Method and base station for synchronizing signaling message

1. A method for synchronizing a signaling message transmitted over multi-cell MCCH (MBMS Control Channel), comprising:

receiving, from a gateway, the signaling message carried with activation time information at a base station via a MCE (MBMS Control Entity), or receiving, directly from a MCE, the signaling message carried with activation time information directly to a base station; and

making, by the base station, the signaling message take effect in the base station synchronously at a time indicated by the activation time information contained in the signaling message;

wherein receiving from the gateway the signaling message at the base station via the MCE comprises:

receiving, from the gateway, the signaling message at the MCE via a M3 interface; and

receiving, from the MCE, the signaling message at the base station via a M2 interface.

2. The method as defined in the claim 1 , wherein the signaling message includes: a session start/stop message, a MCCH configuration/reconfiguration message, a radio resource allocation/reallocation message, a radio bearer configuration/reconfiguration message and a counting message.

3. The method as defined in the claim 1 , wherein the MCE is located outside of the base station.

4. The method as defined in the claim 1 , wherein the MCE is located within the base station.

5. The method as defined in the claim 1 , further comprising:

transmitting, by the base station, a corresponding air interface message to a mobile station in a next modification period after the time indicated by the activation time information contained in the signaling message.

6. The method as defined in the claim 1 , further comprising:

transmitting, by the base station, a corresponding air interface message to a mobile station at the time indicated by the activation time information contained in the signaling message.

7. A base station for synchronizing a signaling message transmitted over multi-cell MCCH (MBMS Control Channel), comprising:

a receiver configured to receive the signaling message carried with activation time information from a gateway via a MCE (MBMS Control Entity) or directly from a MCE;

a processor configured to make the signaling message take effect in the base station synchronously at a time indicated by the activation time information contained in the signaling message,

wherein the signaling message includes: a session start/stop message, a MCCH configuration/reconfiguration message, a radio resource allocation/reallocation message, a radio bearer configuration/reconfiguration message and a counting message.

8. The base station as defined in the claim 7 , wherein the receiver receives the signaling message from the MCE via a M2 interface.

9. The base station as defined in the claim 7 , wherein the MCE is located outside of the base station or within the base station.

10. The base station as defined in the claim 7 , further comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit a corresponding air interface message to a mobile station in a next modification period after the time indicated by the activation time information contained in the signaling message.

11. The base station as defined in the claim 7 , further comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit a corresponding air interface message to a mobile station at the time indicated by the activation time information contained in the signaling message.

12. An MBMS control entity (MCE) comprising:

wherein the MCE is configured to receive activation time information via a M3 interface; and

a transmitter configured to transmit a message comprising the activation time information towards a base station via a M2 interface.

13. A gateway comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit a message comprising activation time information towards an MBMS control entity (MCE) via a M3 interface.

14. An MBMS control entity (MCE) comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a message with activation time information via a M3 interface; and

a transmitter configured to forward the message via a M2 interface towards a base station.

15. A gateway comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit a specific message including a session start/stop message, a MBMS control channel (MCCH) configuration/reconfiguration message, a radio resource allocation/reallocation message, a radio bearer configuration/reconfiguration message and a counting message towards a MBMS control entity (MCE) via an M3 interface.

16. An MBMS control entity (MCE) comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit a specific message including a session start/stop message, a MBMS control channel (MCCH) configuration/reconfiguration message, a radio resource allocation/reallocation message, a radio bearer configuration/reconfiguration message and a counting message towards a base station.

17. A base station comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a signaling message with activation time information via a M2 interface; and

wherein the base station is configured to make the signaling message take effect in the base station synchronously at a time indicated by the activation time information contained in the signaling message.