Methods and apparatus for reporting signal quality in overlapping multimedia broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) areas

Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to methods and apparatus for reporting signal quality in overlapping Multimedia Broadcast Single Frequency Networks (MBSFN) areas. A UE may determine a signal quality estimate for each of two or more overlapping MBSFN areas based on Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) information and Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) information for the MBSFN area. The UE may then determine a combined signal quality based on the signal quality estimates of the MBSFN areas.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to communication systems, and more particularly, to methods and apparatus for reporting signal quality in overlapping Multimedia Broadcast Single Frequency Network (MBSFN) areas.

BACKGROUND

SUMMARY

Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide a method for wireless communications by a User Equipment (UE). The method generally includes determining a signal quality estimate for each of two or more overlapping Multimedia Broadcast Single Frequency Network (MBSFN) areas based on Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) information and Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) information for the MBSFN area, and determining a combined signal quality estimate based on the signal quality estimates of the MBSFN areas.

Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide an apparatus for wireless communication. The apparatus generally includes means for determining a signal quality estimate for each of two or more overlapping Multimedia Broadcast Single Frequency Network (MBSFN) areas based on Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) information and Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) information for the MBSFN area, and means for determining a combined signal quality estimate based on the signal quality estimates of the MBSFN areas.

Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide an apparatus for wireless communication. The apparatus generally includes at least one processor and a memory coupled to the at least one processor. The at least one processor is generally configured to determine a signal quality estimate for each of two or more overlapping Multimedia Broadcast Single Frequency Network (MBSFN) areas based on Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) information and Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) information for the MBSFN area, and determine a combined signal quality estimate based on the signal quality estimates of the MBSFN areas.

Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide a computer program product for wireless communication by a user equipment (UE). The computer program product generally includes a computer-readable medium comprising instruction for determining a signal quality estimate for each of two or more overlapping Multimedia Broadcast Single Frequency Network (MBSFN) areas based on Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) information and Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) information for the MBSFN area, and determining a combined signal quality estimate based on the signal quality estimates of the MBSFN areas.

Numerous other aspects are provided including apparatus, systems and computer program products.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1is a diagram illustrating an LTE network architecture100. The LTE network architecture100may be referred to as an Evolved Packet System (EPS)100. The EPS100may include one or more user equipment (UE)102, an Evolved UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN)104, an Evolved Packet Core (EPC)110, a Home Subscriber Server (HSS)120, and an Operator's IP Services122. The EPS can interconnect with other access networks, but for simplicity those entities/interfaces are not shown. Exemplary other access networks may include an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) PDN, Internet PDN, Administrative PDN (e.g., Provisioning PDN), carrier-specific PDN, operator-specific PDN, and/or GPS PDN. As shown, the EPS provides packet-switched services, however, as those skilled in the art will readily appreciate, the various concepts presented throughout this disclosure may be extended to networks providing circuit-switched services.

The E-UTRAN includes the evolved Node B (eNB)106and other eNBs108. The eNB106provides user and control plane protocol terminations toward the UE102. The eNB106may be connected to the other eNBs108via an X2 interface (e.g., backhaul). The eNB106may also be referred to as a base station, a base transceiver station, a radio base station, a radio transceiver, a transceiver function, a basic service set (BSS), an extended service set (ESS), or some other suitable terminology. The eNB106provides an access point to the EPC110for a UE102. Examples of UEs102include a cellular phone, a smart phone, a session initiation protocol (SIP) phone, a laptop, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a satellite radio, a global positioning system, a multimedia device, a video device, a digital audio player (e.g., MP3 player), a camera, a game console, a tablet, a netbook, a smart book, or any other similar functioning device. The UE102may also be referred to by those skilled in the art as a mobile station, a subscriber station, a mobile unit, a subscriber unit, a wireless unit, a remote unit, a mobile device, a wireless device, a wireless communications device, a remote device, a mobile subscriber station, an access terminal, a mobile terminal, a wireless terminal, a remote terminal, a handset, a user agent, a mobile client, a client, or some other suitable terminology.

