MBMS in GSM Evolution Systems – A Research Paper Magesh Annamalai – FAU Feeds – Grad Student Sr.Systems Engineer - Location Technology Group T - Mobile USA Bellevue, WA Ph: (425)

Contents Introduction MBMS Service Requirements MBMS Functional architecture in GSM/GPRS System System Aspects MBMS Call Processing End to End Signaling Procedures Radio Resource management issues to support MBMS Future Study - QoS issues in MBMS & PHY layer aspects Conclusion

Goal of the Research Paper System Requirements evaluation to support MBMS in GSM Architecture study Technical Feasibility –Signaling aspects –Call Processing –RR aspects –MM aspects Standardization aspects End Goal: Product/Technology & Solutions Evaluation.

MBMS System Architecture - Key Goals Minimum network resource utilization in both access network and core network. Continuous delivery of multimedia information taking into consideration of the mobility aspects. Scalable and reliable service platforms Efficient design of the Um interface (air interface) Access Network independent platforms

MBMS – Service/Platform Architecture

Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service (MBMS) Broadcast and Multicast are methods for transmitting data grams from a single source to several destinations (point-to-multipoint). Service defition: A unidirectional point-to-multipoint service in which data is transmitted from a single source entity to a group of users in a specific area. Benefits: –Multiple users can receive the same data at the same time. –Better radio resource utilization for the wireless operator. –High bandwidth applications support. MBMS supports 2 modes –Broadcast mode –Multicast mode.

MBMS modes Broadcast Mode –unidirectional point-to- multipoint transmission of multimedia data (e.g. text, audio, picture, video) –The broadcast mode is intended to efficiently use radio/network resources e.g. data is transmitted over a common radio channel. –Data is transmitted in the broadcast service area as defined by the network (Home environment). Multicast Mode –The multicast mode allows the unidirectional point-to- multipoint transmission of multimedia data (e.g. text, audio, picture, video) from a single source point to a multicast group in a multicast service area. –Network to selectively transmit to cells within the multicast service area which contain members of a multicast group.

MBMS – Broadcast Architecture

MBMS Architecture - Multicast

MBMS – Service Requirements Home environment requirements Wireless Network requirements Service/Application requirements User requirements RAN requirements - The procedure for MBMS MS multicast activation (Joining) shall be transparent to the GERAN. - The MBMS Notification procedure shall be performed within the MBMS service area. - MBMS shall allow for efficient MS power consumption. - MBMS data transfer shall be downlink only.

Signaling Procedures Processing Stages –Session initiation –MBMS notification –MBMS resource allocation –MBMS data flow –MBMS session termination

Call Processing

MBMS – RR Management principles BSS decides whether: - There are sufficient resources on the cell to allocate an point-to-multipoint channel; or - It is efficient to allocate a point-to-multipoint channel depending on if there is a legacy TRX controlling the cell i.e. no CFCH support; and - There is to be another transmission of the MBMS session. BSC sends an MBMS ASSIGNMENT message to all the mobiles listening to the (P)AGCH that are waiting for the MBMS assignment. RR Management is very critical aspect for the MBMS system realization. The standardization is not completed yet!.

MBMS – MM Protocol aspects Routing Area Update Cell Change

MBMS – User Plane Protocol Stack Mobile BS PDCP PHY MAC Controller (BSC) MAC RLC PDCP RLC

MBMS – Control Plane Stack

Functional Areas for future consideration QoS aspects Security Traffic aspects Phy layer impacts Application domain MBMS Platforms support

References 3GPP Specifications IEEE communications

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