal, but the system resources already established may be maintained. The invention further relates to a network entity in the CN or in the RAN for configuring system resources and for forwarding the multicast service data to the UE.

Efficient provision of a multicast service by switching between multicast services in a mobile communication system

The invention relates to a method for efficiently setting up a bidirectional multicast service in a mobile communication system. The bidirectional service is provided to a user equipment located in a radio cell controlled by a control entity. For the downlink data of the bidirectional service a downlink multicast service framework is utilized. In case the control entity decides for a point-to-point radio link to the UE, the system resources of the downlink framework are configured so as to re-use the configured system resources of the bidirectional service. This includes radio resources in the radio access network and may include tunnels in the core network. The invention further relates to a network entity in the CN or in the RAN for configuring system resources and for forwarding the multicast service data to the UE. The invention also relates to a mobile terminal for receiving the bidirectional multicast service.

Efficient multicast service data provision in a mobile communication system

The present invention relates to a method for filtering a multiplexed packet stream in a network entity of the core network or the radio access network of a mobile communication system. The multiplexed packet stream provides a multicast or broadcast service and is delivered from a service center via the network entity to a mobile terminal. Further, the network entity comprises a service manager providing a quality-of-service management function. The invention further relates to a network entity provided with filtering capabilities, as well as to a communication system comprising the network entity. To provide an adaptive multimedia broadcast/multicast service QoS architecture that is scalable to a great number of users the invention suggests providing the service in form of a multiplexed packet stream via a single bearer service an equipping nodes within the distribution tree of the service filter capability allowing to filter the multiplexed stream based on the downlink quality-of-service constraints obtained from a service manager.

Adaptive and scalable QoS architecture for single-bearer multicast/broadcast services

The invention relates to a method for filtering and a network entity of the core network or the radio access network of a mobile communication system filtering streams belonging to a single user service. The packet streams, each being transported by a bearer service, provide a multicast or broadcast service and is delivered from a service center via the network entity to a mobile terminal. The network entity comprises a service manager providing a quality-of-service management function. The invention further relates to a communication system comprising the network entity. To provide an adaptive multimedia broadcast/multicast service QoS architecture that is scalable to a great number of users, the invention suggests providing the service in form of a packet streams, each being provided via a single bearer service, and equipping nodes within the distribution tree of the service filter capability allowing to (de)register bearer services providing the service based on the downlink quality-of-service constraints obtained from a service manager.

Adaptive and scalable QoS architecture for multi-bearer multicast/broadcast services

The present invention relates to a method and terminal for reporting media format adaptation resources to convert a media format of a media stream of a media session to be established between terminals through a packet switched communications network towards a requesting terminal. The invention further relates to a method and NSIS router for reporting media format adaptation resources for converting a media format of a media stream of a media session to be established between terminals. To allow terminals to establish a media session utilizing media adaptation, the invention provides a NSIS (Next Step In Signaling) based signaling framework facilitating the detection and reservation of media adaptation resources on (and off) a media data path on which media data are transported utilizing a media transport protocol among terminals participating in the session.

Establishment of media sessions with media adaptation

A data reception apparatus has a data reception section that receives data sent from a server through a communication link. A storage section stores the received data, and a play back section plays back the stored data. A requesting section requests the server to send data, corresponding to a certain period, at a rate equal to or more than a normal rate and lower than a rate set up by the communication link.

Data reception apparatus and data distribution system

A method of reporting quality metrics for packet switched streaming in a wireless network between a server and a client, comprising the step of transporting content data to the server to the client using a real time streaming protocol, the step of reporting at least one quality metric relating to the delivered data stream from the client to the server using both an unreliable transport mechanism, such as UDP, and at least one reliable transport mechanism, such as TCP.

Method of reporting quality metrics for packet switched streaming

The invention relates to a method for controlling the transmission of feedback of mobile terminals receiving via an air interface of a mobile communication system a multicast or broadcast service transmitted or forwarded by a feedback control entity and to a mobile terminal, the feedback control entity using this method. Further, a communication system comprising a feedback control entity and a mobile terminal receiving a multicast or broadcast service is provided. To enable configurable and adaptive feedback for multicast or broadcast services provided via an air interface maintaining the end-to-end session concept the invention suggests selecting a subset of the mobile terminals of the mobile communication system and which receive the multicast or broadcast service for providing feedback to a feedback control entity. In one embodiment of the invention the terminals may decide whether to provide feedback based on a probabilistic experiment performed based on parameters determined and provided by the feedback control entity.

A method of exchanging signalling information for optimising a rate control scheme in a mobile network, wherein data packets are transmitted over the network from a sender to a receiver employing the rate control scheme with a sending rate which can be adapted using feedback information from the receiver, comprising the step of exchanging PDP context information between the receiver and the network, signalling PDP context information to the sender; and adapting the sending rate using the signal PDP context information. The invention further relates to a corresponding communication system as well as to a sender and a receiver for use therein.

Method and communication system for signaling information for optimizing rate control schemes in wireless networks

The radio control sectionnotifies a transmission rate that can be currently set up out of the radio channel transmission rates to the transmission rate decision section. The buffer monitoring sectionmonitors an amount of media data stored in the media reception bufferand when the amount of media data stored exceeds a threshold, the buffer monitoring sectionnotifies it to the transmission rate decision section. When information on the radio channel transmission rate from the radio control sectionshows that the radio channel transmission rate is well within the capacity and when monitoring information from the buffer monitoring sectionshows that the amount of data stored in the media reception bufferdoes not exceed a threshold, the transmission rate decision sectionoutputs a request for increasing the transmission rate of the media data to the control signal transmission/reception section. Thus, even if the maximum rate of the radio channel transmission rate that can be set up decreases due to deterioration of a communication environment, it is possible to prevent data play back from being interrupted.

Data reception device and data distribution system

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for distinguishing between congestion and corruption losses during the transmission of data packets. The packet lost distinction is based on the evaluation of an error detection/correction code of each data packet and by detecting sequence numbers.

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Darmstadt, Germany

Jose Luis Rey