Abstract: A method of a mobile station receiving data packets from a serving base station via a multicast or broadcast connection in a wireless network is provided for performing a handover from the serving base station to a target base station. The method comprises, at the level of the mobile station, the steps of: upon the detection of the quantity of buffered data packets in the mobile station being lower than a first threshold value, establishing a unicast connection with the serving base station to receive data packets from the serving base station; and upon detection of the level of buffered data packets reaching the predetermined threshold level, performing a handover from the serving base station to the target base station. According to the invention, a seamless handover of a mobile station in a wireless network providing Multicast and Broadcast Service (MBS service) can be achieved to prevent the MBS service interruption during the handover.

Abstract: It is provided a method for providing a service guide in a network providing a plurality of multicast services, said network comprising at least one client device connected to a first device, wherein a subset of said plurality of multicast services is being multicast to said at least one client device via said first device, and the service guide provides a list of the plurality of multicast services in a second order; and at the side of a client device, the method comprises the steps of determining a list of the plurality of multicast services in a first order, wherein the order is changed from the second order to the first order based on the multicast services of the subset; and presenting said list of multicast services in said first order.

Abstract: A method for reporting state information is provided. The receiver device receives a service, which is encoded in at least two layers over a communication channel, through a subset of said at least two layers; it measures a channel quality parameter; and in response to the channel quality parameter reaching a predetermined threshold value, it receives the service through a modified subset of the at least two layers as a function of the measured channel quality parameter and transmitting state information of the receiver device. Thus, the signal overhead is reduced.

Abstract: It provides a method for multicast group management. The apparatus determines a request for joining a multicast service derived during establishment of a connection for carrying multicast service between a first device and a second device, and it sends a message indicative of joining said multicast service based on the request for joining if the multicast service is not available in said network device. As a consequence, it reduces the messages exchanged in unreliable wireless connection so as to reduce the probability of service interruption.

Abstract: A method of a mobile station receiving data packets from a serving base station via a multicast or broadcast connection in a wireless network is provided for performing a handover from the serving base station to a target base station. The method comprises, at the level of the mobile station, the steps of: upon the detection of the quantity of buffered data packets in the mobile station being lower than a first threshold value, establishing a unicast connection with the serving base station to receive data packets from the serving base station; and upon detection of the level of buffered data packets reaching the predetermined threshold level, performing a handover from the serving base station to the target base station. According to the invention, a seamless handover of a mobile station in a wireless network providing Multicast and Broadcast Service (MBS service) can be achieved to prevent the MBS service interruption during the handover.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for content delivery, including receiving content from a first network, moving into a coverage area of a second network, performing a handover, receiving content from the second network and dropping any duplicate content packets. Also described are a method and apparatus for content delivery including receiving content from a first network, performing a handover, receiving content from a second network, determining if any content is missing and requesting the missing content.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for performing a handover in a content delivery system, including performing the handover from a first network to a second network at a protocol layer determined based on whether a content stream identification file used by said first network is paired with a content stream identification file used by said second network. Also described are a method and apparatus for performing a handover in a content delivery system, including performing the handover from a first network to a second network at a protocol layer determined based on whether a same content stream identification file used by the first network is used by the second network. Further described are a method and apparatus for performing a handover in a content delivery system, including performing the handover from a first network to a second network at one of an application layer, a network layer and a media access control layer.

Abstract: It is provided a method for providing a service guide in a network providing a plurality of multicast services, said network comprising at least one client device connected to an intermediate a first device, wherein a subset of said plurality of multicast services is being multicast to said at least one client device via said intermediate first device, and the service guide provides a list of the plurality of multicast services in a second order; and at the side of a client device, the method comprises the steps of determining a list of the plurality of multicast services in a first order, wherein the order is changed from the second order to the first order based on the multicast services of the subset; and presenting said list of multicast services in said first order.

Abstract: A method for determining location information used in an electronic device of a communication system including a plurality of electronic devices, comprising: transmitting a position request signal via a plurality of communication networks of the communication system; receiving a position response signal with respective location information from at least one electronic devices of the plurality of electronic devices; and determining position information of the electronic device by the received position response signal; wherein the position request signal is transmitted successively to the plurality of networks in a specific order among said networks until the location information of the electronic device is determined based on the location response signal.

Abstract: It provides a method for multicast group management. The apparatus determines a request for joining a multicast service derived during establishment of a connection for carrying multicast service between a first device and a second device, and it sends a message indicative of joining said multicast service based on the request for joining if the multicast service is not available in said network device. As a consequence, it reduces the messages exchanged in unreliable wireless connection so as to reduce the probability of service interruption.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for content delivery, including receiving content from a first network, moving into a coverage area of a second network, performing a handover, receiving content from the second network and dropping any duplicate content packets. Also described are a method and apparatus for content delivery including receiving content from a first network, performing a handover, receiving content from a second network, determining if any content is missing and requesting the missing content.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for performing a handover in a content delivery system, including performing the handover from a first network to a second network at a protocol layer determined based on whether a content stream identification file used by said first network is paired with a content stream identification file used by said second network. Also described are a method and apparatus for performing a handover in a content delivery system, including performing the handover from a first network to a second network at a protocol layer determined based on whether a same content stream identification file used by the first network is used by the second network. Further described are a method and apparatus for performing a handover in a content delivery system, including performing the handover from a first network to a second network at one of an application layer, a network layer and a media access control layer.

Abstract: A method for generating Electronic Service Guide, comprising steps of: obtaining user information from a user in a digital video broadcasting network; generating a first Electronic Service Guide as a function of the user information, wherein the first Electronic Service Guide lists services provided by the digital video broadcasting network and associated with the user information; and sending the first Electronic Service Guide to the user.

Abstract: A method for reporting state information is provided. The receiver device receives a service, which is encoded in at least two layers over a communication channel, through a subset of said at least two layers; it measures a channel quality parameter; and in response to the channel quality parameter reaching a predetermined threshold value, it receives the service through a modified subset of the at least two layers as a function of the measured channel quality parameter and transmitting state information of the receiver device. Thus, the signal overhead is reduced.