Method, device and system for maintaining continuity of group communication service

1. A method for maintaining continuity of a group communication service, the method comprising:

notifying, by a Group Communication Service Enabler Application Server, GCSE-AS, a terminal served by the GCSE-AS that the GCSE-AS is going to switch the group communication service from multicast transmission to unicast transmission, upon determining that the group communication service needs to be switched from multicast transmission to unicast transmission; and

transmitting, by the GCSE-AS, the group communication service over a unicast bearer for unicast transmission, which has been set up by the terminal, and stopping the group communication service from being transmitted in multicast mode, upon reception of a first notification message sent by the terminal;

wherein notifying, by the GCSE-AS, the terminal that the GCSE-AS is going to switch the group communication service from multicast transmission to unicast transmission comprises:

sending, by the GCSE-AS, a second notification message to a Broadcast Multicast-Service Center, BM-SC, via a GC2 interface, wherein the second notification message is configured to notify the BM-SC that the GCSE-AS is going to switch the group communication service from multicast transmission to unicast transmission.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:

sending, by the BM-SC, data carrying synchronous, SYNC, information to a base station upon reception of the second notification message, wherein the SYNC information carriers indication information indicating the GCSE-AS is going to switch the group communication service from multicast transmission to unicast transmission; or

sending, by the BM-SC, a first Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service, MBMS, session switching message to an MBMS gateway upon reception of the second notification message to notify the MBMS gateway that the GCSE-AS is going to switch the group communication service from multicast transmission to unicast transmission;

wherein the first MBMS session switching message is an MBMS Session Update message carrying the indication information indicating the GCSE-AS is going to switch the group communication service from multicast transmission to unicast transmission.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the method further comprises:

sending, by the MBMS gateway, a second MBMS session switching message to a Mobility Management Entity, MME, upon reception of the first MBMS session switching message to notify the MME that the GCSE-AS is going to switch the group communication service from multicast transmission to unicast transmission;

wherein the second MBMS session switching message is an MBMS Session Update message carrying the indication information indicating the GCSE-AS is going to switch the group communication service from multicast transmission to unicast transmission.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the method further comprises:

sending, by the MME, a third MBMS session switching message to a Multi-cell/Multicast Coordination Entity, MCE, upon reception of the second MBMS session switching message to notify the MCE that the GCSE-AS is going to switch the group communication service from multicast transmission to unicast transmission;

wherein the third MBMS session switching message is an MBMS Session Update message carrying the indication information indicating the GCSE-AS is going to switch the group communication service from multicast transmission to unicast transmission.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the method further comprises:

sending, by the MCE, a fourth MBMS session switching message to the base station upon reception of the third MBMS session switching message to notify the base station that the GCSE-AS is going to switch the group communication service from multicast transmission to unicast transmission;

wherein the fourth MBMS session switching message is an MBMS Session Update message carrying the indication information indicating the GCSE-AS is going to switch the group communication service from multicast transmission to unicast transmission; or

the fourth MBMS session switching message is an MBMS Counting Request message carrying the indication information indicating the GCSE-AS is going to switch the group communication service from multicast transmission to unicast transmission.

6. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the method further comprises:

notifying, by the base station, the terminal served by the base station that the GCSE-AS is going to switch the group communication service from multicast transmission to unicast transmission, upon reception of the data carrying the SYNC information, or of the fourth MBMS session switching message.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein notifying, by the base station, the terminal that the GCSE-AS is going to switch the group communication service from multicast transmission to unicast transmission comprises:

notifying, by the base station, the terminal that the GCSE-AS is going to switch the group communication service from multicast transmission to unicast transmission, in Multicast channel Scheduling Information, MSI, carrying the indication information indicating that the GCSE-AS is going to switch the group communication service from multicast transmission to unicast transmission; or

notifying, by the base station, the terminal served by the base station that the GCSE-AS is going to switch the group communication service from multicast transmission to unicast transmission, over a Multicast Control Channel, MCCH, in a Radio Resource Control, RRC, message carrying the indication information indicating that the GCSE-AS is going to switch the group communication service from multicast transmission to unicast transmission; or

notifying, by the base station, notifies the terminal served by the base station that the GCSE-AS is going to switch the group communication service from multicast transmission to unicast transmission, over the MCCH in an MBMS Counting Request message carrying the indication information indicating that the GCSE-AS is going to switch the group communication service from multicast transmission to unicast transmission; or

notifying, by the base station, the terminal that the GCSE-AS is going to switch the group communication service from multicast transmission to unicast transmission, by broadcasting a System Information Block, SIB, carrying the indication information indicating that the GCSE-AS is going to switch the group communication service from multicast transmission to unicast transmission;

wherein the SIB is SIB13 or SIB15.

