Abstract:
The present invention discloses a method for transmitting the configuration mode of MBMS carrier frequency time slots, and a method for receiving the configuration mode of MBMS carrier frequency time slots. The present invention also discloses a RNC and a terminal. The present invention enables the terminal to ascertain the configuration mode of MBMS carrier frequency time slots, and performs appropriate combining operation on the basis of the capability of the terminal itself, hence reduces the workload on the terminal.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to and benefit of Chinese Application Serial No. 200710118425.2, filed on Jul. 5, 2007. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service (MBMS). In particular, the present invention relates to a radio network controller (RNC), a terminal and a method for transmitting and receiving the configuration mode of service carrier frequency time slots. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    In MBMS services, a terminal residing in a cell, especially in the boundary area of a cell, may simultaneously receive identical MBMS signals from multiple cells. In order to achieve the purposes of increasing receive gain and improving signal receiving effect, with the identical MBMS signals, there are two configuration modes for the time slots of the carrier frequency that carries the MBMS service. One mode is the MBMS single frequency network (MBSFN) mode, also known as the SFN mode, that is, for a same MBMS service all the neighboring base stations use a same scrambling code and synchronously transmit identical radio signals. As shown in  FIG. 9 , the signals on the same channel  6  are simultaneously transmitted to a terminal through path  61  and path  62 , respectively. Accordingly, the terminal treats the signals from different base stations as multi-path signals, and performs over-the-air signal combining on the multi-path signals to achieve the purposes of increasing receive gain and improving signal receiving effect. The other mode is the chip combining mode, that is, for a same MBMS service, each base station uses its own scrambling code to scramble the signals, and the base stations synchronously transmit different radio signals of the same content data. Accordingly, the terminal uses the chip combining mode, i.e. the multi-cell joint detection method, to perform chip-level combining on the different received radio signals of the same content data, so as to achieve the purpose of improving signal receiving effect. 
         [0004]    According to the combining mode of the base station configuration described above, the configuration mode of MBMS carrier frequency time slots utilized by a base station determines which scramble mode is used in MBMS services by the base station, and which mode is used by the terminal to perform combining. Hence, the terminal needs to choose corresponding combining mode on the basis of the configuration mode of the MBMS carrier frequency time slots of its cell. 
         [0005]    The conventional method for enabling the terminal to be aware of the configuration mode of the MBMS carrier frequency time slots of the base station is detailed as follows: a radio network controller (RNC), by setting the value of the information unit “MBSFN only service” in the system information broadcast 3 (SIB3), enables the terminal to obtain the MBMS of the base station; when the value of “MBSFN only service” is 1, it shows that the cell carries an MBMS service and all of the time slots within the cell use the SFN configuration mode. The user equipment (UE) reads the information unit in SIB3, and then knows that all of the time slots within the cell are configured with the SFN mode. Thus the terminal does not need to further perform operations such as same/different-frequency measurement, neighboring cell information reading, etc. 
         [0006]    The shortcomings of the conventional method include: when part or all of time slots are configured as the chip mode, the terminal can not obtain the configuration mode of MBMS service carrier frequency time slots of the base station; for terminals that are not capable of performing chip combining, useless operations such as reading the chip-combining-related information from neighboring cells are still carried out, thus increase the load on the terminal. Therefore, there is a need for a method and system to overcome these shortcomings. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    One aspect of the embodiments of the present invention is to provide a method for transmitting a configuration mode of Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service (MBMS) carrier frequency time slots and a radio network controller (RNC), thus enable a terminal to obtain the knowledge of whether or not chip combining mode is configured on the MBMS carrier frequency time slots. 
         [0008]    Another aspect of the embodiments of the present invention is to provide a method and a terminal for receiving the configuration mode of MBMS carrier frequency time slots, thus enable the terminal to perform combining on MBMS data signals on the basis of the configuration mode information of MBMS carrier frequency time slots as well as the capability of the terminal. 
         [0009]    One embodiment of the present invention provides a method for transmitting the configuration mode of MBMS carrier frequency time slots, comprising steps of: obtaining the configuration mode of each time slot on a carrier frequency that carries an MBMS service; setting the information on whether or not there are time slots configured as chip combining mode into a message that will be transmitted to a terminal; and transmitting the message to the terminal. 
