Methods, apparatus and machine-readable mediums relating to establishment of broadcast/multicast bearers
Embodiments of the disclosure provide a method performed by a broadcast/multicast server for a communication network. The method comprises: receiving, from an application server, a request to establish a broadcast/multicast bearer in the communication network; allocating resources associated with the broadcast/multicast bearer in the communication network; and sending, to the application server, a response message comprising an indication of whether the allocation of the resources associated with the broadcast/multicast bearer is ongoing or not. Corresponding apparatus and methods and apparatus in the application server, are also provided.
1. A method performed by a broadcast/multicast server in a communication network, comprising:
receiving, from an application server, a request to activate a broadcast/multicast bearer in the communication network;
allocating resources associated with the broadcast/multicast bearer in the communication network by sending a session start request message to a Multimedia Broadcast and Multicast Service Gateway, MBMS GW; and
when a delayed session start response is received from the MBMS GW, sending, to the application server, a response message comprising an indication that request for bearer activation was successfully handled but the actual bearer activation is still ongoing.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, responsive to a determination that allocation of the resources for the broadcast/multicast bearer in the radio access network is complete, sending an information message to the application server comprising an indication that allocation of the resources associated with the broadcast/multicast bearer is no longer ongoing.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the indication that allocation of the resources associated with the broadcast/multicast bearer is no longer ongoing comprises an indication that resources have been configured for the broadcast/multicast bearer in the radio access network.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of:
the broadcast/multicast server comprises a broadcast/multicast service center, BM-SC;
the broadcast/multicast bearer comprises a multimedia broadcast and multicast service, MBMS, bearer;
the application server comprises a group communication service application server, GCS AS; and
the application server comprises one of: a mission-critical service application server, and a vehicle-to-everything, V2X, application server.
5. A method performed by an application server, the method comprising:
sending, to a broadcast/multicast server for a communication network, a request to activate a broadcast/multicast bearer in the communication network; and
before receiving an indication that resources have been configured for the broadcast/multicast bearer in a radio access network of the communication network, receiving, from the broadcast/multicast server, a response message comprising an indication that the request for bearer activation was successfully handled but the actual bearer activation is still ongoing.
6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising, responsive to receipt of the response message, deferring transmission of data over the broadcast/multicast bearer.
7. The method of claim 5 , further comprising receiving an information message from the broadcast/multicast server comprising an indication that allocation of the resources associated with the broadcast/multicast bearer is no longer ongoing.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the indication that the allocation of the resources associated with the broadcast/multicast bearer is no longer ongoing comprises an indication that resources have been configured for the broadcast/multicast bearer in the radio access network.
9. The method of claim 7 , further comprising, responsive to receipt of the information message, initiating transmission of data over the broadcast/multicast bearer.
10. The method of claim 5 , at least one of:
the broadcast/multicast server comprises a broadcast/multicast service center, BM-SC;
the broadcast/multicast bearer comprises a multimedia broadcast and multicast service, MBMS, bearer;
the application server comprises a group communication service application server, GCS AS; and
the application server comprises one of: a mission-critical service application server, and a vehicle-to-everything, V2X, application server.
11. A broadcast/multicast server, comprising:
processing circuitry configured to perform all the method steps of claim 1 ; and
power supply circuitry configured to supply power to the broadcast/multicast server.
12. The method of claim 2 , wherein the information message comprises a bitmap, the bitmap comprising one or more bits, the settings of the one or more bits indicating:
allocation of the resources associated with the broadcast/multicast bearer was successful; or
allocation of the resources associated with the broadcast/multicast bearer failed.
13. The method of claim 5 , wherein the information message comprises a bitmap, the bitmap comprising one or more bits, the settings of the one or more bits indicating:
allocation of the resources associated with the broadcast/multicast bearer was successful; or
allocation of the resources associated with the broadcast/multicast bearer failed.
14. The method of claim 2 , wherein the information message comprises a bitmap, the bitmap comprising a subset of multiple bits to indicate that the allocation of the resources associated with the broadcast/multicast bearer failed, with each of the multiple bits of the subset indicating a respective reason for the failure.
15. The method of claim 7 , wherein the information message comprises a bitmap, the bitmap comprising a subset of multiple bits to indicate that the allocation of the resources associated with the broadcast/multicast bearer failed, with each of the multiple bits of the subset indicating a respective reason for the failure.