IP Library Granted Patent US 12,739,941
Granted Patent B2
US 12,739,941 · App. 18/145,122 · Granted Sep 15, 2026

Change of multicast and broadcast services radio bearer identifiers during multicast and broadcast service mobility

Inventors: Esa Mikael Malkamäki (Espoo, FI); David Navrátil (Helsinki, FI); Benoist Pierre Sebire (Tokyo, JP); Philippe Godin (Versailles, FR)
Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
H04W76/40H04W36/0007
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,739,941
App. No.
18/145,122
Granted
Sep 15, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for changing MRB ID without requiring release and add functions. One method may include receiving, by a user equipment, a RRC reconfiguration message from a network entity comprising a MRB. The MRB is identified by a first MRB ID, and the RRC reconfiguration message further comprises a second MRB ID associated with the first MRB ID. The user equipment associates the MRB with the second MRB ID configured for subsequent identification of the MRB. The user equipment receives MBS data through the MRB associated with the second MRB ID.

Claims (41)

1 . An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code,

wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:

receive a radio resource control reconfiguration message from a network entity comprising a multicast and broadcast radio bearer wherein the multicast and broadcast radio bearer is identified by a first multicast and broadcast service radio bearer identifier and the radio resource control reconfiguration message further comprising a second multicast and broadcast service radio bearer identifier associated with the first multicast and broadcast service radio bearer identifier;

associate the multicast and broadcast radio bearer with the second multicast and broadcast service radio bearer identifier configured for subsequent identification of the multicast and broadcast radio bearer; and

receive multicast and broadcast service data through the multicast and broadcast radio bearer associated with the second multicast and broadcast service radio bearer identifier.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:

in response to receiving the second multicast and broadcast service radio bearer identifier, transmit a radio resource control reconfiguration complete message to the network entity.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a packet data convergence protocol entity of the apparatus is configured to receive multicast and broadcast service data through the multicast and broadcast service radio bearer prior to and after changing the multicast and broadcast service radio bearer association from the first multicast and broadcast service radio bearer identifier to the second multicast and broadcast service radio bearer identifier.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the radio resource control reconfiguration message comprises a reconfiguration within a cell or a handover command to change the cell.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:

in response to the radio resource control reconfiguration message comprising a handover command to change the cell, transmit the radio resource control reconfiguration complete message to a target network entity.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first multicast and broadcast service radio bearer identifier comprises a mrb-Identity field and the second multicast and broadcast service radio bearer identifier associated with the first multicast and broadcast service radio bearer identifier comprises a mrb-Identity New field, wherein the mrb-Identity and mrb-IdentityNew fields are comprised within a single MRB-ToAddMod information element.

7 . An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code,

wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:

receive a handover request from a source network entity, wherein the handover request comprises a first multicast and broadcast service radio bearer identifier and a list comprising at least one quality of service flow identifier associated with the first multicast and broadcast service radio bearer identifier; and

transmit, within a handover request acknowledgement, a multicast and broadcast service radio bearer configuration to a user equipment comprising the first multicast and broadcast service radio bearer identifier and a second multicast and broadcast service radio bearer identifier associated with the first multicast and broadcast service radio bearer identifier.

8 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:

identify the first multicast and broadcast service radio bearer identifier to be changed to the second multicast and broadcast service radio bearer identifier based on the received list comprising the at least one quality of service flow identifier associated with the first multicast and broadcast service radio bearer identifier.

9 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:

identify the second multicast and broadcast service radio bearer identifier based upon the first multicast and broadcast service radio bearer identifier.

10 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the handover request acknowledgement is associated with an X n interface handover request acknowledgment message.

11 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the handover request is associated with an X n interface handover request message.

12 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:

receive a handover complete message from the user equipment indicating that the multicast and broadcast service radio bearer configuration has been updated.

13 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:

determine that at least one set of multicast and broadcast service quality of service flows mapping to a multicast and broadcast service radio bearer in the target network entity matches at least one set of multicast and broadcast service quality of service flows mapping to a multicast and broadcast service radio bearer in the source network entity, and that the target network entity uses at least one different multicast and broadcast service radio bearer identifier for that multicast and broadcast service radio bearer than the one of the multicast and broadcast service radio bearer in the source network entity.