The eNB106is connected by an S1 interface to the EPC110. The EPC110includes a Mobility Management Entity (MME)112, other MMEs114, a Serving Gateway116, and a Packet Data Network (PDN) Gateway118. The MME112is the control node that processes the signaling between the UE102and the EPC110. Generally, the MME112provides bearer and connection management. All user IP packets are transferred through the Serving Gateway116, which itself is connected to the PDN Gateway118. The PDN Gateway118provides UE IP address allocation as well as other functions. The PDN Gateway118is connected to the Operator's IP Services122. The Operator's IP Services122may include, for example, the Internet, the Intranet, an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), and a PS Streaming Service (PSS). In this manner, the UE102may be coupled to the PDN through the LTE network.

FIG. 2is a diagram illustrating an example of an access network200in an LTE network architecture. In this example, the access network200is divided into a number of cellular regions (cells)202. One or more lower power class eNBs208may have cellular regions210that overlap with one or more of the cells202. A lower power class eNB208may be referred to as a remote radio head (RRH). The lower power class eNB208may be a femto cell (e.g., home eNB (HeNB)), pico cell, or micro cell. The macro eNBs204are each assigned to a respective cell202and are configured to provide an access point to the EPC110for all the UEs206in the cells202. There is no centralized controller in this example of an access network200, but a centralized controller may be used in alternative configurations. The eNBs204are responsible for all radio related functions including radio bearer control, admission control, mobility control, scheduling, security, and connectivity to the serving gateway116.

In LTE, an eNB may send a primary synchronization signal (PSS) and a secondary synchronization signal (SSS) for each cell in the eNB. The primary and secondary synchronization signals may be sent in symbol periods6and5, respectively, in each of subframes0and5of each radio frame with the normal cyclic prefix (CP). The synchronization signals may be used by UEs for cell detection and acquisition. The eNB may send a Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH) in symbol periods0to3in slot1of subframe0. The PBCH may carry certain system information.

The eNB may send a Physical Control Format Indicator Channel (PCFICH) in the first symbol period of each subframe. The PCFICH may convey the number of symbol periods (M) used for control channels, where M may be equal to 1, 2 or 3 and may change from subframe to subframe. M may also be equal to 4 for a small system bandwidth, e.g., with less than 10 resource blocks. The eNB may send a Physical HARQ Indicator Channel (PHICH) and a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) in the first M symbol periods of each subframe. The PHICH may carry information to support hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ). The PDCCH may carry information on resource allocation for UEs and control information for downlink channels. The eNB may send a Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) in the remaining symbol periods of each subframe. The PDSCH may carry data for UEs scheduled for data transmission on the downlink.

A number of resource elements may be available in each symbol period. Each resource element (RE) may cover one subcarrier in one symbol period and may be used to send one modulation symbol, which may be a real or complex value. Resource elements not used for a reference signal in each symbol period may be arranged into resource element groups (REGs). Each REG may include four resource elements in one symbol period. The PCFICH may occupy four REGs, which may be spaced approximately equally across frequency, in symbol period0. The PHICH may occupy three REGs, which may be spread across frequency, in one or more configurable symbol periods. For example, the three REGs for the PHICH may all belong in symbol period0or may be spread in symbol periods0,1, and2. The PDCCH may occupy 9, 18, 36, or 72 REGs, which may be selected from the available REGs, in the first M symbol periods, for example. Only certain combinations of REGs may be allowed for the PDCCH.

