Patent ID: 8406765

Claim:
A method for providing a bidirectional multicast service from a bidirectional multicast service provider to a mobile terminal within a mobile communication system, the mobile communication system comprising a core network and a radio access network, the method comprising the steps of: configuring system resources for the bidirectional multicast service in the mobile communication system for the transmission of multicast service data of the bidirectional multicast service, wherein the configuring of the system resources for the bidirectional multicast service comprises the establishment of a bidirectional radio bearer between the mobile terminal and a control entity controlling radio resources of the radio access network, configuring system resources for a downlink multicast service in the core network for the transmission of downlink multicast service data of the bidirectional multicast service via the downlink multicast service, deciding whether to utilize a point-to-point connection or a point-to-multipoint connection in the radio access network for providing the downlink multicast service data of the bidirectional multicast service to the mobile terminal, in case it has been decided to utilize the point-to-point connection, utilizing the system resources established for the bidirectional multicast service to provide the downlink multicast service data to the mobile terminal, and in case it has been decided to utilize the point-to-multipoint connection, utilizing the system resources of the core network established for the downlink multicast service for transport of the downlink multicast service data in the core network and establishing a shared radio bearer or using an established shared radio bearer in the radio access network for providing the downlink multicast service data to the mobile terminal.