         [0010]    An alternative embodiment of the present invention provides a radio network controller, comprising: a carrier frequency obtaining module, a configuration obtaining module, an information setting module, and a transmitting module, wherein, the carrier frequency obtaining module is used for obtaining a carrier frequency that carries an MBMS service; the configuration obtaining module is used for obtaining the configuration mode of each time slot on the carrier frequency; the information setting module is used for setting the information on whether or not there are time slots configured as chip combining mode into a message that will be transmitted to a terminal, based on the configuration mode obtained by the configuration obtaining module; and the transmitting module is used for transmitting the message. 
         [0011]    Another embodiment of the present invention provides a method for receiving the configuration mode of MBMS carrier frequency time slots, comprising steps of: a terminal receiving a message that contains information on whether or not there are time slots configured as chip combining mode; determining whether or not there are time slots configured as chip combining mode according to the received message; and when it is determined that there are time slots configured as chip combining mode, determining whether or not the terminal itself is capable of performing chip combining, and generating corresponding commands based on the determined result of whether the terminal is capable of performing chip combining. 
         [0012]    Yet another embodiment of the present invention provides a terminal, which comprising: a receiving module, a configuration determining module, and a capability determining module, wherein, the receiving module is used to receive a message that contains information on whether or not there are time slots configured as chip combining mode; the configuration determining module is used to determine whether or not there are time slots configured as chip combining mode according to the message; the capability determining module is used to determine, based on the determined result of the configuration determining module, whether or not the terminal is capable of performing chip combining, and generate corresponding commands according to the determined result of whether the terminal is capable of performing chip combining. 
         [0013]    Through the above technical solution, the embodiments of the present invention implement the transmission of the information on whether or not the MBMS carrier frequency time slots are configured as chip combining mode to the terminal, thus enable the terminal to obtain the information on the configuration mode of MBMS carrier frequency time slots, and perform the corresponding combining method according to the obtained information and the capability of the terminal. The embodiments of the present invention also avoid unnecessary operations by the terminal, reduce the workload on the terminal, provide space for the terminal to perform other operations, and improve the capability of the terminal. 
         [0014]    The technical solution of the present invention is further described in detail through drawings and embodiments below. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a flowchart of one embodiment of a method for transmitting the configuration mode of MBMS carrier frequency time slots according to the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart of one embodiment of a method for receiving the configuration mode of MBMS carrier frequency time slots according to the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart of an alternative embodiment of a method for transmitting the configuration mode of MBMS carrier frequency time slots according to the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart of an alternative embodiment of a method for receiving the configuration mode of MBMS carrier frequency time slots according to the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart of another embodiment of a method for transmitting the configuration mode of MBMS carrier frequency time slots according to the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart of another embodiment of a method for receiving the configuration mode of MBMS carrier frequency time slots according to the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a schematic illustration of the structure of a radio network controller according to embodiments in the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is a schematic illustration of the structure of the terminal according to embodiments in the present invention; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is a schematic illustration of the MBMS enhancement technology according to the prior art. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0024]    A radio network controller (RNC) provides the carrier frequency carrying the MBMS service and the combining mode configured for each time slot on the carrier frequency, within a system information broadcast (SIB) transmitted by the cell or a high-level signal of a MBMS control channel (MCCH). 
         [0025]      FIG. 1  is a flowchart of an embodiment of a method for transmitting the configuration mode of MBMS carrier frequency time slots according to the present invention, the method comprising: 
         [0026]    Step  11 , a RNC obtains a carrier frequency carrying MBMS services, then determines the configuration mode of each time slot on the carrier frequency, and finds that part of the time slots are configured as SFN mode and part of the time slots are configured as chip combining mode; 
         [0027]    Step  12 , the RCN sets the value of the information unit “MBSFN only service” in SIB3 to “0”, to show that the carrier frequency is carrying MBMS services, and multiple time slots of the carrier frequency are used for the chip combining mode, while other time slots used for the SFN mode; 
         [0028]    Step  13 , by transmitting SIB3 over the entire cell, the RNC transmits information specifying that there are time slots configured as the chip mode to a terminal. 
         [0029]    Through this embodiment, a terminal is able to ascertain whether or not there are time slots configured as the chip combining mode, according to the value of the information unit “MBSFN only service” in SIB3. The terminal can then perform the operation of reading neighboring cell information or directly terminating, further based on the capability of the terminal, thus the terminal will be able to avoid unnecessary operations, reduce its workload, and increase its processing capability. 