8. A method for maintaining continuity of a group communication service, the method comprising:

triggering, by a terminal, a procedure of setting up a unicast bearer for unicast transmission, upon reception of a notification that a Group Communication Service Enabler Application Server, GCSE-AS, is going to switch the group communication service from multicast transmission to unicast transmission; and

sending, by the terminal, a first notification message to the GCSE-AS, and stopping the group communication service transmitted by the GCSE-AS from being received in multicast mode, wherein the first notification message is configured to instruct the GCSE-AS to transmit the group communication service in unicast mode;

wherein the GCSE-AS notifies the terminal that the GCSE-AS is going to switch the group communication service from multicast transmission to unicast transmission by sending a second notification message to a Broadcast Multicast Service Center, BM-SC, via a GC2 interface, and the second notification message is configured to notify the BM-SC that the GCSE-AS is going to switch the group communication service from multicast transmission to unicast transmission.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein receiving, by the terminal, the notification that the GCSE-AS is going to switch the group communication service from multicast transmission to unicast transmission comprises:

receiving, by the terminal, Multicast channel Scheduling Information, MSI, sent by a base station serving the terminal, wherein the MSI carries indication information indicating that the GCSE-AS is going to switch the group communication service from multicast transmission to unicast transmission; or

receiving, by the terminal, a Radio Resource Control, RRC, message sent by the base station serving the terminal, over a Multicast Control Channel, MCCH, wherein the RRC message carries indication information indicating that the GCSE-AS is going to switch the group communication service from multicast transmission to unicast transmission; or

receiving, by the terminal, an Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service, MBMS, Counting Request message sent by the base station serving the terminal, over the MCCH, wherein the MBMS Counting Request message carries the indication information indicating that the GCSE-AS is going to switch the group communication service from multicast transmission to unicast transmission; or

receiving, by the terminal, an SIB sent by the base station serving the terminal, over the MCCH, wherein the SIB carries the indication information indicating that the GCSE-AS is going to switch the group communication service from multicast transmission to unicast transmission.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the SIB is SIB13 or SIB15.

11. A Group Communication Service Enabler Application Server, GCSE AS, comprising:

a transceiver;

a processor; and

a memory storing at least one instruction, wherein the processor is configured to execute the at least one instruction to:

control the transceiver to notify a terminal served by the GCSE-AS that the GCSE-AS is going to switch a group communication service from multicast transmission to unicast transmission, upon determining that the group communication service needs to be switched from multicast transmission to unicast transmission; and

control the transceiver to transmit the group communication service over a unicast bearer for unicast transmission, which has been set up by the terminal, and stop the group communication service from being transmitted in multicast mode, upon reception of a first notification message sent by the terminal;

wherein the processor is further configured to execute the at least one instruction to control the transceiver to send a second notification message to a Broadcast Multicast-Service Center, BM-SC, via a GC2 interface, and the second notification message is configured to notify the BM-SC that the GCSE-AS is going to switch the group communication service from multicast transmission to unicast transmission.

12. A terminal, comprising:

a transceiver;

a processor; and

a memory storing at least one instruction, wherein the processor is configured to execute the at least one instruction to:

trigger a procedure of setting up a unicast bearer for unicast transmission, upon reception of a notification that a GCSE-AS is going to switch a group communication service from multicast transmission to unicast transmission; and

control the transceiver to send a first notification message to the GCSE-AS, and stop the group communication service from being received in the multicast mode, wherein the first notification message is configured to instruct the GCSE-AS to transmit the group communication service in unicast mode;

wherein the GCSE-AS notifies the terminal that the GCSE-AS is going to switch the group communication service from multicast transmission to unicast transmission by sending a second notification message to a Broadcast Multicast-Service Center, BM-SC, via a GC2 interface, and the second notification message is configured to notify the BM-SC that the GCSE-AS is going to switch the group communication service from multicast transmission to unicast transmission.

13. The terminal according to claim 12 , wherein the processor is configured to execute the at least one instruction to:

control the transceiver to receive Multicast channel Scheduling Information, MSI, sent by a base station serving the terminal, wherein the MSI carries indication information indicating that the GCSE-AS is going to switch the group communication service from multicast transmission to unicast transmission; or

control the transceiver to receive a Radio Resource Control, RRC, message sent by the base station serving the terminal, over a Multicast Control Channel, MCCH, wherein the RRC message carries indication information indicating that the GCSE-AS is going to switch the group communication service from multicast transmission to unicast transmission; or

control the transceiver to receive a Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service, MBMS, Counting Request message sent by the base station serving the terminal, over a Multicast Control Channel, MCCH, wherein the MBMS Counting Request message carries the indication information indicating that the GCSE-AS is going to switch the group communication service from multicast transmission to unicast transmission; or

control the transceiver to receive an SIB sent by the base station serving the terminal, over the MCCH, wherein the SIB carries the indication information indicating that the GCSE-AS is going to switch the group communication service from multicast transmission to unicast transmission.

