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AppleGranted patentNetworks & wirelessInterest 4/10

Apple patents method to keep group video streams running during cell handovers

Apple describes a technique for maintaining continuous multicast and broadcast services, such as group video or data streams, when a device switches between cell towers. The system allows the new tower to identify and resend any data packets the device missed during the switch, ensuring the stream does not drop or glitch.

Why it mattersThis improves the reliability of shared data streams like live sports or emergency alerts on 5G networks by preventing interruptions during handovers.

In the filing’s own words

Techniques are described for improving service continuity for Multicast and Broadcast Services (MBS) communications during handover. Techniques are included for supporting lossless handover and data forwarding during handover for peer-to-multiple (PTM) MBS transmission. Lossless handover may be achieved in part by the user equipment (UE) providing to the target base station an indication of the next packet of the MBS session to be received following an RRC reconfiguration message, and an indication of any MBS packets provided by the source base station prior to the RRC reconfiguration message that were not properly received by the UE. Data forwarding may be performed from the source base station to the target base station if the MBS session was not configured on the target base station prior to the handover. Data forwarding may be omitted if the MBS session was configured on the target base station prior to the handover.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. A method of performing communications of a Multicast and Broadcast Services (MBS) session, the method comprising: by a target base station of a wireless communication network: receiving, from a source base station of the wireless communication network, as part of a handover of the MBS session for a user equipment (UE) from the source base station to the target base station, a value of a packet data convergence protocol sequence number (PDCP SN) of a next physical data unit (PDU) of the MBS session for the UE; receiving, from the UE, the value of the PDCP SN of the next PDU and a value of a PDCP SN of a missed PDU of the MBS session, wherein the missed PDU was previously transmitted by the source base station via a peer-to-multiple PTM) message; transmitting the missed PDU to the UE via a peer-to-peer (PTP) message based on the value of the PDCP SN of the missed PDU received from the UE; transmitting the next PDU of the MBS session to the UE via a PTP message based on the value of the PDCP SN of the next PDU received from the source base station and from the UE; receiving, from a user plane function (UPF), additional PDUs for the MBS session; and allocating PDCP SNs for the respective additional PDUs for the MBS session based on respective headers of the respective additional PDUs.

Facts

Company
Apple (Apple Inc.)
Official title
Multicast and broadcast services (MBS) mobility with service continuity in connected state
Patent number
US12739708B2
Application number
18651112
Filed
Apr 30, 2024
Granted
Sep 15, 2026
Inventors
9
Claims
14

Classified under

H04W 36/0007 Electricity & electronicsH04W 4/06 Electricity & electronicsH04W 36/0235 Electricity & electronicsH04W 36/08 Electricity & electronics
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.