         [0030]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart of an embodiment of a method for receiving the configuration mode of MBMS carrier frequency time slots according to the present invention, the method comprising: 
         [0031]    Step  11 ′, a terminal of a cell receives SIB3, and reads the value of “MBSFN only service” in the SIB3; 
         [0032]    Step  12 ′, the terminal determines whether or not the value of “MBSFN only service” in the SIB3 is “0”, if yes, executing the step  13 ′; otherwise, terminating the operation to avoid unnecessary operations by the terminal; 
         [0033]    Step  13 ′, the terminal determines whether or not the terminal itself has the capability for chip combining, if yes, executing the step  14 ′; otherwise, terminating the operation to avoid unnecessary operations by the terminal, thus increase the capability of the terminal in processing information; 
         [0034]    Step  14 ′, the terminal reads neighboring cell information. 
         [0035]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart of an alternative embodiment of a method for transmitting the configuration mode of MBMS carrier frequency time slots according to the present invention, the method comprising: 
         [0036]    Step  21 , a RNC obtains a carrier frequency that carries MBMS services, then determines the configuration mode of each time slot on the carrier frequency, and finds that part of the time slots are configured as SFN mode and part of the time slots are configured as chip mode; 
         [0037]    Step  22 , the RNC adds a new information unit “MBMS only service” into SIB3, and set the value of “MBMS only service” to “1”, to show that the carrier frequency is carrying MBMS service, and multiple time slots of the carrier frequency are used for the chip mode, while other time slots can be used for the SFN mode; 
         [0038]    Step  23 , by transmitting SIB3 over the entire cell, the RNC transmits information specifying that there are time slots configured as the chip mode to the terminal. 
         [0039]    Through this embodiment, a terminal is able to ascertain whether or not there are time slots configured as the chip mode, according to the value of the information unit “MBMS only service” in SIB3. The terminal can then perform the operation of reading neighboring cell information or directly terminating, further based on the capability of the terminal, thus the terminal will be able to avoid unnecessary operations, reduce its workload, and increase its processing capability. 
         [0040]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart of an alternative embodiment of a method for receiving the configuration mode of MBMS carrier frequency time slots according to the present invention, the method comprising: 
         [0041]    Step  21 ′, a terminal of a cell receives SIB3, and reads the value of “MBMS only service” in SIB3; 
         [0042]    Step  22 ′, the terminal determines whether or not the value of “MBMS only service” in SIB3 is “1”, if yes, executing the step  23 ′; otherwise, terminating the operation; 
         [0043]    Step  23 ′, the terminal determines whether or not the terminal itself has the capability for chip combining, if yes, executing the step  24 ′; otherwise, terminating the operation to avoid unnecessary operations by the terminal, thus increase the capability of the terminal in processing information; 
         [0044]    Step  24 ′, the terminal reads neighboring cell information. 
         [0045]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart of another embodiment of a method for transmitting the configuration mode of MBMS carrier frequency time slots according to the present invention, the method comprising: 
         [0046]    Step  31 , a RNC obtains a carrier frequency carrying MBMS services, then determines the configuration mode of each time slot on the carrier frequency, and finds that part of the time slots are configured as SEN mode and part of the time slots are configured as chip combining mode; 
         [0047]    Step  32 , the RNC adds a new information unit “MBMS only service” into the “MBMS General Information” message of a MCCH high-level signal, and setting the value of “MBMS only service” to “1”, to show that the carrier frequency is carrying MBMS services, and multiple time slots of the carrier frequency are used for the chip combining mode, while other time slots can be used for the SFN mode; 
         [0048]    Step  33 , the RNC transmits the “MBMS General Information” message to the cell using a point-to-multipoint (PTM) mode, to notify a terminal that there are time slots configured as the chip mode. 
         [0049]    Through this embodiment, a terminal is able to ascertain whether or not there are time slots configured as the chip mode, according to the value of the information unit “MBMS only service” in the “MBMS General Information” message. The terminal can then perform the operation of reading neighboring cell information or directly terminating, further based on the capability of the terminal, thus the terminal will be able to avoid unnecessary operations, reduce its workload, and increase its processing capability. 