14 . A method, comprising:

receiving a radio resource control reconfiguration message from a network entity comprising a multicast and broadcast radio bearer wherein the multicast and broadcast radio bearer is identified by a first multicast and broadcast service radio bearer identifier and the radio resource control reconfiguration message further comprising a second multicast and broadcast service radio bearer identifier associated with the first multicast and broadcast service radio bearer identifier;

associating the multicast and broadcast radio bearer with the second multicast and broadcast service radio bearer identifier configured for subsequent identification of the multicast and broadcast radio bearer; and

receiving multicast and broadcast service data through the multicast and broadcast radio bearer associated with the second multicast and broadcast service radio bearer identifier.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the first multicast and broadcast service radio bearer identifier comprises a mrb-Identity field and the second multicast and broadcast service radio bearer identifier associated with the first multicast and broadcast service radio bearer identifier comprises a mrb-Identity New field, wherein the mrb-Identity and mrb-IdentityNew fields are comprised within a single MRB-ToAddMod information element.

16 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

in response to receiving the second multicast and broadcast service radio bearer identifier, transmitting a radio resource control reconfiguration complete message to the network entity.

17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein a packet data convergence protocol entity of the apparatus is configured to receive multicast and broadcast service data through the multicast and broadcast service radio bearer prior to and after changing the multicast and broadcast service radio bearer association from the first multicast and broadcast service radio bearer identifier to the second multicast and broadcast service radio bearer identifier.

18 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the radio resource control reconfiguration message comprises a reconfiguration within a cell or a handover command to change the cell.

19 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

in response to the radio resource control reconfiguration message comprising a handover command to change the cell, transmitting the radio resource control reconfiguration complete message to a target network entity.

Assignments (6)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 26, 2022
From: MIKAEL MALKAMÄKI, ESA; NAVRÁTIL, DAVID
To: NOKIA SOLUTIONS AND NETWORKS OY
Reel/Frame 062200/0316 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 26, 2022
From: PIERRE SEBIRE, BENOIST
To: NOKIA SOLUTIONS AND NETWORKS JAPAN G.K.
Reel/Frame 062200/0313 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 26, 2022
From: ALCATEL-LUCENT INTERNATIONAL S.A.
To: NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
Reel/Frame 062200/0319 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 26, 2022
From: NOKIA SOLUTIONS AND NETWORKS JAPAN G.K.
To: NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
Reel/Frame 062200/0323 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 26, 2022
From: GODIN, PHILIPPE
To: ALCATEL-LUCENT INTERNATIONAL S.A.
Reel/Frame 062200/0310 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 26, 2022
From: NOKIA SOLUTIONS AND NETWORKS OY
To: NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
Reel/Frame 062200/0327 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63298573 · Jan 11, 2022
Related Publication 20230225008A1 · Jul 13, 2023
References Cited (12)
US 20250234250A1 · Wu · 2025 [cited by examiner]
“3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; NR; Radio Resource Control (RRC) protocol specification (Release 16)”, 3GPP TS 38.331, V16.6.0, Sep. 2021, pp. 1-961. [cited by applicant]
“3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; NG-RAN; XN application protocol (XnAP) (Release 16)”, 3GPP TS 38.423, V16.7.0, Oct. 2021, pp. 1-466. [cited by applicant]
“3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; NG-RAN; F1 application protocol (F1AP) (Release 16)”, 3GPP TS 38.473, V16.7.0, Oct. 2021, pp. 1-464. [cited by applicant]
“3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; NG-RAN; E1 Application Protocol (E1AP) (Release 16)”, 3GPP TS 38.463, V16.7.0, Oct. 2021, pp. 1-242. [cited by applicant]
“WID revision: NR Multicast and Broadcast Services”, 3GPP TSG RAN Meeting #88-e, RP-201038, Agenda: 9.10.8, Huawei, Jun. 29-Jul. 3, 2020, 6 pages. [cited by applicant]
“38.300 Running CR for MBS in NR”, 3GPP TSG-RAN WG2 Meeting #116-e, R2-2111605, CMCC, Nov. 1-12, 2021, 27 pages. [cited by applicant]
“38.331 running CR for NR MBS”, 3GPP TSG-RAN WG2 Meeting #116-e, R2-2111658, Huawei, Nov. 1-12, 2021, 149 pages. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 63/297,062, “Methods and Apparatuses for Configuration of User Device(s) for Reception of Point-to-Multipoint Transmission”, filed Jan. 6, 2022, pp. 1-45. [cited by applicant]
Finland Application No. 20216243, “Mobility in Cellular Communication Networks”, filed on Dec. 3, 2021, 33 pages. [cited by applicant]
“3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; E-UTRA and NR; Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP) specification (Release 16)”, 3GPP TS 37.324, V16.3.0, Jun. 2021, pp. 1-17. [cited by applicant]
“3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; NR; Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) specification (Release 16)”, 3GPP TS 38.323, V16.6.0, Dec. 2021, pp. 1-40. [cited by applicant]