Method and apparatus for broadcasting on a shared packet data channel in a wireless communication network

摘要

A wireless communication network uses a shared packet data channel to broadcast information intended for all or a subset of the mobile stations monitoring the shared channel, based on using an associated packet data control channel to identify which shared channel transmissions comprise broadcast information rather than mobile-specific packet data traffic. For example, in a 1xEV-DV wireless communication network, a base station system can be configured to send broadcast messages on a Forward Packet Data Channel (F-PDCH) based on identifying those broadcasts via an associated Forward Packet Data Control Channel (F-PDCCH). In one such embodiment, one or more Medium Access Control (MAC) IDs are designated as broadcast identifiers. Thus, the receipt of a broadcast MAC ID in one or more timeslots of the F-PDCCH by a mobile station indicates to that mobile station that the corresponding timeslot(s) on the F-PDCH carry broadcast information rather than mobile-specific packet data traffic.