Patent ID: 7149195

Claim:
In a packet-based multi-user radio communication system in which a data source originates multicast data, an improvement of apparatus for a radio access network (RAN) part of the radio communication system for selectably facilitating communication of the multicast data to a first mobile user endpoint and at least a second mobile user endpoint, said apparatus comprising: an identifier positioned at the radio access network, said identifier for identifying when communication of the multicast data is to be effectuated upon a common channel, common to both the first mobile user endpoint and the at least the second mobile user endpoint; and a point to multi-point bearer implementer coupled to said identifier, said point to multi-point bearer implementer for implementing a multicast of the multicast data upon the common channel to the first and at least second mobile user endpoint, respectively, when said identifier identifies that the communication of the multicast data is to be effectuated upon the common channel, wherein the radio access network defines at least a first cell fanning a corresponding at least first coverage area within which communication with the first and at least second mobile user endpoints, when positioned therein, is effectuable, and wherein said identifier identifies at least when the first and at least second mobile user endpoints are likely to be within the at least the first cell.