Method and system for a multicast service initiation in a communication system

• US 20040131075A1
• Filed: 07/09/2002
• Published: 07/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Wang, Jun, Chen, Tao, Sinnarajah, Ragulan, Leung, Nikolai K.N.
• Granted Patent: US 7,796,631 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/431
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/30 Resource management for broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/22 Manipulation of transport tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/40 for selective distribution or broadcast

Abstract

Method and a system for multicast service notification in cellular telephone system to enable the cellular telephone systems to provide both multicast and point-to-point services are disclosed. Several embodiments describe the signaling interaction between an access network and subscriber stations belonging to a multicast group to allow the access network to assign a channel conveying the multicast service between the access network and the subscriber stations.

Claims

1. A method for a multicast service channel assignment in a communication system, comprising:

including a channel assignment information into at least one periodically repeated message; and

transmitting the periodically repeated message on a first channel.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said including a channel assignment information into at least one periodically repeated message comprises:

including a channel assignment information into at least one periodically repeated message;

said message further comprising a multicast service notification.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said including a channel assignment information into at least one periodically repeated message comprises:

including a shared channel assignment information into at least one periodically repeated message.

4. A method for a multicast service channel assignment to a subscriber station in a communication system, comprising:

monitoring a periodically repeated message on a channel; and

decoding the periodically repeated message to determine if a multicast service notification and a channel assignment information was included in the periodically repeated message.

5. A method for a channel assignment for a multicast service in a communication system, comprising:

including a channel assignment information and a multicast service notification into a message; and

transmitting the message at least once on a first channel.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5 wherein said including a channel assignment information into a message comprises:

including a shared channel assignment information into the message.

7. A method for a channel assignment for a multicast service in a communication system, comprising:

monitoring a slot of a channel; and

decoding a message conveyed in the slot to determine if a channel assignment information and a multicast service notification was included in the message.

8. A method for a multicast service channel assignment in a communication system, comprising:

broadcasting a multicast service notification;

receiving at least one response to said broadcasted multicast service notification; and

assigning the multicast service channel in accordance with said received at least one response.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8 wherein said assigning the multicast service channel in accordance with said receiving at least one response comprises:

assigning a shared multicast service channel if the number of responses exceeds a pre-determined threshold.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9 wherein said assigning a shared multicast service channel comprises:

including the shared multicast service channel assignment information into a message; and

transmitting the message at least once on at least one channel.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10 wherein said transmitting the message at least once on at least one channel comprises:

transmitting the message in any slot of a first channel.

12. The method as claimed in claim 10 wherein said transmitting the message at least once on at least one channel comprises:

including an indicator into a pre-determined slot on a first channel; and

including the message into a slot on a second channel, the slot corresponding to the pre-determined slot on the first channel, if a channel assignment information was indicated by the indicator.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12 wherein said including the indicator into a pre-determined slot comprises:

determining a broadcast paging cycle; and

including the indicator into an n-th slot of each broadcast paging cycle.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13 wherein said including the indicator into an n-th slot of each broadcast paging cycle comprises:

including the indicator into the first slot of each broadcast paging cycle.

15. The method as claimed in claim 12 wherein said including a message into a slot on a second channel comprises:

including the message into the slot on the second channel, the slot being offset from the pre-determined slot on the first channel by a pre-determined interval.

16. The method as claimed in claim 10 wherein said transmitting the message at least once on at least one channel comprises:

including an indicator into a first slot on a first channel; and

including the message into a second slot on a second channel, the second slot corresponding to the first slot, if a channel assignment information was indicated by the indicator.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16 wherein said including an indicator into a first slot comprises:

determining a multicast paging cycle; and

determining the first slot in accordance with the multicast paging cycle and a multicast group identifier.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17 wherein said determining the first slot in accordance with the multicast paging cycle and a multicast group identifier comprises:

inputting the multicast paging cycle and the multicast group identifier into a hashing function; and

setting the first slot to a value outputted by the hashing function.

19. The method as claimed in claim 16 wherein said including a message into a second slot on a second channel comprises:

including the message into the second slot on the second channel, the second slot being offset from the first slot by a pre-determined interval.