14. A communication system, comprising:

a Group Communication Service Enabler Application Server, GCSE AS, configured to notify a terminal served by the GCSE-AS that the GCSE-AS is going to switch a group communication service from multicast transmission to unicast transmission, upon determining that the group communication service needs to be switched from multicast transmission to unicast transmission; and to transmit the group communication service over a unicast bearer for unicast transmission, which has been set up by the terminal, and to stop the group communication service from being transmitted in multicast mode, upon reception of a first notification message sent by the terminal; and

the terminal configured to trigger a procedure of setting up the unicast bearer for unicast transmission, upon reception of the notification that the GCSE-AS is going to switch the group communication service from multicast transmission to unicast transmission; and to send a first notification message to the GCSE-AS, and to stop the group communication service transmitted by the GCSE-AS from being received in multicast mode, wherein the first notification message is configured to instruct the GCSE-AS to transmit the group communication service in unicast mode;

wherein:

the system further comprises a Broadcast Multicast-Service Center, BM-SC, and a base station;

the GCSE-AS is further configured to send a second notification message to the BM-SC via a GC2 interface; and

the second notification message is configured to notify the BM-SC that the GCSE-AS is going to switch the group communication service from multicast transmission to unicast transmission.

15. The system according to claim 14 , wherein:

the BM-SC is configured to send data carrying SYNC information to the base station upon reception of the second notification message, wherein the SYNC information carries indication information indicating that the GCSE-AS is going to switch the group communication service from multicast transmission to unicast transmission; and

the base station is configured to notify the terminal served by the base station that the GCSE-AS is going to switch the group communication service from multicast transmission to unicast transmission, upon reception of the data carrying the SYNC information.

16. The system according to claim 14 ,

the BM-SC is configured to send a first MBMS session switching message to the MBMS gateway upon reception of the second notification message to notify the MBMS gateway that the GCSE-AS is going to switch the group communication service from multicast transmission to unicast transmission;

the MBMS gateway is configured to send a second MBMS session switching message to the MME upon reception of the first MBMS session switching message to notify the MME that the GCSE-AS is going to switch the group communication service from multicast transmission to unicast transmission;

the MME is configured to send a third MBMS session switching message to the MCE upon reception of the second MBMS session switching message to notify the MCE that the GCSE-AS is going to switch the group communication service from multicast transmission to unicast transmission;

the MCE is configured to send a fourth MBMS session switching message to the base station upon reception of the third MBMS session switching message to notify the base station that the GCSE-AS is going to switch the group communication service from multicast transmission to unicast transmission; and

the base station is configured to notify the terminal served by the base station that the GCSE-AS is going to switch the group communication service from multicast transmission to unicast transmission, upon reception of the fourth MBMS session switching message.

17. The system according to claim 16 , wherein:

the first MBMS session switching message is an MBMS Session Update message carrying indication information indicating that the GCSE-AS is going to switch the group communication service from multicast transmission to unicast transmission;

the second MBMS session switching message is an MBMS Session Update message carrying the indication information indicating that the GCSE-AS is going to switch the group communication service from multicast transmission to unicast transmission;

the third MBMS session switching message is an MBMS Session Update message carrying the indication information indicating that the GCSE-AS is going to switch the group communication service from multicast transmission to unicast transmission; and

the fourth MBMS session switching message is an MBMS Session Update message carrying the indication information indicating that the GCSE-AS is going to switch the group communication service from multicast transmission to unicast transmission; or the fourth MBMS session switching is an MBMS Counting Request message carrying the indication information indicating the GCSE-AS is going to switch the group communication service from multicast transmission to unicast transmission.

18. The system according to claim 15 , wherein the base station is configured:

to notify the terminal that the GCSE-AS is going to switch the group communication service from multicast transmission to unicast transmission, in MSI carrying the indication information indicating that the GCSE-AS is going to switch the group communication service from multicast transmission to unicast transmission; or

to notify the terminal served by the base station that the GCSE-AS is going to switch the group communication service from multicast transmission to unicast transmission, over a Multicast Control Channel, MCCH, in a Radio Resource Control, RRC, message carrying the indication information indicating that the GCSE-AS is going to switch the group communication service from multicast transmission to unicast transmission; or

to notify the terminal served by the base station that the GCSE-AS is going to switch the group communication service from multicast transmission to unicast transmission, over the MCCH in an MBMS Counting Request message carrying the indication information indicating that the GCSE-AS is going to switch the group communication service from multicast transmission to unicast transmission; or

to notify the terminal served by the base station that the GCSE-AS is going to switch the group communication service from multicast transmission to unicast transmission, in an SIB carrying the indication information indicating that the GCSE-AS is going to switch the group communication service from multicast transmission to unicast transmission.