FIG. 7illustrates a topology700of a Multimedia Broadcast and Multicast Services (MBMS) service area for providing evolved Multicast Broadcast Multimedia Service (eMBMS), in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure. MBMS service area710is generally an area with eMBMS service and may be divided into one or more MBSFN areas. Each MBSFN area may be associated with one or more MBSFNs. Further, each MBSFN area is an area of eNBs which may synchronously transmit the same eMBMS control information and data. For example, the eNBs752in cells752′ may form a first MBSFN area, the eNBs754in cells754′ may form a second MBSFN area, and the eNBs756in cells756′ may form a third MBSFN area. The eNBs752,754and756may be associated with other (more than one) MBSFN areas, for example, up to a total of eight MBSFN areas. As shown inFIG. 7, cells756′ of the third MBSFN area overlap with cells754′ of the second MBSFN area, and eNB754/756is associated with both the second and third MBSFN areas. Thus, UE760may receive eMBMS content from both the second and third MBSFN areas. A cell within an MBSFN area may be designated a reserved cell. Reserved cells do not provide multicast/broadcast content, but are time-synchronized to the cells752′,754′ and756′ and have restricted power on MBSFN resources in order to limit interference to the MBSFN areas. Each area may support broadcast, multicast, and unicast services. A unicast service is a service intended for a specific user, e.g., a voice call. A multicast service is a service that may be received by a group of users, e.g., a subscription video service. A broadcast service is a service that may be received by all users, e.g., a news broadcast. For example, referring toFIG. 7, the first MBSFN area may support a first eMBMS broadcast service, such as by providing a particular news broadcast to UE770. The second MBSFN area may support a second eMBMS broadcast service, such as by providing a different news broadcast to UE760. Further, an MBSFN area may be used to broadcast venue, regional and/or national contents. The size of an MBSFN area may be as small as one cell in case of an in-venue broadcast. Each MBSFN area supports a plurality of physical multicast channels (PMCH) (e.g., 15 PMCHs). Each PMCH corresponds to a multicast channel (MCH). Each MCH can multiplex a plurality (e.g.,29) of multicast logical channels. Each MBSFN area may have one multicast control channel (MCCH). As such, one MCH may multiplex one MCCH and a plurality of multicast traffic channels (MTCHs) and the remaining MCHs may multiplex a plurality of MTCHs.

FIG. 8is a diagram800illustrating an example of a MBSFN downlink subframe in LTE, in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure. An LTE frame of 10 ms in length may be divided into ten equally sized sub-frames850with indices 0 to 9. Each sub-frame850may include two consecutive time slots, slot0and slot1. A resource grid may be used to represent the two time slots, each time slot including a resource block. The resource grid is divided into multiple resource elements. In LTE, a resource block contains twelve consecutive subcarriers in the frequency domain. Each resource block in an MBSFN subframe contains six consecutive OFDM symbols in the time domain. Each MBSFN subframe is divided into a unicast region (consisting of 1 or 2 OFDM symbols) followed by a multicast region (consisting of the remaining 11 or 10 OFDM symbols). The MBSFN symbols, which comprise the multicast region, always use an extended cyclic prefix. The unicast symbols, which comprise the unicast region, may use either normal or extended cyclic prefix. In case of the unicast symbols using a normal cyclic prefix, there will be a gap between the unicast and multicast regions. Some of the resource elements may include downlink reference signals (DL-RS). The DL-RS may include Cell-Specific RS (CRS)852(also sometimes called as Common RS) and MBSFN RS854. The CRS is typically transmitted only in the unicast portion of the MBSFN subframe, while the MBSFN RS in only transmitted in the multicast portion of the subframe. The number of bits carried by each resource element depends on the modulation scheme used. Thus, higher the modulation scheme, higher is the data rate for the UE.

Example Methods and Apparatus for Reporting Signal Quality in Overlapping Multimedia Broadcast Single Frequency Network (MBSFN) Service Areas

A Multimedia Broadcast and Multicast Service (MBMS) service area is an area providing one or more Enhanced MBMS (eMBMS) services. An MBMS service area may be divided into one or more Multimedia Broadcast Single Frequency Network (MBSFN) areas. Each MBSFN area typically includes one or more eNBs which may be used for synchronized transmission of the same eMBMS content in the MBSFN area. An MBSFN area may be used to broadcast different eMBMS services. In an aspect, the size of an MBSFN area may be as small as one cell.

In certain aspects, a service area may include two or more overlapping MBSFN areas. Thus a UE positioned where MBSFN areas overlap may receive eMBMS services from each MBSFN in the service area. Network operators may require that a UE show a single (e.g., combined) signal strength/quality for all overlapping MBSFN areas as part of the annunciator, as showing individual signal strengths for each MBSFN area may not be possible, e.g., due to display size constraints. Additionally, one or more applications at the UE may need to be provided with the single signal quality of the MBSFN areas in the service area upon request or periodically. In certain aspects, the application layer is not aware of MBSFN areas and only knows a set of services available in a service area. Thus, an application may not know which particular MBSFN area or set of MBSFN areas is delivering a required set of services. Therefore, an application may only request one signal level to serve as an indicator of whether the UE may receive services and at what quality. Thus, there is a need for techniques for determining a single signal quality estimate of all MBSFN areas in a particular MBMS service area.