20. The method as claimed in claim 19 wherein said second slot being offset from the first slot by a pre-determined interval comprises:

second slot being offset from the first slot by 100 milliseconds.

21. The method as claimed in claim 10 wherein said broadcasting a multicast service notification comprises:

broadcasting a multicast service notification and a slot indicator.

22. The method as claimed in claim 21 wherein said assigning the multicast service channel in accordance with said receiving at least one response comprises:

including a shared multicast service channel assignment information into a message; and

transmitting the message in a slot indicated by the slot indicator on a first channel.

23. The method as claimed in claim 10 wherein said transmitting the message at least once on at least one channel comprising:

determining the at least one slot on the at least one channel in accordance with said received at least one response; and

transmitting the message in said determined at least one slot of the at least one channel.

24. The method as claimed in claim 8 wherein said assigning the multicast service channel in accordance with said receiving at least one response comprises:

assigning a dedicated multicast service channels if the number of responses is below the pre-determined threshold.

25. The method as claimed in claim 24 wherein said assigning a dedicated multicast service channels comprises:

including the dedicated multicast service channel assignment information into a message; and

transmitting the message at least once on at least one channel.

26. The method as claimed in claim 25 wherein said transmitting the message at least once on at least one channel comprises:

determining the at least one slot on the at least one channel in accordance with said received at least one response; and

transmitting the message in said determined at least one slot of the at least one channel.

27. The method as claimed in claim 25 wherein said transmitting the message at least once on at least one channel comprises:

transmitting the message in any slot of the first channel.

28. The method as claimed in claim 25 wherein said transmitting the message at least once on at least one channel comprises:

including an indicator into a pre-determined slot on a first channel; and

including the message into a slot on a second channel, the slot corresponding to the pre-determined slot on the first channel, if a channel assignment information was indicated by the indicator.

29. The method as claimed in claim 28 wherein said including the indicator into a pre-determined slot comprises:

determining a broadcast paging cycle; and

including the indicator into an n-th slot of each broadcast paging cycle.

30. The method as claimed in claim 29 wherein said including the indicator into an n-th slot of each broadcast paging cycle comprises:

including the indicator into the first slot of each broadcast paging cycle.

31. The method as claimed in claim 28 wherein said including a message into a slot on a second channel comprises:

including the message into the slot on the second channel, the slot being offset from the pre-determined slot on the first channel by a pre-determined interval.

32. The method as claimed in claim 25 wherein said transmitting the message at least once on at least one channel comprises:

including an indicator into a first slot on a first channel; and

including the message into a second slot on a second channel, the second slot corresponding to the first slot, if a channel assignment information was indicated by the indicator.

33. The method as claimed in claim 32 wherein said including an indicator into a first slot comprises:

determining a multicast paging cycle; and

determining the first slot in accordance with the multicast paging cycle and a multicast group identifier.

34. The method as claimed in claim 33 wherein said determining the first slot in accordance with the multicast paging cycle and a multicast group identifier comprises:

inputting the multicast paging cycle and the multicast group identifier into a hashing function; and

setting the first slot to a value outputted by the hashing function.

35. The method as claimed in claim 32 wherein said including a message into a second slot on a second channel comprises:

including the message into the second slot on the second channel, the second slot being offset from the first slot by a pre-determined interval.

36. The method as claimed in claim 35 wherein said second slot being offset from the first slot by a pre-determined interval comprises:

second slot being offset from the first slot by 100 milliseconds.

37. The method as claimed in claim 24 wherein said broadcasting a multicast service notification comprises:

broadcasting a multicast service notification and a slot indicator.

38. The method as claimed in claim 25 wherein said assigning the multicast service channel in accordance with said receiving at least one response comprises:

including a dedicated multicast service channels assignment information into a message; and

transmitting the message in a slot indicated by the slot indicator on a first channel.

39. A method for a multicast service channel assignment in a communication system, comprising:

including a channel assignment information into a plurality of messages; and

transmitting the plurality of messages on a first channel.

40. The method as claimed in claim 39 wherein said including a channel assignment information into a plurality of messages comprises:

including a channel assignment information into a plurality of messages;

said message comprising a multicast service notification.

