Patent ID: 7212824

Claim:
A method for transferring multimedia broadcasts/multicast services (MBMS) in a wireless communication system, the method comprising: determining a number of users in a cell to receive the MBMS; using the determined number of users to determine whether a dedicated channel or a shared/common channel is to be used for the MBMS; receiving MBMS data; and mapping the MBMS data to the determined dedicated or shared/common channel; and wherein the determined dedicated or shared/common channel is based on a threshold test where if the determined number of users is below the threshold, a dedicated channel is used for the MBMS and if the determined number of users is above the threshold, a shared/common channel is used for the MBMS; and wherein the threshold test has the threshold and a second threshold and if the determined number of users is above the second threshold, a common channel is used for the MBMS and if the determined number is between the threshold and the second threshold, a shared channel is used for the MBMS.