The support of the IP connectivity functionality in the IOPS mode of operation enables that MC services are provided by the MC service clients over the IOPS MC connectivity function. An MC user that has been discovered by the IOPS MC connectivity function can subscribe to be notified about the connectivity information of other discovered MC users on the IOPS MC connectivity function. Also, a discovered MC user can subscribe to be notified about the number of other discovered MC users on the IOPS MC connectivity function within its associated IOPS groups.
The following clauses specify the IOPS subscription and notification procedures and information flows for the IP connectivity functionality in the IOPS mode of operation.
Table 10.3.2.1-1 describes the information flow for the IP connectivity subscribe request from the IOPS connectivity client to the IOPS MC connectivity function.
Table 10.3.2.2-1 describes the information flow for the IP connectivity subscribe response from the IOPS MC connectivity function to the IOPS connectivity client.
Table 10.3.2.3-1 describes the information flow for the IP connectivity notify request from the IOPS MC connectivity function to the IOPS connectivity client.
The IOPS MC service ID of the MC user with active subscription(s)
IOPS MC service ID (NOTE 1)
M
The IOPS MC service ID associated to the active subscription for which connectivity information is being notified
Connectivity information (NOTE 1)
M
It provides connectivity information about the MC service ID of the corresponding subscription. It includes the MC service UE's IP address of the associated IOPS MC service ID in the system and its connectivity status on the system (see NOTE 2)
Table 10.3.2.4-1 describes the information flow for the IP connectivity notify response from the IOPS connectivity client to the IOPS MC connectivity function.
Table 10.3.2.5-1 describes the information flow for the IP connectivity group notify request from the IOPS MC connectivity function to the IOPS connectivity client.
Table 10.3.2.6-1 describes the information flow for the IP connectivity group notify response from the IOPS connectivity client to the IOPS MC connectivity function.
The procedure for the IP connectivity subscription of MC users in the IOPS mode of operation is described in Figure 10.3.3-1.
Pre-conditions:
The MC service user has an active PDN connection to the IOPS MC connectivity function for the specific IP connectivity functionality procedure
The MC service user is discovered by the IOPS MC connectivity function to support MC services based on the IP connectivity functionality.
The MC service user has decided to subscribe to receive connectivity information of other discovered MC users and/or IOPS groups on the IOPS MC connectivity function.
The IOPS connectivity client subscribes to receive connectivity information of other discovered MC users and/or groups on the IOPS MC connectivity function.
The IOPS MC connectivity function checks if a subscription for the MC service ID(s) and/or IOPS group(s) included in the request can be activated for the requesting MC user.
The IOPS MC connectivity function notifies to the IOPS connectivity client the connectivity information related to an active IP connectivity subscription associated to one or multiple MC service IDs. The connectivity information can be retrieved by the MC service client to establish an MC service communication based on the IP connectivity functionality.
The IOPS connectivity client provides an IP connectivity notify response to the IOPS MC connectivity function.
The procedure for the IP connectivity group notification of MC users in the IOPS mode of operation is described in Figure 10.3.3-3.
Pre-conditions:
The MC service user has an active PDN connection to the IOPS MC connectivity function for the specific IP connectivity functionality procedure
The MC service user has an active IP connectivity subscription associated to one or multiple IOPS MC service group IDs.
The IOPS MC connectivity function has available information related to an IP connectivity subscription associated to one or multiple IOPS MC service group IDs.
The IOPS MC connectivity function notifies to the IOPS connectivity client the group connectivity information related to an active IP connectivity group subscription associated to one or multiple IOPS MC service group IDs. The group connectivity information can be retrieved by the MC service client to establish an MC service group communication based on the IP connectivity functionality.
An IOPS MC connectivity function can provide support for group communications based on MBMS transmissions. MBMS transmissions can be used for the downlink delivery of MC service application signalling and media to the MC service UEs over MBMS bearers.
The use of MBMS transmissions in the IOPS mode of operation are based on the related information flows and procedures specified in TS 23.280, TS 23.379, and TS 23.282.
Table 10.4.2.1-1 describes the information flow to associate a group session based on the IP connectivity functionality to an MBMS bearer. It is sent from the IOPS MC connectivity function to the MC service client.