41. The method as claimed in claim 40 wherein said including a channel assignment information into a plurality of messages comprises:

including a shared channel assignment information into the plurality of messages.

43. The method as claimed in claim 40 wherein said including a channel assignment information into a plurality of messages comprises:

including a dedicated channel assignment information into a message of the plurality of messages.

42. A method for a multicast service channel assignment to a subscriber station in a communication system, comprising:

monitoring a periodically repeated message on a channel; and

decoding the periodically repeated message to determine if a multicast service notification and a channel assignment information was included in the periodically repeated message.

44. A method for a multicast service channel assignment in a communication system, comprising:

including a multicast service notification into a plurality of messages;

transmitting the plurality of messages on a first channel.

receiving at least one response to said plurality of messages; and

assigning the multicast service channel in accordance with said received at least one response.

45. The method as claimed in claim 44 wherein said assigning the multicast service channel in accordance with said receiving at least one response comprises:

assigning a shared multicast service channel if the number of responses exceeds a pre-determined threshold.

46. The method as claimed in claim 45 wherein said assigning a shared multicast service channel comprises:

including the shared multicast service channel assignment information into a message; and

transmitting the message at least once on a first channel.

47. The method as claimed in claim 46 wherein said transmitting the message at least once on a first channel comprises:

transmitting the message in any slot of the first channel.

48. The method as claimed in claim 46 wherein said transmitting the message at least once on at least one channel comprises:

including an indicator into a pre-determined slot on a first channel; and

including the message into a slot on a second channel, the slot corresponding to the pre-determined slot on the first channel, if a channel assignment information was indicated by the indicator.

49. The method as claimed in claim 48 wherein said including the indicator into a pre-determined slot comprises:

determining a broadcast paging cycle; and

including the indicator into an n-th slot of each broadcast paging cycle.

50. The method as claimed in claim 49 wherein said including the indicator into an n-th slot of each broadcast paging cycle comprises:

including the indicator into the first slot of each broadcast paging cycle.

51. The method as claimed in claim 48 wherein said including a message into a slot on a second channel comprises:

including the message into the slot on the second channel, the slot being offset from the pre-determined slot on the first channel by a pre-determined interval.

52. The method as claimed in claim 46 wherein said transmitting the message at least once on at least one channel comprises:

including an indicator into a first slot on a first channel; and

including the message into a second slot on a second channel, the second slot corresponding to the first slot, if a channel assignment information was indicated by the indicator.

53. The method as claimed in claim 52 wherein said including an indicator into a first slot comprises:

determining a multicast paging cycle; and

determining the first slot in accordance with the multicast paging cycle and a multicast group identifier.

54. The method as claimed in claim 53 wherein said determining the first slot in accordance with the multicast paging cycle and a multicast group identifier comprises:

inputting the multicast paging cycle and the multicast group identifier into a hashing function; and

setting the first slot to a value outputted by the hashing function.

55. The method as claimed in claim 52 wherein said including a message into a second slot on a second channel comprises:

including the message into the second slot on the second channel, the second slot being offset from the first slot by a pre-determined interval.

56. The method as claimed in claim 55 wherein said second slot being offset from the first slot by a pre-determined interval comprises:

second slot being offset from the first slot by 100 milliseconds.

57. The method as claimed in claim 46 wherein said including a multicast service notification into a plurality of messages comprises:

including a multicast service notification and a slot indicator into a plurality of messages.

58. The method as claimed in claim 57 wherein said assigning the multicast service channel in accordance with said receiving at least one response comprises:

including a shared multicast service channel assignment information into a message; and

transmitting the message in a slot indicated by the slot indicator on a first channel.

59. The method as claimed in claim 46 wherein said transmitting the message at least once on at least one channel comprising:

determining the at least one slot on the at least one channel in accordance with said received at least one response; and

transmitting the message in said determined at least one slot of the at least one channel.

60. The method as claimed in claim 44 wherein said assigning the multicast service channel in accordance with said receiving at least one response comprises:

assigning a dedicated multicast service channels if the number of responses is below the pre-determined threshold.

61. The method as claimed in claim 60 wherein said assigning a dedicated multicast service channels comprises:

including the dedicated multicast service channels assignment information into a message; and

transmitting the message at least once on a first channel.