In certain aspects signals relating to each MBSFN area (e.g., to an MBSFN associated with the MBSFN area) may have different signal strengths, for example, due to different interference levels. Further, each MBSFN area (e.g., at least one MBSFN associated with the MBSFN area) may use different modulation and coding schemes (MCS) than another MBSFN area, with each MCS requiring a different Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) level to ensure traffic transmitted using the MCS is reliably received. For example, a traffic channel being transmitted at a particular MCS may not be reliably received at an SNR that is lower than the SNR required to receive the traffic at this MCS. For example, MCS0may require an SNR of 3 dBs, while MCS21may require an SNR of 14 dBs. Thus, unlike unicast signals, the SNRs relating to each MBSFN signal, by themselves, may not be a good indicator of a signal level and may not be directly translated into signal quality estimates (or signal levels). In an aspect, the higher the received SNR is above the required SNR for receiving a signal at a particular MCS, the higher the determined signal quality level.

In certain aspects, in order to determine a single signal quality estimate for all overlapping MBSFN areas in which the UE is present, a UE may obtain SNR information and MCS information for each MBSFN area and determine a signal quality estimate for the MBSFN area based on the SNR and MCS information. The UE may then determine a combined signal quality estimate based on the quality estimates of the individual MBSFN areas.

In certain aspects, at a UE, a modem may calculate and provide different signal levels for different MBSFN areas to a middleware. The middleware may then combine the individual signal levels and provide a single signal level reading to an application. The application may request a signal level for eMBMS from the middleware, which in turn may request the modem for a signal level.

In certain aspects, an application running at the UE may require an SNR, excess SNR or a signal level to be reported per service. In an aspect, such a report regarding a particular service may be reported to the particular application that activated the service or to all applications at the UE. In certain aspects, the consolidated single signal level provided to an application as noted above may include one or more per service reports corresponding to one or more services activated by the application.

The UE may obtain the MCS information (e.g., including one or more MCSs used for transmitting traffic channels) for each MBSFN area from a Multicast Control Channel (MCCH) corresponding to the MBSFN area, which is transmitted at known periodic intervals.

In an active mode, a UE (e.g., the L1 layer) measures SNR of every MBSFN subframe when receiving eMBMS. Also, the UE reads (e.g., constantly) the control channels (e.g., MCCH) for each MBSFN. Thus, in an active mode, the SNR information and MCS information for each MBSFN area in a service area is readily available to the UE, which it may use to determine individual signal quality levels, and subsequently, a combined signal quality level.

However in the idle mode, when the UE is not receiving eMBMS, it may be prohibitively expensive to determine SNR for each MBSFN subframe. In certain aspects, there may be two alternatives for estimating SNR for each MBSFN area in an idle mode.

In a first alternative, a UE may measure a unicast signal SNR from a serving base station (e.g., associated with one or more MBSFN areas). The unicast signal SNR is typically measured every three seconds. Advantages of using the unicast SNR may include no additional power consumption to measure SNR and that the unicast SNR may be a lower bound on the SNR for the one or more MBSFN areas.

However, there may be limitations to using the unicast SNR. In an aspect, the unicast SNR may be an inaccurate indication of the MBSFN SNR for the one or more MBSFN areas. In general, it is expected that the unicast SNR is a lower bound on the MBSFN SNR for the one or more MBSFN areas. Thus, the UE may translate the SNR into zero bars indicating no signal strength for the one or more MBSFN areas, while service may be available. On the other hand, the unicast SNR may in certain situations be an upper bound on the MBSFN SNR for the one or more MBSFN areas, for example, when two MBSFNs interfere with each other and the unicast interference is low. In such cases, the unicast SNR may translate into a higher than actual MBSFN signal strength for the one or more MBSFN areas. In addition, the UE may read MCCHs to determine MCS information for each of the one or more MBSFN areas in order to translate the measured SNR into a signal level. Alternatively, the UE may use the signaling MCS used for the control channel and/or signaled in the system information to determine an estimate of the signal quality. In certain aspects, the UE may use the signaling MCS used for the traffic channel. However, it may be noted that the MCS used for the traffic channel may be several MCS levels less robust than the MCS used for the MCCH control channel.

