Method and system for reducing message instances

Abstract

A method and system for transmitting data with reduced message instances is disclosed. A wireless message network uses destination identifiers and message pointers to direct message data to multiple mobile units and avoid duplication of messages. In order to provide increased efficiency in the case of duplicate messages, a pointer to a message may be associated with multiple destination identifiers.

1 . A method for transmitting messages in a wireless communication network, the method comprising: 
 receiving a new message for transmission to a destination wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU);    determining whether the new message is identical to a pending message that is awaiting transmission to another WTRU;    adding the destination WTRU to a list of WTRUs identified for receipt of the pending message when the determination is positive;    providing all WTRUs on the list with a transmission schedule indicating when the pending message will be transmitted; and    transmitting a single instance of the pending message at a time indicated by the transmission schedule.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 adjusting the transmission schedule of the pending message in accordance with a maximum allowable delay of the new message.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the transmission schedule includes a plurality of system information blocks (SIBs).  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the transmission schedule includes a master information block (MIB) and a plurality of SIB pointers, each SIB pointer indicating where to find a corresponding SIB.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the transmission schedule is provided periodically whereby a WTRU detects a SIB periodically and only reads the MIB when the transmission schedule for the SIB changes.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the SIB contains data messages.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising: 
 receiving an indication of receipt from a WTRU after the WTRU detects an existence of a message based on the MIB.    
   
   
       8 . A network station for transmitting messages in a wireless communication network, the network station comprising: 
 a processor configured to determine whether a new message to be transmitted to a destination wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) is identical to a pending message that is awaiting transmission, and when the determination is positive to add the destination WTRU to a list of WTRUs identified for receipt of the pending message; and    a transmitter configured to provide a transmission schedule to all WTRUs on the list indicating when the pending message will be transmitted to said WTRUs, and to transmit a single instance of the pending message at a time indicated by the transmission schedule.    
   
   
       9 . The network station of  claim 8  wherein the transmitter is further configured to adjust the transmission schedule of the pending message in accordance with a maximum allowable delay of the new message.  
   
   
       10 . The network station of  claim 8  wherein the transmission schedule includes a plurality of system information blocks (SIBs) for informing the WTRUs of the transmission schedule of the pending message.  
   
   
       11 . The network station of  claim 10  wherein the transmission schedule includes a master information block (MIB) including a plurality of SIB pointers to all WTRUs on the list, each SIB pointer indicating where to find the corresponding SIB.  
   
   
       12 . The network station of  claim 11  wherein the transmission schedule is transmitted periodically such that a WTRU detects a SIB periodically and only detects the MIB when the transmission schedule for the SIB changes.  
   
   
       13 . The network station of  claim 11  wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit data messages in the SIB.  
   
   
       14 . A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) for receiving messages in a wireless communication system, the WTRU comprising: 
 a receiver configured to receive a transmission schedule indicating the WTRU is identified for receipt of a message and when the pending message will be transmitted to the WTRU, wherein the transmission schedule identified all WTRUs identified for receipt of the pending message, and to receive the pending message where indicated by the transmission schedule.    
   
   
       15 . The WTRU of  claim 14 , wherein the transmission schedule received by the WTRU accounts for a maximum allowable delay of the pending message.  
   
   
       16 . The WTRU of  claim 14 , wherein the transmission schedule received by the WTRU includes a plurality of system information blocks (SIBs).  
   
   
       17 . The WTRU of  claim 16 , wherein the transmission schedule received by the WTRU includes a master information block (MIB) and a plurality of SIB pointers, each SIB pointer indicating where to find a corresponding SIB.  
   
   
       18 . The WTRU of  claim 17 , wherein the transmission schedule received by the WTRU is provided periodically whereby a WTRU detects a SIB periodically and only reads the MIB when the transmission schedule for the SIB changes.  
   
   
       19 . The WTRU of  claim 17 , wherein the SIB contains data.  
   
   
       20 . The WTRU of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 a transmitter configured to transmit an indication of receipt after the WTRU detects an existence of a message based on the MIB.