62. The method as claimed in claim 61 wherein said transmitting the message at least once on a first channel comprises:

determining at least one slot in accordance with said received at least one response; and

transmitting the message in said determined at least one slot of the first channel.

63. The method as claimed in claim 61 wherein said transmitting the message at least once on a first channel comprises:

transmitting the message in any slot of the first channel.

64. The method as claimed in claim 61 wherein said transmitting the message at least once on at least one channel comprises:

including an indicator into a pre-determined slot on a first channel; and

including the message into a slot on a second channel, the slot corresponding to the pre-determined slot on the first channel, if a channel assignment information was indicated by the indicator.

65. The method as claimed in claim 64 wherein said including the indicator into a pre-determined slot comprises:

determining a broadcast paging cycle; and

including the indicator into an n-th slot of each broadcast paging cycle.

66. The method as claimed in claim 65 wherein said including the indicator into an n-th slot of each broadcast paging cycle comprises:

including the indicator into the first slot of each broadcast paging cycle.

67. The method as claimed in claim 64 wherein said including a message into a slot on a second channel comprises:

including the message into the slot on the second channel, the slot being offset from the pre-determined slot on the first channel by a pre-determined interval.

68. The method as claimed in claim 61 wherein said transmitting the message at least once on at least one channel comprises:

including an indicator into a first slot on a first channel; and

including the message into a second slot on a second channel, the second slot corresponding to the first slot, if a channel assignment information was indicated by the indicator.

69. The method as claimed in claim 68 wherein said including an indicator into a first slot comprises:

determining a multicast paging cycle; and

determining the first slot in accordance with the multicast paging cycle and a multicast group identifier.

70. The method as claimed in claim 69 wherein said determining the first slot in accordance with the multicast paging cycle and a multicast group identifier comprises:

inputting the multicast paging cycle and the multicast group identifier into a hashing function; and

setting the first slot to a value outputted by the hashing function.

71. The method as claimed in claim 70 wherein said including a message into a second slot on a second channel comprises:

including the message into the second slot on the second channel, the second slot being offset from the first slot by a pre-determined interval.

72. The method as claimed in claim 68 wherein said second slot being offset from the first slot by a pre-determined interval comprises:

second slot being offset from the first slot by 100 milliseconds.

73. The method as claimed in claim 61 wherein said including a multicast service notification into a plurality of messages comprises:

including a multicast service notification and a slot indicator into a plurality of messages.

74. The method as claimed in claim 73 wherein said assigning the multicast service channel in accordance with said receiving at least one response comprises:

including a dedicated multicast service channels assignment information into a message; and

transmitting the message in a slot indicated by the slot indicator on a first channel.

75. An apparatus for a multicast service channel assignment in a communication system, comprising:

a transmitter;

a processor coupled to the transmitter; and

a storage medium coupled to the processor and containing a set of instructions executable by the processor to;

include a channel assignment information into at least one periodically repeated message; and

cause the transmitter to transmit the periodically repeated message on a first channel.

76. The apparatus as claimed in claim 75 wherein said processor includes channel assignment information into at least one periodically repeated message by executing a set of instructions to:

include channel assignment information into at least one periodically repeated message;

said message further comprising a multicast service notification.

77. The apparatus as claimed in claim 75 wherein said processor includes channel assignment information into at least one periodically repeated message by executing a set of instructions to:

include a shared channel assignment information into at least one periodically repeated message.

78. An apparatus for a multicast service channel assignment in a communication system, comprising:

a subscriber station configured to;

monitor a periodically repeated message on a channel; and

decode the periodically repeated message to determine if a multicast service notification and channel assignment information was included in the periodically repeated message.

79. An apparatus for a channel assignment for a multicast service in a communication system, comprising:

a transmitter;

a processor coupled to the transmitter; and

a storage medium coupled to the processor and containing a set of instructions executable by the processor to;

include channel assignment information and a multicast service notification into a message; and

cause the transmitter to transmit the message at least once on a first channel.

80. The apparatus as claimed in claim 79 wherein said processor includes channel assignment information into a message by executing a set of instructions to:

include a shared channel assignment information into the message.