In a second alternative, the UE may measure SNR of the MCCHs for all overlapping MBSFN areas in which the UE is present. In an aspect, the SNR for an MCCH may be calculated from MBSFN reference signals of MBSFN subframes (as discussed above with reference toFIG. 8) that carry the MCCH for a particular MBSFN (e.g., associated with an MBSFN area). Advantages of measuring SNR of MCCHs may include higher accuracy and consistent measurement procedure with eMBMS idle or active. However, since the SNRs for the MCCHs are not currently measured in the eMBMS idle mode, there may be additional current consumption to measure SNRs. Further, the L1 layer may employ a new measurement procedure when Temporary Mobile Group Identities (TMGIs, e.g., traffic channel identifiers) are not active.

In a third alternative, the UE may measure SNR of a data channel, for example the Multicast Traffic Channel (MTCH) for an MBSFN (e.g., associated with an MBSFN area), when one or more services in the MBSFN are active.

FIG. 9illustrates time required and current consumed for monitoring one MCCH, in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure.FIG. 9shows two MCCH instances902separated by a time duration of T(c). The MCCH is transmitted with a periodicity of T(c). D1(c)represents a time duration for decoding one MCCH instance902and I1(c)represents the current consumed to decode the decoding instance902. In certain aspects, while in the eMBMS idle mode, a device implementing MBMS services may consume time and current (or energy) resources to wake up for decoding an MCCH instance902and to shut down after decoding the MCCH instance902. For example, a chip implementing an eMBMS standard may consume time and current resources to wake up and shutdown during an idle mode. D0(c)represents the time taken for wake up and shutdown for monitoring each MCCH instance. I0(c)represents the current consumed for wake up and shutdown. Table910shows example values that may be taken by the above parameters.

In certain aspects, the SNR of an MCCH instance902may be measured in conjunction with decoding the MCCH instance902. In an aspect, the current/energy required to measure SNR of one MCCH approximately every five seconds is 1.6 mA.

In certain aspects, MCCHs corresponding to different MBSFNs (e.g., each of which associated with an MBSFN area) may be transmitted with different periodicities. Further all MCCHs corresponding to all MBSFNs are typically transmitted within a window based on 10 frames (e.g., 110 msec), each MCCH being transmitted with its own periodicity. The periodicities for transmission of the MCCHs may include, for example, 160 ms, 320 ms, 640 ms, 1.28 s, 2.56 s and 5.12 s. In an aspect, the largest periodicity of the MCCH periodicities available in a service area (e.g., available for all overlapping MBSFNs in which the UE is present) may be selected (e.g., 5.12 s). Although additional and/or different periodicities may be employed. The UE may wake up with this largest periodicity and all other MCCHs will be broadcasted within 10 to 110 ms (next 100 ms) of the MCCH corresponding to the selected periodicity. This is because the periodicities for all other MCCHs are generally divisors of the chosen MCCH, and MCCH repetitions are anchored to frame number 0 at offsets of 0 to 10 frames. Thus, if the UE wakes up with the periodicity of the largest MCCH periodicity for a window of 110 ms, it may be able to measure all MCCHs for all MBSFNs in the service area. For example, if the highest periodicity of the MCCHs to be measured is 1.28 s, then UE may wake up, for example, every 1.28 s (or at integer multiples of 1.28 s) for 110 ms to measure all MCCHs to be measured.

For an example scenario, when the SNRs for three different MCCHs needs to be measured, the energy/current to decode three MBSFNs may be calculated as:
3*1 ms (for each subframe)*400 mA (I1(c))=1200 mA ms

As discussed above, the worst case wake up duration to cover the three MCCHs may be 110 ms. However, the UE may have to take into consideration the wake-up and shutdown times for every measurement/decoding instance. Thus, a total wake-up time including power-up/power-down may be calculated as:
50 ms (D0(c))+110 ms=160 ms

Thus, the energy/current required to decode the three MCCHs may be given by:
160 ms*150 mA (I0(c))+1200 mA ms=25200 mA ms

In an aspect, the average current consumption for monitoring the MCCHs every 5 seconds is approximately 5 mA. If measurement is only done when an application requesting or requiring the MBSFN signal level is active, a worst case of approximately 5 mA current consumption may be acceptable.

