Sign in Subscribe

BM-SC (Broadcast multicast service center)

Last updated on 

Broadcast Multicast Service Center (BM-SC) is a key component of the 3GPP (Third Generation Partnership Project) architecture that enables the delivery of multimedia content to multiple users simultaneously. BM-SC is responsible for managing the content delivery to the user equipment (UE) in the form of multimedia broadcast and multicast service (MBMS). In this article, we will discuss in detail what BM-SC is, its architecture, its functionalities, and its applications.

BM-SC Architecture:

The BM-SC is a server that is connected to the core network of the mobile operator. It is responsible for managing the multimedia content delivery to the user equipment (UE) in the form of MBMS. The BM-SC receives the multimedia content from the content provider and distributes it to the MBMS gateway (MBMS-GW), which is responsible for transmitting the content to the user equipment (UE) over the air interface.

Functionalities of BM-SC:

  1. Service Announcement (SA) function: The SA function is responsible for providing the UE with the information about the available MBMS services. The SA function sends a list of available MBMS services to the UE, along with the relevant information such as the service type, the service area, the service schedule, and the service availability. This information is sent to the UE through the broadcast channel.
  2. Service & Content Management (SCM) function: The SCM function is responsible for managing the MBMS services and the associated content. It controls the access to the content, the scheduling of the services, and the content encryption/decryption. The SCM function interacts with the content provider to obtain the multimedia content and manages the content delivery to the MBMS-GW.
  3. Delivery Session Management (DSM) function: The DSM function is responsible for managing the delivery of the multimedia content to the UE. It establishes a delivery session between the UE and the MBMS-GW and manages the transfer of the content. The DSM function also provides the UE with the necessary information about the delivery session, such as the delivery status, the delivery schedule, and the delivery parameters.

Applications of BM-SC:

The BM-SC has several applications in the mobile communication industry, some of which are discussed below:

  1. Mobile TV: One of the main applications of BM-SC is the delivery of mobile TV services to the users. The BM-SC enables the mobile operator to deliver live TV channels and on-demand video content to the users over the air interface. This service can be used by the users to watch TV on their mobile devices, anywhere and anytime.
  2. Mobile Advertising: BM-SC can also be used for delivering mobile advertisements to the users. The mobile operator can broadcast the advertisements to a large number of users simultaneously, thereby increasing the reach and effectiveness of the advertising campaign. This service can be used by the advertisers to reach a large audience and promote their products/services.
  3. Public Safety: BM-SC can also be used for delivering public safety information to the users during emergency situations. The mobile operator can broadcast the emergency alerts and safety instructions to a large number of users simultaneously, thereby helping them to stay safe during the emergency.
  4. Music & Radio: BM-SC can also be used for delivering music and radio services to the users. The mobile operator can broadcast the music and radio channels to a large number of users simultaneously, thereby providing them with an enhanced music and radio experience on their mobile devices. This service can be used by the users to listen to their favorite music and radio channels on the go.
  5. Sports Events: BM-SC can also be used for delivering sports events to the users. The mobile operator can broadcast live sports events to a large number of users simultaneously, thereby enabling the users to watch their favorite sports events on their mobile devices.

Benefits of BM-SC:

  1. Enhanced User Experience: BM-SC enables the mobile operator to deliver multimedia content to the users in a more efficient and effective manner. This enhances the user experience by providing them with an enhanced multimedia experience on their mobile devices.
  2. Cost-Effective: BM-SC is a cost-effective solution for delivering multimedia content to the users. It enables the mobile operator to broadcast the multimedia content to a large number of users simultaneously, thereby reducing the cost of content delivery.
  3. Improved Content Delivery: BM-SC enables the mobile operator to deliver the multimedia content to the users in a more reliable and efficient manner. This improves the content delivery by reducing the content delivery time and improving the quality of the delivered content.
  4. Wide Coverage: BM-SC enables the mobile operator to deliver the multimedia content to a large number of users simultaneously, thereby providing wide coverage. This makes it an ideal solution for delivering multimedia content to the users in remote areas or areas with poor network coverage.

Conclusion:

BM-SC is a key component of the 3GPP architecture that enables the delivery of multimedia content to multiple users simultaneously. It is responsible for managing the content delivery to the user equipment (UE) in the form of multimedia broadcast and multicast service (MBMS). The BM-SC has several functional entities, including the Service Announcement (SA) function, the Service & Content Management (SCM) function, and the Delivery Session Management (DSM) function. BM-SC has several applications in the mobile communication industry, including mobile TV, mobile advertising, public safety, music & radio, and sports events. The BM-SC provides several benefits, including enhanced user experience, cost-effectiveness, improved content delivery, and wide coverage.