81. An apparatus for a channel assignment for a multicast service in a communication system, comprising:

a subscriber station configure to;

monitor a slot of a channel; and

decode a message conveyed in the slot to determine if channel assignment information and a multicast service notification was included in the message.

82. An apparatus for a multicast service channel assignment in a communication system, comprising:

a processor; and

a storage medium coupled to the processor and containing a set of instructions executable by the processor to;

broadcast a multicast service notification;

receive at least one response to said broadcasted multicast service notification; and

assign the multicast service channel in accordance with said received at least one response.

83. The apparatus as claimed in claim 82 wherein said processor assigns the multicast service channel in accordance with said receiving at least one response by executing a set of instructions to:

assign a shared multicast service channel if the number of responses exceeds a pre-determined threshold.

84. The apparatus as claimed in claim 83 further comprising:

a transmitter coupled to said processor, wherein said processor assigns a shared multicast service channel by executing a set of instructions to;

include the shared multicast service channel assignment information into a message; and

cause said transmitter to transmit the message at least once on at least one channel.

85. The apparatus as claimed in claim 84 wherein said processor causes said transmitter to transmit the message at least once on at least one channel by executing a set of instructions to:

cause said transmitter to transmit the message in any slot of a first channel.

86. The apparatus as claimed in claim 84 wherein said processor causes said transmitter to transmit the message at least once on at least one channel by executing a set of instructions to:

include an indicator into a pre-determined slot on a first channel; and

include the message into a slot on a second channel, the slot corresponding to the pre-determined slot on the first channel, if channel assignment information was indicated by the indicator.

87. The apparatus as claimed in claim 86 wherein said processor includes the indicator into a pre-determined slot by executing a set of instructions to:

determine a broadcast paging cycle; and

include the indicator into an n-th slot of each broadcast paging cycle.

88. The apparatus as claimed in claim 87 wherein said processor includes the indicator into an n-th slot of each broadcast paging cycle by executing a set of instructions to:

include the indicator into the first slot of each broadcast paging cycle.

89. The apparatus as claimed in claim 86 wherein said processor includes a message into a slot on a second channel by executing a set of instructions to:

include the message into the slot on the second channel, the slot being offset from the pre-determined slot on the first channel by a pre-determined interval.

90. The apparatus as claimed in claim 84 wherein said processor causes said transmitter to transmit the message at least once on at least one channel by executing a set of instructions to:

include an indicator into a first slot on a first channel; and

include the message into a second slot on a second channel, the second slot corresponding to the first slot, if channel assignment information was indicated by the indicator.

91. The apparatus as claimed in claim 90 wherein said processor includes an indicator into a first slot by executing a set of instructions to:

determine a multicast paging cycle; and

determine the first slot in accordance with the multicast paging cycle and a multicast group identifier.

92. The apparatus as claimed in claim 91 wherein said processor determines the first slot in accordance with the multicast paging cycle and a multicast group identifier by executing a set of instructions to:

input the multicast paging cycle and the multicast group identifier into a hashing function; and

set the first slot to a value outputted by the hashing function.

93. The apparatus as claimed in claim 90 wherein said processor includes a message into a second slot on a second channel by executing a set of instructions to:

include the message into the second slot on the second channel, the second slot being offset from the first slot by a pre-determined interval.

94. The apparatus as claimed in claim 93 wherein said processor offsets the second slot from the first slot by a pre-determined interval by executing a set of instructions to:

offset the second slot from the first slot by 100 milliseconds.

95. The apparatus as claimed in claim 84 wherein said processor broadcasts a multicast service notification processing a set of instructions to:

broadcast a multicast service notification and a slot indicator.

96. The apparatus as claimed in claim 95 wherein said processor assigns the multicast service channel in accordance with said receiving at least one response processing a set of instructions to:

include a shared multicast service channel assignment information into a message; and

cause said transmitter to transmit the message in a slot indicated by the slot indicator on a first channel.

97. The apparatus as claimed in claim 84 wherein said processor causes said transmitter to transmit the message at least once on at least one channel processing a set of instructions to:

determine the at least one slot on the at least one channel in accordance with said received at least one response; and

cause said transmitter to transmit the message in said determined at least one slot of the at least one channel.

