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MCE (MBMS coordination entity)

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The MBMS Coordination Entity (MCE) is an important component of the 3GPP Long-Term Evolution (LTE) network architecture. It is responsible for the management and coordination of Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS) sessions, which allow mobile operators to deliver high-bandwidth multimedia content such as live television broadcasts or video-on-demand to a large number of users simultaneously. In this article, we will discuss the MCE in more detail, including its function, architecture, and key features.

Function of MCE

The primary function of the MCE is to manage and coordinate MBMS sessions in the LTE network. This involves several tasks, such as:

  1. Session initiation: The MCE initiates the MBMS session by sending a request to the Multimedia Broadcast and Multicast Service Center (MBMSC) in the core network. The request includes information about the content to be broadcast, the time and duration of the session, and the target audience.
  2. Resource allocation: The MCE determines the appropriate radio resources to be allocated for the MBMS session. This includes deciding which physical channels to use for the broadcast and how much bandwidth to allocate to each channel.
  3. Service continuity: The MCE ensures that the MBMS service is continuously available to users, even as they move between different cells in the network. This involves coordinating with the radio network controllers (RNCs) and base stations to handover users between cells without interrupting the broadcast.
  4. Error correction: The MCE monitors the MBMS transmission for errors and takes corrective action if necessary. For example, if a user experiences poor signal quality, the MCE may allocate additional resources or switch to a different physical channel to improve the transmission.
  5. Session termination: The MCE terminates the MBMS session when it is no longer needed, either because the scheduled broadcast has ended or because there are no longer any users tuned into the service.

Architecture of MCE

The MCE is typically located in the Evolved Packet Core (EPC) of the LTE network. It communicates with other network components using standard interfaces defined by 3GPP. The MCE consists of two main functional entities: the MBMS Gateway (MBMS-GW) and the MBMS User Service (MBMS-US).

The MBMS Gateway is responsible for managing the radio resources used for the MBMS session. It communicates with the MBMSC to initiate and terminate the session, and with the RNCs and base stations to allocate and manage the physical channels used for the broadcast. The MBMS Gateway also performs error correction and retransmission if necessary.

The MBMS User Service is responsible for managing the user's interaction with the MBMS session. It provides the user with information about available MBMS services, such as the program schedule and content descriptions. It also handles user requests to join or leave an MBMS session, and provides feedback to the user about the quality of the service.

Key features of MCE

The MCE has several key features that make it an important component of the LTE network:

  1. Efficient use of resources: The MCE ensures that radio resources are allocated efficiently for MBMS sessions. This is achieved through dynamic resource allocation, where the MCE continuously monitors the quality of the radio transmission and adjusts the resource allocation accordingly.
  2. Service continuity: The MCE ensures that MBMS services are available to users at all times, even as they move between different cells in the network. This is achieved through handover procedures, where the MCE coordinates with the RNCs and base stations to transfer users between cells without interrupting the broadcast.
  3. Scalability: The MCE is designed to handle a large number of users simultaneously, making it ideal for delivering high-bandwidth multimedia content to a mass audience.
  4. Security: The MCE provides security features to ensure the confidentiality and integrity of MBMS transmissions. This includes encryption of the content and authentication of the users.
  5. QoS management: The MCE provides Quality of Service (QoS) management features to ensure that MBMS services are delivered with the appropriate level of quality to meet user requirements. This includes prioritization of traffic based on user preferences and resource availability.
  6. Broadcast/multicast support: The MCE supports both broadcast and multicast modes of transmission, allowing operators to choose the most appropriate mode for delivering different types of content.
  7. Network efficiency: The MCE reduces network congestion by using efficient transmission modes such as Single Frequency Network (SFN) and Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM), which allow multiple users to share the same radio resources.

Conclusion

The MBMS Coordination Entity (MCE) plays a critical role in managing and coordinating MBMS sessions in the LTE network. It is responsible for initiating, allocating resources, maintaining service continuity, error correction, and terminating the session when it is no longer needed. The MCE is designed to handle a large number of users simultaneously, making it ideal for delivering high-bandwidth multimedia content to a mass audience. It provides security, QoS management, broadcast/multicast support, and network efficiency features to ensure efficient delivery of multimedia content to users. As mobile networks continue to evolve towards 5G and beyond, the MCE is likely to remain an important component of the network architecture.