BEARER SERVICE IN COMMUNICATIONS

摘要

A method for providing a bearer service in a communications system is disclosed. The method comprises establishing (502) a radio bearer service between a network apparatus (302) and a user terminal (303), for transmitting messages over an air interface, such that a point-to-point radio bearer is to be used for transmitting unicast messages and its associated shared point-to-multipoint broadcast radio bearer in downlink is to be used for transmitting one or more of broadcast and multicast messages from a local IP network via the network apparatus (302) to user terminals (303). Messages (506) received from the point-to-point radio bearer and its associated point-to-multipoint broadcast radio bearer in downlink are combinable in the user terminal (303) to a single connection emulating one or more of a broadcast and multicast capable media respectively over the air interface.