98. The apparatus as claimed in claim 82 wherein said processor assigns the multicast service channel in accordance with said receiving at least one response processing a set of instructions to:

assign a dedicated multicast service channels if the number of responses is below the pre-determined threshold.

99. The apparatus as claimed in claim 98 wherein said processor assigns a dedicated multicast service channels processing a set of instructions to:

include the dedicated multicast service channel assignment information into a message; and

cause said transmitter to transmit the message at least once on at least one channel.

100. The apparatus as claimed in claim 99 wherein said processor causes said transmitter to transmit the message at least once on at least one channel processing a set of instructions to:

determine the at least one slot on the at least one channel in accordance with said received at least one response; and

cause said transmitter to transmit the message in said determined at least one slot of the at least one channel.

101. The apparatus as claimed in claim 99 wherein said processor causes said transmitter to transmit the message at least once on at least one channel processing a set of instructions to:

cause said transmitter to transmit the message in any slot of the first channel.

102. The apparatus as claimed in claim 99 wherein said processor causes said transmitter to transmit the message at least once on at least one channel processing a set of instructions to:

include an indicator into a pre-determined slot on a first channel; and

include the message into a slot on a second channel, the slot corresponding to the pre-determined slot on the first channel, if channel assignment information was indicated by the indicator.

103. The apparatus as claimed in claim 102 wherein said processor includes the indicator into a pre-determined slot processing a set of instructions to:

determine a broadcast paging cycle; and

include the indicator into an n-th slot of each broadcast paging cycle.

104. The apparatus as claimed in claim 103 wherein said processor includes the indicator into an n-th slot of each broadcast paging cycle processing a set of instructions to:

include the indicator into the first slot of each broadcast paging cycle.

105. The apparatus as claimed in claim 102 wherein said processor includes a message into a slot on a second channel processing a set of instructions to:

include the message into the slot on the second channel, the slot being offset from the pre-determined slot on the first channel by a pre-determined interval.

106. The apparatus as claimed in claim 99 wherein said processor causes said transmitter to transmit the message at least once on at least one channel processing a set of instructions to:

include an indicator into a first slot on a first channel; and

include the message into a second slot on a second channel, the second slot corresponding to the first slot, if channel assignment information was indicated by the indicator.

107. The apparatus as claimed in claim 106 wherein said processor includes an indicator into a first slot processing a set of instructions to:

determine a multicast paging cycle; and

determine the first slot in accordance with the multicast paging cycle and a multicast group identifier.

108. The apparatus as claimed in claim 107 wherein said processor determines the first slot in accordance with the multicast paging cycle and a multicast group identifier processing a set of instructions to:

input the multicast paging cycle and the multicast group identifier into a hashing function; and

set the first slot to a value outputted by the hashing function.

109. The apparatus as claimed in claim 106 wherein said processor includes a message into a second slot on a second channel processing a set of instructions to:

include the message into the second slot on the second channel, the second slot being offset from the first slot by a pre-determined interval.

110. The apparatus as claimed in claim 109 wherein said processor offsets the second slot from the first slot by a pre-determined interval processing a set of instructions to:

offset the second slot from the first slot by 100 milliseconds.

111. The apparatus as claimed in claim 98 wherein said processor broadcasts a multicast service notification processing a set of instructions to:

broadcast a multicast service notification and a slot indicator.

112. The apparatus as claimed in claim 99 wherein said processor assigns the multicast service channel in accordance with said receiving at least one response processing a set of instructions to:

include a dedicated multicast service channels assignment information into a message; and

cause said transmitter to transmit the message in a slot indicated by the slot indicator on a first channel.

113. An apparatus for a multicast service channel assignment in a communication system, comprising:

a transmitter;

a processor coupled to the transmitter; and

a storage medium coupled to the processor and containing a set of instructions executable by the processor to;

include channel assignment information into a plurality of messages; and

cause said transmitter to transmit the plurality of messages on a first channel.

114. The apparatus as claimed in claim 113 wherein said processor includes channel assignment information into a plurality of messages by executing a set of instructions to:

include channel assignment information into a plurality of messages;

said message comprising a multicast service notification.

