Patent ID: 8279793

Claim:
A network component, comprising: a processor configured to: instruct a plurality of cells under control of the network component to use a first counting method to determine whether user equipment within the plurality of cells are interested in a service; count a number of cells that respond affirmatively to the determination; when the number of cells is above a first threshold, cause the service to be transmitted via point to multipoint (PTM) communication; and when the number of cells is below the first threshold; instruct the cells that respond affirmatively to use a second counting method to determine a number of UE's interested in the service, wherein when the number of UE's in one of the cells that responds affirmatively is below a second threshold, the service is transmitted via point to point (PTP) communication, and when the number of UE's in one of the cells that responds affirmatively is above the second threshold, the service is transmitted via PTM communication, and wherein when the number of UE's in one of the cells that responds affirmatively is above the second threshold, the processor is further configured to instruct all of the plurality of cells under control of the network component to transmit the service via PTM.