In certain aspects, an application may be configured to request for a measurement (e.g., of the SNR of Multicast Control Channels (MCCHs) for each MBSFN area) only periodically. In an aspect, the periodicity may be a multiple of the longest available MCCH periodicity for all overlapping MBSFN areas in which the UE is present (e.g., 5.12 ms).

In an alternative aspect, if the modem receives a measurement request from an application in between its periodic measurement instances, the modem may wait until the next scheduled measurement instance for measurement and reporting back to the application.

In certain aspects, multiple signal levels may be defined for reporting a single signal quality estimate. For example, signal levels 0-5 may be defined as follows:

Level 0: no coverage, or no MBSFN may be received at minimum acceptable quality.

Level 1: UE may decode at least one service at minimum acceptable quality. If multiple MBSFNs are present, then at least one MBSFN may be received.

Level 2: May decode all Multicast Traffic Channels (MTCHs) in all listed MBSFNs in a current cell.

Levels 3 to 5: Improved coverage (higher quality reception with lesser errors) based on hardest to decode MBSFN signal. Higher the level higher the quality of reception.

In an aspect, a highest MBSFN area signal level may be used as the combined signal level. In another aspect, an average signal level of the available MBSFN area signal levels may be used. In another aspect, signal level of the first listed MBSFN and/or the MBSFN area associated with the MBSFN) may be used as the combined signal level. In an aspect, for levels 2-5, the lowest signal level amongst all MBSFNs may be used as the combined signal level.

In an alternative aspect, pre-determined combined SNR levels may be mapped to each of the five signal quality levels. Although signal levels Level 0-5 are described above, additional and/or different levels may be employed.

In certain aspects, the UE may only report on the combined signal levels of the MBSFN areas based on the MBSFNs carrying the active channels in the associated MBSFN areas. In this case, the reported signal level may change on any change in the list of active channels.

In certain aspects, the single signal quality estimate may be based on an average of the respective estimated signal qualities for the MBSFN areas, a maximum of the estimated signal qualities for the MBSFN areas, or an estimated signal quality of a first MBSFN area in a list.

FIG. 10shows a flow diagram illustrating operations1000performed by a user equipment (UE) for determining a single signal quality estimate for overlapping MBSFN areas, in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure. Operations1000may begin, at1002, by determining a signal quality estimate for each of two or more overlapping MBSFN areas based on SNR information and MCS information for the MBSFN area. At1004, a combined signal quality may be estimated based on the signal quality estimates of the MBSFN areas.

In certain aspects, the UE may measure SNR for a plurality of MBSFN subframes when receiving one or more MBMS services. In certain aspects, the UE may measure the SNR of a unicast signal received from a serving base station when in an MBMS idle mode.

In certain aspects, the UE may measure SNR of MCCHs for each MBSFN when in a MBMS idle mode. In an aspect, the SNR of an MCCH may be measured based on at least one MBSFN reference signal of one or more MBSFN subframes carrying the MCCH for a particular MBSFN area. In an aspect, the UE may configure an application to request the measuring of the SNR of the MCCHs for each MBSFN area with a periodicity that is a multiple of the longest MCCH periodicity. In an aspect, measuring the SNR of the MCCH may include determining a periodicity of an MCCH transmitted with the longest periodicity, determining a wakeup window during which all MCCHs are transmitted based on the determined periodicity, and waking up the UE for measuring the SNR of the MCCHs with the determined periodicity for a duration of the determined wakeup window. In an aspect, the measurement may be performed only when an application requiring the SNR information is active.

In certain aspects, operations the UE may read the MCS information for each MBSFN area from a MCCH for the MBSFN area.

In certain aspects, the UE may translate the combined signal quality estimate into at least one signal quality level, each signal quality level indicating a combined quality of reception for the MBSFN areas. In an aspect, the MBSFN areas may include MBSFN areas that are carrying eMBMS content currently being consumed by the UE. In an aspect, the UE may provide information relating to the at least one signal quality level to an application layer. In an aspect, the UE may report the at least one signal quality level to an application with a periodicity that is a multiple of the longest MCCH periodicity. In an aspect, the UE may configure an application to request the at least one signal quality level with a periodicity that is a multiple of the longest MCCH periodicity.

In certain aspects, the UE may read the MCS information for a MCCH of an MBSFN area from cell SIB13.