Data volume reporting for multimedia broadcast/multimedia service groups
View Patent ↗Multicast/broadcast messaging service (MBMS) arrangement, in which a broadcast/multicast service center delivers multimedia messages to a plurality of users via a gateway GPRS support node (GGSN) and via a serving GPRS support node (SGSN) and a radio access network (RAN), in association with a given temporary mobile group identity (TMGI) and using a single radio access bearer (RAB). Responsive to a given event, the SGSN sends to the RAN a data volume report query identifying said RAB by the TMGI or another unique parameter. The RAN responds with a data volume report that indicates the amount of unsent MBMS data. If so agreed, the SGSN will pass said amount to a charging gateway for compensation in charging for the MBMS service.
1. A method comprising:
setting up a multimedia broadcast/multicast service group including defining a parameter associated with the service group;
sending from a support node to a radio access network data related to the service group and a data volume query including the parameter associated with the service group, in which the data volume query is sent before all of the data related to the service group is sent, wherein the sending of the data volume query is triggered by detecting that links contained in transmissions corresponding to a user equipment in the service group have been followed by the user equipment to an extent less than a predetermined value; and
receiving by the support node a data volume report related to the multimedia broadcast/multicast service group responsive to the data volume query.
2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the parameter is selected from a group consisting of: a temporary mobile group identity; an IP address related to the multimedia broadcast/multicast service group; and a derivative from an IP address related to the multimedia broadcast/multicast service group.
3. A method according claim 1 , wherein the data volume report is configured to report one of: the amount of data the use of which has failed in the radio access network; the amount of data the reception of which has failed in the radio access network; the amount of data the use of which has succeeded in the radio access network; and the amount of data the reception of which has succeeded in the radio access network.
4. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the radio access network is a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System terrestrial radio access network.
5. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the data volume query is sent to a radio network controller.
6. An apparatus, comprising:
at least one processor;
at least one memory medium storing computer executable instructions;
in which the at least one memory and the computer executable instructions is configured with the at least one processor to cause the apparatus at least to:
set up a multimedia broadcast/multicast service group including defining a parameter associated with the service group;
send to a radio access network data related to the service group and a data volume query including the parameter associated with the service group, in which the data volume query is sent before all of the data related to the service group is sent, wherein the data volume query is sent in response to being triggered by detecting that links contained in transmissions corresponding to a user equipment in the service group have been followed by the user equipment to an extent less than a predetermined value; and
receive a data volume report related to the multimedia broadcast/multicast service group responsive to the data volume query.
7. An apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the parameter is selected from a group consisting of: a temporary mobile group identity; an IP address related to the multimedia broadcast/multicast service group; and a derivative from an IP address related to the multimedia broadcast/multicast service group.
8. An apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the data volume report comprises information about at least one of: the amount of data the use of which has failed in the radio access network; the amount of data the reception of which has failed in the radio access network; the amount of data the use of which has succeeded in the radio access network; and the amount of data the reception of which has succeeded in the radio access network.
9. An apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the radio access network is a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System terrestrial radio access network.
10. An apparatus according to any claim 6 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer executable instructions is configured with the at least one processor to cause the apparatus to send the data volume query to a radio network controller.
11. A non-transitory memory comprising a computer program configured to control a support node, comprising:
computer executable program code for enabling the support node to set up a multimedia broadcast/multicast service group including defining a parameter associated with the service group;
computer executable program code for enabling the support node to send to a radio access network data related to the service group and a data volume query including the parameter associated with the service group, in which the data volume query is sent before all of the data related to the service group is sent, wherein the data volume query is sent in response to being triggered by detecting that links contained in transmissions corresponding to a user equipment in the service group have been followed by the user equipment to an extent less than a predetermined value; and
computer executable program code for enabling the support node to receive by the support node a data volume report related to the multimedia broadcast/multicast service group responsive to the data volume query.
12. A support node, comprising:
means for setting up a multimedia broadcast/multicast service group including defining a parameter associated with the service group;
means for sending to a radio access network data related to the service group and a data volume query including the parameter associated with the service group, in which the data volume query is sent before all of the data related to the service group is sent, wherein the means for sending of the data volume query is triggered by detecting that links contained in transmissions corresponding to a user equipment in the service group have been followed by the user equipment to an extent less than a predetermined value; and
means for receiving a data volume report related to the multimedia broadcast/multicast service group responsive to the data volume query.
13. The support node of claim 12 , in which:
the means for setting up the multimedia broadcast/multicast service group comprises at least one processor;
the means for sending comprises a communications block; and
the means for receiving comprises the communications block.