Multicast messaging within a wireless communication system

摘要

Methods and systems for sending multicast messages are disclosed. A multicast message is received to be transmitted to a plurality of access terminals at a radio access network (RAN), the received multicast message having a first format. The first format may correspond to a conventional multicast message format. The RAN determines whether the received multicast message requires special handling. If the RAN determines the received multicast message requires special handling, the radio access network converts the received multicast message from the first format into a second format. The RAN transmits the converted multicast message with the second format (e.g., a data over signaling (DOS) message) on a control channel to at least one of the plurality of access terminals. The access terminals receiving the converted multicast message interpret the message as a multicast message.

主权项

1. A method of configuring a wireless communication system for special handling of multicast messages, comprising:
selecting at least one of a plurality of multicast flow identifiers; generating a multicast message corresponding to the selected multicast flow identifier; and instructing an access network to associate the generated multicast message with special handling protocols, wherein the selected multicast flow identifier is reserved for delay-sensitive, high-priority and/or emergency-related multicast sessions, wherein the special handling protocols instruct the access network to transmit one or more multicast messages associated with the selected multicast flow identifier using a first format instead of a second format that is used for one or more other multicast messages that are not associated with the selected multicast flow identifier, and wherein the first format permits the one or more multicast messages to be transmitted at an earlier transmission time as compared to the second format.