Apparatus, and associated method, for multicasting data in a radio communications system
First Claim
1. In a packet-based multi-user radio communication system in which a data source originates multicast data, an improvement of apparatus for a radio access network (RAN) part of the radio communication system for selectably facilitating communication of the multicast data to a first mobile user endpoint and at least a second mobile user endpoint, said apparatus comprising:
- an identifier positioned at the radio access network, said identifier for identifying when communication of the multicast data is to be effectuated upon a common channel, common to both the first mobile user endpoint and the at least the second mobile user endpoint; and
a point to multi-point bearer implementer coupled to said identifier, said point to multi-point bearer implementer for implementing a multicast of the multicast data upon the common channel to the first and at least second mobile user endpoint, respectively, when said identifier identifies that the communication of the multicast data is to be effectuated upon the common channel,wherein the radio access network defines at least a first cell fanning a corresponding at least first coverage area within which communication with the first and at least second mobile user endpoints, when positioned therein, is effectuable, and wherein said identifier identifies at least when the first and at least second mobile user endpoints are likely to be within the at least the first cell.
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Abstract
Apparatus, and an associated method, for facilitating formation of a RANcast in a radio communication system. An identifier identifies when a selected number of mobile user endpoints within a cell of a radio communication system are to receive the same multicast data. When the number exceeds a selected threshold, a RANcast is implemented by a RANcast implementer in which a common channel is used to broadcast the multicast data to all the mobile user endpoints.
30 Citations
16 Claims
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1. In a packet-based multi-user radio communication system in which a data source originates multicast data, an improvement of apparatus for a radio access network (RAN) part of the radio communication system for selectably facilitating communication of the multicast data to a first mobile user endpoint and at least a second mobile user endpoint, said apparatus comprising:
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an identifier positioned at the radio access network, said identifier for identifying when communication of the multicast data is to be effectuated upon a common channel, common to both the first mobile user endpoint and the at least the second mobile user endpoint; and a point to multi-point bearer implementer coupled to said identifier, said point to multi-point bearer implementer for implementing a multicast of the multicast data upon the common channel to the first and at least second mobile user endpoint, respectively, when said identifier identifies that the communication of the multicast data is to be effectuated upon the common channel, wherein the radio access network defines at least a first cell fanning a corresponding at least first coverage area within which communication with the first and at least second mobile user endpoints, when positioned therein, is effectuable, and wherein said identifier identifies at least when the first and at least second mobile user endpoints are likely to be within the at least the first cell. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. In a packet-based multi-user radio communication system in which a data source originates multicast data, an improvement of apparatus for a radio access network (RAN) part of the radio communication system for selectably facilitating communication of the multicast data to a first mobile user endpoint and at least a second mobile user endpoint, said apparatus comprising:
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an identifier positioned at the radio access network, said identifier for identifying when communication of the multicast data is to be effectuated upon a common channel, common to both the first mobile user endpoint and the at least the second mobile user endpoint; and a point to multi-point bearer implementer coupled to said identifier, said point to multi-point bearer implementer for implementing a multicast of the multicast data upon the common channel to the first and at least second mobile user endpoint, respectively, when said identifier identifies that the communication of the multicast data is to be effectuated upon the common channel, wherein the multicast data is selectably transmitted as separate unicasts to at least a selected one of the first mobile user endpoint and the at least the second mobile user endpoint and wherein the multicast data is communicated pursuant to the separate unicasts when said identifier fails to identify that the communication of the multicast data is to be effectuated upon the common channel.
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14. In a method for communicating in a packet-based multi-user radio communication system in which a data set-vice originates multicast data, an improvement of a method for selectably facilitating communication of the multicast data to a first mobile user endpoint and at least a second mobile user endpoint, said method comprising:
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an initial operation, performed selectably by the first and at least second mobile user endpoints, of requesting delivery of the multicast data; identifying when communication of the multicast data is to be effectuated upon a common channel, the common channel common to both the first mobile user endpoint and the at least the second mobile user endpoint, and implementing a point to multi-point bearer for casting of the multicast data upon the common channel to the first and at least second mobile user endpoint, respectively, when identification is made during said operation of identifying that the communication of the multicast data is to be effectuated upon the common channel. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. In a method for communicating in a packet-based multi-user radio communication system in which a data service originates multicast data, an improvement of a method for selectably facilitating communication of the multicast data to a first mobile user endpoint and at least a second mobile user endpoint, said method comprising:
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identifying when communication of the multicast data is to be effectuated upon a common channel the common channel common to both the first mobile user endpoint and the at least the second mobile user endpoint, and implementing a point to multi-point bearer for casting of the multicast data upon the common channel to the first and at least second mobile user endpoint, respectively, when identification is made during said operation of identifying that the communication of the multicast data is to be effectuated upon the common channel, wherein the radio access network defines at least a first cell forming a corresponding at least first coverage area, and wherein said operation of identifying identifies at least when the first and at least second mobile user endpoints are likely to be within the at least the first cell.
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Specification