Feedback control for multicast or broadcast services
View Patent ↗The invention relates to a method for controlling feedback of mobile terminals receiving via an air interface of a mobile communication system a multicast or broadcast service transmitted or forwarded by a feedback control entity and to a mobile terminal, the feedback control entity using this method. Further, a system comprising a feedback control entity and a mobile terminal receiving a multicast or broadcast service is provided. To enable configurable and adaptive feedback for multicast or broadcast services provided via an air interface maintaining the end-to-end session concept the invention suggests selecting a subset of the mobile terminals of the mobile communication system and which receive the multicast or broadcast service for providing feedback to a feedback control entity. In one embodiment of the invention the terminals may decide whether to provide feedback based on a probabilistic experiment performed based on parameters determined and provided by the feedback control entity.
1. A method for controlling transmission of feedback of mobile terminals receiving a multicast or broadcast service, the method being performed by at least one of the mobile terminals to reduce uplink traffic in a mobile communication system and comprising:
receiving the multicast or broadcast service,
receiving a parameter comprising a percentage subset of receivers based on which the mobile terminal decides whether to provide feedback,
deciding whether or not to provide the feedback for the multicast or broadcast service based on the received parameter, and
transmitting the feedback, wherein the feedback is used for statistical analysis, wherein:
the deciding of whether or not to provide the feedback includes performing a probabilistic experiment, wherein the parameter indicates a success probability of the experiment.
2. A method for controlling by a feedback control entity the transmission of feedback of a plurality of mobile terminals receiving a multicast or broadcast service, the method being performed by the feedback control entity to reduce uplink traffic in a mobile communication system and comprising:
transmitting or forwarding data of the multicast or broadcast service,
determining parameters comprising a percentage subset of receivers allowing a mobile terminal to decide whether or not to provide feedback to the feedback control entity,
transmitting said parameters to at least a subset of said plurality of mobile terminals, and
receiving the feedback from another subset of said plurality of mobile terminals having received said parameters, wherein:
the parameters indicate a success probability of a probabilistic experiment to be performed by the at least the subset of the plurality of mobile terminals in deciding whether or not to provide the feedback.
3. A mobile terminal receiving a multicast or broadcast service transmitted or forwarded by a feedback control entity, the mobile terminal operating to reduce uplink traffic in a mobile communication system and comprising:
a receiver configured to receive the multicast or broadcast service, wherein the receiver is configured to further receive a parameter comprising a percentage subset of receivers based on which the mobile terminal decides whether to provide feedback,
a processor configured to decide whether to provide the feedback for the multicast or broadcast service to the feedback control entity based on the received parameter, and
a transmitter configured to transmit the feedback which is used for statistical analysis, wherein:
the processor decides whether or not to provide the feedback by performing a probabilistic experiment, wherein the parameter indicates a success probability of the experiment.
4. A feedback control entity for controlling transmission of feedback of a plurality of mobile terminals receiving a multicast or broadcast service transmitted or forwarded by the feedback control entity, the feedback control entity operating to reduce uplink traffic in a mobile communication system and comprising:
a transmitter configured to transmit or forward data of the multicast or broadcast service to at least one of the mobile terminals,
a processor configured to determine parameters comprising a percentage subset of receivers allowing a mobile terminal to decide whether to provide feedback to the feedback control entity, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit said parameters to at least a subset of said plurality of mobile terminals, and
a receiver for receiving the feedback from another subset of said plurality of mobile terminals having received said parameters, wherein:
the parameters indicate a success probability of a probabilistic experiment to be performed by the at least the subset of the plurality of mobile terminals in deciding whether or not to provide the feedback.