115. The apparatus as claimed in claim 114 wherein said processor includes channel assignment information into a plurality of messages by executing a set of instructions to:

include a shared channel assignment information into the plurality of messages.

117. The apparatus as claimed in claim 114 wherein said processor includes channel assignment information into a plurality of messages by executing a set of instructions to:

include a dedicated channel assignment information into a message of the plurality of messages.

116. An apparatus for a multicast service channel assignment in a communication system, comprising:

a subscriber station configured to;

monitor a periodically repeated message on a channel; and

decode the periodically repeated message to determine if a multicast service notification and channel assignment information was included in the periodically repeated message.

118. An apparatus for a multicast service channel assignment in a communication system, comprising:

a transmitter;

a receiver;

a processor coupled to said transmitter and said receiver; and

a storage medium coupled to the processor and containing a set of instructions executable by the processor to;

include a multicast service notification into a plurality of messages;

cause said transmitter to transmit the plurality of messages on a first channel.

cause said receiver to receive at least one response to said plurality of messages; and

assign the multicast service channel in accordance with said received at least one response.

119. The apparatus as claimed in claim 118 wherein said processor assigns the multicast service channel in accordance with said receiving at least one response by executing a set of instructions to:

assign a shared multicast service channel if the number of responses exceeds a pre-determined threshold.

120. The apparatus as claimed in claim 119 wherein said processor assigns a shared multicast service channel by executing a set of instructions to:

include the shared multicast service channel assignment information into a message; and

cause said transmitter to transmit the message at least once on a first channel.

121. The apparatus as claimed in claim 120 wherein said processor causes said transmitter to transmit the message at least once on a first channel by executing a set of instructions to:

cause said transmitter to transmit the message in any slot of the first channel.

122. The apparatus as claimed in claim 120 wherein said processor causes said transmitter to transmit the message at least once on at least one channel by executing a set of instructions to:

include an indicator into a pre-determined slot on a first channel; and

include the message into a slot on a second channel, the slot corresponding to the pre-determined slot on the first channel, if channel assignment information was indicated by the indicator.

123. The apparatus as claimed in claim 122 wherein said processor includes the indicator into a pre-determined slot by executing a set of instructions to:

determine a broadcast paging cycle; and

include the indicator into an n-th slot of each broadcast paging cycle.

124. The apparatus as claimed in claim 123 wherein said processor includes the indicator into an n-th slot of each broadcast paging cycle by executing a set of instructions to:

include the indicator into the first slot of each broadcast paging cycle.

125. The apparatus as claimed in claim 122 wherein said processor includes a message into a slot on a second channel by executing a set of instructions to:

include the message into the slot on the second channel, the slot being offset from the pre-determined slot on the first channel by a pre-determined interval.

126. The apparatus as claimed in claim 120 wherein said processor causes said transmitter to transmit the message at least once on at least one channel by executing a set of instructions to:

include an indicator into a first slot on a first channel; and

include the message into a second slot on a second channel, the second slot corresponding to the first slot, if channel assignment information was indicated by the indicator.

127. The apparatus as claimed in claim 126 wherein said processor includes an indicator into a first slot by executing a set of instructions to:

determine a multicast paging cycle; and

determine the first slot in accordance with the multicast paging cycle and a multicast group identifier.

128. The apparatus as claimed in claim 127 wherein said processor determines the first slot in accordance with the multicast paging cycle and a multicast group identifier by executing a set of instructions to:

input the multicast paging cycle and the multicast group identifier into a hashing function; and

set the first slot to a value outputted by the hashing function.

129. The apparatus as claimed in claim 126 wherein said processor includes a message into a second slot on a second channel by executing a set of instructions to:

include the message into the second slot on the second channel, the second slot being offset from the first slot by a pre-determined interval.

130. The apparatus as claimed in claim 129 wherein said processor offsets the second slot from the first slot by a pre-determined interval by executing a set of instructions to:

offset the second slot from the first slot by 100 milliseconds.

131. The apparatus as claimed in claim 120 wherein said processor includes a multicast service notification into a plurality of messages by executing a set of instructions to:

include a multicast service notification and a slot indicator into a plurality of messages.

