Method and apparatus of MBMS-based content transmissions in machine-type communications

1. A method of content transmission based on multimedia broadcast/multicast service (MBMS) in a machine type communication (MTC), comprising:

receiving a session start time from a MTC server;

sending to a plurality of MTC devices a service announcement including the session start time;

beginning to establish MBMS bearers to the plurality of MTC devices when the session start time is reached; and

transmitting to the plurality of MTC devices via the MBMS bearers, MTC service contents coming from the MTC server;

wherein the service announcement is sent to the plurality of MTC devices via the MBMS bearers at a fixed time point preconfigured to the plurality of MTC devices; and

at the fixed time point, waking up the plurality of MTC devices to receive the service announcement via the MBMS bearers.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein, during the establishment of the MBMS bearers, a list of identifiers of MTC devices in the plurality of MTC devices that are expected to receive the MTC service contents is contained in a notification about the MBMS bearers so as to be sent to the plurality of MTC devices.

3. A method for receiving contents based on multimedia broadcast/multicast service (MBMS) in a machine type communication (MTC), comprising:

receiving from a MBMS service apparatus a service announcement including a session start time;

when the session start time is reached, waking up to receive a notification about MBMS bearers established for the session start time by the MBMS service apparatus;

receiving MTC service contents transmitted via the MBMS bearers;

pre-configuring a fixed time point for receiving the service announcement; and

at the fixed time point, waking up and receiving the service announcement via the MBMS bearers.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

entering into an idle state or a detaching state or a power off state after receiving the service announcement or after receiving the MTC service contents transmitted via the MBMS bearers.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein, the MTC service content comes from other MTC devices.

6. A method of content transmission based on multimedia broadcast/multicast service (MBMS) in a machine type communication (MTC), comprising:

sending a session start time to a MBMS service apparatus, such that the MBMS service apparatus sends the session start time to a plurality of MTC devices via a service announcement; and

when the session start time is reached, sending MTC service contents to the plurality of MTC devices via MBMS bearers established by the MBMS service apparatus;

wherein the service announcement is sent to the plurality of MTC devices via the MBMS bearers at a fixed time point preconfigured to the plurality of MTC devices; and

at the fixed time point, waking up the plurality of MTC devices to receive the service announcement via the MBMS bearers.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

receiving the MTC service contents from one of the plurality of MTC devices.

8. A content transmission apparatus based on multimedia broadcast/multicast service (MBMS) in a machine type communication (MTC), comprising:

a receiver configured to:

receive a session start time from a MTC server; and

receive MTC service contents from the MTC server; and

a processor configured to provision MBMS bearers, the processor being configured to:

send to a plurality of MTC devices a service announcement including the session start time;

begin to establish MBMS bearers to the plurality of MTC devices when the session start time is reached; and

transmit the MTC service contents to the plurality of MTC devices via the MBMS bearers;

wherein the service announcement is sent to the plurality of MTC devices via the MBMS bearers at a fixed time point preconfigured to the plurality of MTC devices; and

at the fixed time point, waking up the plurality of MTC devices to receive the service announcement via the MBMS bearers.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein, the processor is further configured to: during the establishment of the MBMS bearers, include a list of identifiers of MTC devices in the plurality of MTC devices that are expected to receive the MTC service contents in a notification about the MBMS bearers so as to be sent to the plurality of MTC devices.

10. A content receiving apparatus based on multimedia broadcast/multicast service (MBMS) in a machine type communication (MTC), comprising:

a processor configured to:

receive from a MBMS service apparatus a service announcement including a session start time therein;

receive a notification about MBMS bearers established for the session start time by the MBMS service apparatus; and

receive MTC service contents transmitted via the MBMS bearers;

instruct the MBMS bearer receiving means to wake up when the session start time is reached, so as to receive the announcement and the MTC service contents;

pre-configure a fixed time point for receiving the service announcement; and

at the fixed time point, wake up and receiving the service announcement via the MBMS bearers.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium configured to be preconfigured with a fixed time point for receiving the service announcement;

wherein the processor is further configured to instruct the service availability detecting means to wake up at the fixed time point to receive the service announcement via the MBMS bearers.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to, after receiving the service announcement, or after receiving the MTC service contents transmitted via the MBMS bearers, make the content receiving apparatus enter into an idle state or a detaching state or a power off state.

13. A content transmission apparatus based on multimedia broadcast/multicast service (MBMS) in a machine type communication (MTC), comprising:

a processor configured to:

send a session start time to a MBMS service apparatus, such that the MBMS service apparatus sends the session start time to a plurality of MTC devices via a service announcement; and

when the session start time is reached, send MTC service contents to the plurality of MTC devices via MBMS bearers established by the MBMS service apparatus;

wherein the service announcement is sent to the plurality of MTC devices via the MBMS bearers at a fixed time point preconfigured to the plurality of MTC devices; and

at the fixed time point, waking up the plurality of MTC devices to receive the service announcement via the MBMS bearers.