Patent ID: 9473906
Filing Date: 2016-10-18
CPC Classification: H04L,H04W

Claim Text:
1. A method comprising: establishing a unicast Evolved Packet Service (EPS) bearer by a user equipment (UE) in a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) network for receiving downlink (DL) unicast traffic of DL group communication, wherein the UE belongs to a communication group having a group identifier (ID); receiving access information from the LTE network for monitoring DL multicast traffic of the DL group communication, wherein the UE receives the DL group communication via monitoring a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH); monitoring a multicast Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS) bearer for receiving the DL multicast traffic in MBMS broadcast mode, wherein the MBMS bearer is associated with a Temporary Mobile Group Identifier (TMGI), wherein the TMGI is associated with the group ID, and wherein physical resources used for the DL group communication is indicated by the PDCCH addressed to a group radio network temporary identifier (RNTI) that is linked to the TMGI; and entering radio resource control_idle (RRC_IDLE) mode and releasing a radio bearer of the unicast EPS bearer while keep monitoring the multicast MBMS bearer for the DL multicast traffic.