132. The apparatus as claimed in claim 131 wherein said processor assigns the multicast service channel in accordance with said receiving at least one response by executing a set of instructions to:

include a shared multicast service channel assignment information into a message; and

cause said transmitter to transmit the message in a slot indicated by the slot indicator on a first channel.

133. The apparatus as claimed in claim 120 wherein said processor causes said transmitter to transmit the message at least once on at least one channel by executing a set of instructions to:

determine the at least one slot on the at least one channel in accordance with said received at least one response; and

cause said transmitter to transmit the message in said determined at least one slot of the at least one channel.

134. The apparatus as claimed in claim 118 wherein said processor assigns the multicast service channel in accordance with said receiving at least one response by executing a set of instructions to:

assign a dedicated multicast service channels if the number of responses is below the pre-determined threshold.

135. The apparatus as claimed in claim 134 wherein said processor assigns a dedicated multicast service channels by executing a set of instructions to:

include the dedicated multicast service channels assignment information into a message; and

cause said transmitter to transmit the message at least once on a first channel.

136. The apparatus as claimed in claim 135 wherein said processor causes said transmitter to transmit the message at least once on a first channel by executing a set of instructions to:

determine at least one slot in accordance with said received at least one response; and

cause said transmitter to transmit the message in said determined at least one slot of the first channel.

137. The apparatus as claimed in claim 135 wherein said processor causes said transmitter to transmit the message at least once on a first channel by executing a set of instructions to:

cause said transmitter to transmit the message in any slot of the first channel.

138. The apparatus as claimed in claim 135 wherein said processor causes said transmitter to transmit the message at least once on at least one channel by executing a set of instructions to:

include an indicator into a pre-determined slot on a first channel; and

include the message into a slot on a second channel, the slot corresponding to the pre-determined slot on the first channel, if channel assignment information was indicated by the indicator.

139. The apparatus as claimed in claim 138 wherein said processor includes the indicator into a pre-determined slot by executing a set of instructions to:

determine a broadcast paging cycle; and

include the indicator into an n-th slot of each broadcast paging cycle.

140. The apparatus as claimed in claim 139 wherein said processor includes the indicator into an n-th slot of each broadcast paging cycle by executing a set of instructions to:

include the indicator into the first slot of each broadcast paging cycle.

141. The apparatus as claimed in claim 138 wherein said processor includes a message into a slot on a second channel by executing a set of instructions to:

include the message into the slot on the second channel, the slot being offset from the pre-determined slot on the first channel by a pre-determined interval.

142. The apparatus as claimed in claim 135 wherein said processor causes said transmitter to transmit the message at least once on at least one channel by executing a set of instructions to:

include an indicator into a first slot on a first channel; and

include the message into a second slot on a second channel, the second slot corresponding to the first slot, if channel assignment information was indicated by the indicator.

143. The apparatus as claimed in claim 142 wherein said processor includes an indicator into a first slot by executing a set of instructions to:

determine a multicast paging cycle; and

determine the first slot in accordance with the multicast paging cycle and a multicast group identifier.

144. The apparatus as claimed in claim 143 wherein said processor determines the first slot in accordance with the multicast paging cycle and a multicast group identifier by executing a set of instructions to:

input the multicast paging cycle and the multicast group identifier into a hashing function; and

set the first slot to a value outputted by the hashing function.

145. The apparatus as claimed in claim 144 wherein said processor includes a message into a second slot on a second channel by executing a set of instructions to:

include the message into the second slot on the second channel, the second slot being offset from the first slot by a pre-determined interval.

146. The apparatus as claimed in claim 142 wherein said processor offsets the second slot from the first slot by a pre-determined interval by executing a set of instructions to:

offset the second slot from the first slot by 100 milliseconds.

147. The apparatus as claimed in claim 135 wherein said processor includes a multicast service notification into a plurality of messages by executing a set of instructions to:

include a multicast service notification and a slot indicator into a plurality of messages.

148. The apparatus as claimed in claim 147 wherein said processor assigns the multicast service channel in accordance with said receiving at least one response by executing a set of instructions to:

include a dedicated multicast service channels assignment information into a message; and

cause said transmitter to transmit the message in a slot indicated by the slot indicator on a first channel.