Method and apparatus for supporting multicast broadcast service (MBS) in WIMAX

摘要

Disclosed is a mobile internet system, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for supporting a multicast broadcast service (MBS) over WIMAX. The MBS supporting method of the present invention comprises assigning a first GRE key to a first MBS service flow for a first MS, and delivering MBS contents having the first MBS service flow through the use of first GRE key; and if a second MBS service flow for a second MS is the same as the first MBS service flow, delivering MBS contents having the second MBS service flow through the use of first GRE key pre-assigned to the first MBS service flow.

主权项

1. A method for supporting a Multicast and Broadcast Service (MBS) in a base station (BS), the method comprising:
receiving a first path register request message from an access service network gateway (ASN-GW), wherein the first path register request message include a first service flow identifier (SFID) regarding a first MBS service flow for a first mobile station (MS); assigning a first Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE) key to a first MBS service flow; transmitting a first register response message including the first GRE key in response to the first path register request message; creating a GRE tunnel delivering first MBS contents associated with the first MBS service flow by using the first GRE key; receiving the first MBS contents through the GRE tunnel from the ASN-GW; receiving a second path register request message from the ASN-GW, wherein the second path register request message include a second SFID regarding a second MBS service flow for a second MS; determining whether the first MBS service flow and the second MBS service flow are associated with a same MBS service flow; and if the first MBS service flow and the second service flow are associated with the same MBS service flow, assigning the first GRE key to the second MBS service flow without creating an additional GRE tunnel for the second MBS service flow, transmitting a second register response message including the first GRE key in response to the second path register request message, and receiving second MBS contents associated with the second MBS service flow through the GRE tunnel from the ASN-GW, wherein the assigning the first GRE key is performed based on both per BS granularity and per service flow granularity, wherein the GRE tunnel is created between the BS and the ASN-GW.