Table 10.4.2.2-1 describes the information flow to disconnect a group session based on the IP connectivity functionality from an MBMS bearer. It is sent from the IOPS MC connectivity function to the MC service client.
The MC services in the IOPS mode of operation shall support the procedure for using pre-established MBMS bearers as specified TS 23.280 with the following clarification:
The MC service server is the IOPS MC connectivity function.
The MCPTT service shall use the MCPTT-IOPS-2, MCPTT-IOPS-4, and MC-IOPS-6 reference points for this procedure.
The MCData service shall use the MCData-IOPS-2, MCData-IOPS-4, and MC-IOPS-6 reference points for this procedure.
The IOPS MC system may use pre-established MBMS bearers for distributing the media associated to group sessions. Depending on the capacity of the MBMS bearer, the bearer can be used to broadcast one or more group sessions in parallel.
The MC services in the IOPS mode of operation shall support the procedure for using dynamic MBMS bearers as specified TS 23.280 with the following clarification:
The MC service server is the IOPS MC connectivity function.
The MCPTT service shall use the MCPTT-IOPS-2, MCPTT-IOPS-4, and MC-IOPS-6 reference points for this procedure.
The MCData service shall use the MCData-IOPS-2, MCData-IOPS-4, and MC-IOPS-6 reference points for this procedure.
The IOPS MC system may use dynamic MBMS bearer establishment for distributing the media associated to group sessions.
MBMS bearers can be used for group sessions based on the IP connectivity functionality. One MBMS bearer can be associated to one or more specific groups or group sessions. Before sending packets related to a group session, i.e. signalling and media, over an MBMS bearer, the IOPS MC connectivity function transmits the association information between the group session and the MBMS bearer. When the group session over the MBMS bearer is finished, this temporary association information of a group session to specific resources on a MBMS bearer is undone. Prior to the association of a group session to an MBMS bearer the MBMS bearer is activated and announced to the MC service clients.
In Figure 10.4.5.2.1-1 the MC service client 1 is the client that initiates a group session, e.g. an MCPTT client initiating a group call. The MC service client 1 may be within the MBMS service area. The MC service clients 2 … n represent MC service clients, e.g. MCPTT clients, receiving the group session packets over an MBMS bearer. There may be other receiving MC service clients both over unicast bearers and over this or other MBMS bearer(s), however, they are not illustrated in this Figure.
Pre-conditions:
The MC service user profile used for the IOPS mode of operation is pre-provisioned in the MC service UEs
The IOPS MC service group ID and its associated IOPS group IP multicast address are pre-configured in the MC service clients
The MC service users have an active PDN connection to the IOPS MC connectivity function for the communication based on the IP connectivity functionality
The MC service users are discovered by the IOPS MC connectivity function to support MC services based on the IP connectivity functionality
MC user at the MC service client 1 wants to initiate an MC service group session with a specific IOPS MC service group based on the IP connectivity functionality.
The MC service client 1 transmits the related group session packets via the IOPS MC connectivity function targeting the IOPS MC service group (i.e. using the corresponding IOPS group IP multicast address)
The IOPS MC connectivity function determines that the received packets correspond to a group session. Therefore, the IOPS MC connectivity function transmits a MapIOPSGroupToBearer message over a previously established MBMS bearer to all users monitoring the MBMS bearer. The MapIOPSGroupToBearer message includes association information between the group session and the MBMS bearer. It includes the corresponding IOPS MC service group ID associated to the IOPS group IP multicast address related to the group session.
The IOPS MC connectivity function distributes the received group session packets from the MC service client 1 to other MC service clients (e.g. MC service clients 2 … n) over the MBMS bearer.
Figure 10.4.5.2.2-1 shows the high level procedure where an UnmapIOPSGroupFromBearer message is transmitted from the IOPS MC connectivity function to MC service clients to indicate that a group session is being disconnected or dissociated from the MBMS bearer.
A group session based on the IP connectivity functionality is ongoing; the group session packets received from the MC service client 1 are distributed over MBMS bearer to other MC service clients within the system.
An UnmapGroupFromBearer message is transmitted from the IOPS MC connectivity function to the MC service clients and possibly to the MC service client 1 (if it is within the MBMS coverage area) on MBMS bearer(s).