Point-to-multipoint Transmissions Research Articles

Using Non-Orthogonal Multiplexing in 5G-MBMS to Achieve Broadband-Broadcast Convergence With High Spectral Efficiency

The development of 5G system provides a unique opportunity to implement a unified wireless transmission platform that can simultaneous deliver unicast, multicast and broadcast services using the same spectrum and the same infrastructure. This can be achieved by developing a more capable point-to-multipoint transmission (PTM) system component, also called 5G Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Services (5G-MBMS). A properly designed 5G-MBMS could achieve the convergence of terrestrial mobile broadband and TV broadcasting systems.By inherently allowing dynamic spectrum allocation among different types of services, this converged system could offer significant higher spectrum utilization. In this paper, the power-based non-orthogonal multiplexing (P-NOM) technology is proposed in addition to the existing orthogonal time-division-multiplexing (TDM) scheme. Significant capacity gains could be achieved by using P-NOM in a 5G-MBMS system for delivering different types of broadcast services, and for delivering mixed unicast and broadcast services. The capacity benefits of a 5G-MBMS with P-NOM is demonstrated by both theoretical analysis and computer simulations. A key finding is that using a two-layer P-NOM can essentially deliver a broadcast service on top of a unicast network, each achieving nearly full capacity. Next, a complexity analysis will reveal that implementing P-NOM in a 5G-MBMS system does not require significant additional complexity at consumer devices. Finally, it will be shown that, different from the non-orthogonal-multiple-access (NOMA) technologies, using P-NOM in 5G-MBMS system requires little or no change to the existing radio resource allocation mechanisms in LTE and 5G, when one power layer is used for broadcast services delivery.

5G Radio Access Networks: Enabling Efficient Point-to-Multipoint Transmissions

The launch of 5G technology based on 3rd Generation Project Partnership (3GPP) Release 15 was completed in December 2018. An open issue with this release of standards is that it supports only unicast communications in the core network and point-to-point (PTP) transmissions in the radio access network (RAN) but does not support multicast/broadcast communications and point-to-multipoint (PTM) transmissions, which are 3GPP system requirements for 5G applications in a number of vertical sectors, including automotive, airborne communications, Internet of Things (IoT), media and entertainment, and public warning and safety systems. In this article, we present novel mechanisms for enhancing the 5G unicast architecture with a minimal footprint so as to enable efficient PTM transmissions in the RAN and support multicast communications in the Release 15 core as a built-in delivery optimization feature of the system. This approach will enable completely new levels of network management and delivery cost efficiency.

Point-to-Multipoint Communication Enablers for the Fifth Generation of Wireless Systems

3GPP has enhanced the point-to-multipoint (PTM) communication capabilities of 4G LTE in all releases since the adoption of eMBMS in Release-9. Recent enhancements cover not only television services, but also critical machine-type and vehicular communications, following the backward-compatibility design philosophy of LTE. This article discusses the opportunity in the design and standardization of 5G to break with the existing paradigm for PTM transmissions in 4G LTE, where broadcast PTM transmissions were initially conceived as an add-on and pre-positioned service. 5G brings the opportunity to incorporate PTM capabilities as built-in delivery features from the outset, integrating point-to-point and PTM modes under one common framework and enabling dynamic use of PTM to maximize network and spectrum efficiency. This approach will open the door to completely new levels of network management and delivery cost efficiency. The article also discusses the implications of PTM for network slicing to customize and optimize network resources on a common 5G infrastructure to accommodate different use cases and services taking into account user density.

Cost optimization of MBSFN and PTM transmissions for reliable multicasting in LTE networks

Long Term Evolution (LTE) systems have been specified and designed to accommodate small, high performance, power-efficient, end-user devices. The evolved Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service (e-MBMS) feature is introduced by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) as a complement to the existing MBMS service in order to accommodate multicast groups that are interested in receiving the same data. MBMS service is provided by MBMS over a Single Frequency Network (MBSFN) and/or Point-To-Multipoint (PTM) transmission methods. One of the challenges of MBMS is the complete error recovery of the transmitted files, a matter of great importance since the distribution of binary data must result in 100% error-free download. To fulfill this tight requirement, Forward Error Correction (FEC) mechanism has been proposed by 3GPP. In this work, we investigate the reliable multicasting by introducing a transmission method that combines the advantages of MBSFN and PTM transmission methods. We compare several FEC-based file recovery methods and evaluate them against various network parameters in a realistic simulation environment. The comparison is based on a cost-oriented analysis of MBMS service that takes into account the transmission cost over all the interfaces and nodes of the LTE architecture. The simulation results are performed with the aid of a new simulation tool and show that the performance of the file repair schemes depend on the network configuration.