         [0050]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart of another embodiment of a method for receiving the configuration mode of MBMS carrier frequency time slots according to the present invention, the method comprising: 
         [0051]    Step  31 ′, a terminal of the cell receives the “MGMS General Information” message, and reads the value of “MBMS only service” in the “MGMS General Information” message; 
         [0052]    Step  32 ′, the terminal determines whether or not the value of “MBMS only service” in the “MBMS General Information” is “1”, if yes, executing the step  33 ′; otherwise, terminating the operation; 
         [0053]    Step  33 ′, the terminal determines whether or not the terminal itself has the capability for chip combining, if yes, executing the step  34 ′; otherwise, terminating the operation to avoid unnecessary operations by the terminal, thus increase the capability of the terminal in processing information; 
         [0054]    Step  34 ′, the terminal reads neighboring cell information. 
         [0055]      FIG. 7  is a schematic illustration of the structure of a radio network controller  4  according to embodiments in the present invention. The radio network controller  4  comprising: a carrier frequency obtaining module  41 , a configuration obtaining module  42 , an information setting module  43 , and a transmitting module  44 . The carrier frequency obtaining module  41  is used for obtaining carrier frequency that carries MBMS service; the configuration obtaining module  42  is used for obtaining the configuration mode of each time slot of the carrier frequency; the information setting module  43  is used for setting the information on whether there are time slots configured as chip combining mode into a message that will be transmitted to a terminal, based on the configuration mode obtained by the configuration obtaining module  42 , e.g. setting the value of “MBSFN only service” in SIB3 to “0”, or setting the value of the “MBMS only service” in SIB3 to “1”, or setting the value of “MBMS only service” in the “MBMS General Information” message to “1”; and the transmitting module  44  transmits the message containing information on whether there are time slots configured as the chip mode, e.g. SIB3 with the value of “MBSFN only service” setting to “0”, or SIB3 with the value of “MBMS only service” setting to “1”, or an “MBMS General Information” message with the value of “MBMS only service” setting to “1”. 
         [0056]    The information setting module presented in the embodiment of the radio net work controller (RNC) may comprise: a configuration determining module and a selecting module; the configuration determining module is used for determining whether or not the configuration mode obtained by the configuration obtaining module includes the chip combining mode; and the selecting mode is used for selecting the value of the information unit in the message based on the determined result from the configuration determining module. For example, when there are time slots configured as chip mode, “0” is selected as the value of“MBSFN only service” in SIB3, or “1” is selected as the value of “MBMS only service” in SIB3, or “1” is selected as the value of “MBMS only service” in the “MBMS General Information” message. 
         [0057]      FIG. 8  is a schematic illustration of the structure of a terminal  5  according to embodiments in the present invention. The terminal  5  consists of a receiving module  51 , a configuration determining module  52  and a capability determining module  53 . The receiving module  51  is used for receiving a message that contains the information on whether there are time slots configured as chip combining mode, e.g. SIB3 or the “MBMS General Information” message; the configuration determining module  52  is used for determining whether or not there are time slots configured as chip combining mode according to the value of the information unit in SIB3 or the “MBMS General Information” message; and the capability determining module  53  is used for determining whether or not the terminal  5  is capable of chip combining according to the determined result of the configuration determining module  52 , as well as generating corresponding commands based on the determined result of whether the terminal  5  is capable of chip combining. The commands are executed by the terminal  5 . For example, when the terminal  5  is capable of chip combining, the capability determining module  53  generates a combining command, and the terminal  5  executes the operation of reading neighboring cell information to perform chip combining; when the terminal  5  is incapable of chip combining, the capability determining module  53  generates a terminating command, and the terminal  5  terminates the operation. Hence, the terminal will only perform the reading of neighboring cell information on the precondition that the terminal is capable of chip combining, in order to avoid performing the useless operation of reading information when the terminal is incapable of chip combining, thus greatly reducing the load on the terminal, and improving the processing capability of the terminal. 
         [0058]    It should be stated that the above embodiments are only used to describe the technical solutions of the present invention, and they are not used to impose any restriction or limit to the present invention. Despite the present invention having been elaborately described in reference to the above embodiments, it should be understood by a person skilled in the art: it is still possible to modify the technical solutions described in the above embodiments, or replace part of the technical features with equivalent ones, while these modifications and replacements do not detach the essence of corresponding technical solutions from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions described in each embodiment of the present invention.