Method and apparatus multimedia broadcast/multicast service coverage boost

A method for a User Equipment (UE) to receive an E-MBMS service in a Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) compliant wireless communication system, the 3GPP compliant system having a radio access network comprising one or more MBSFN areas, wherein each MBSFN area supports a plurality of E-MBMS bearers for transporting media streams to user equipments (UE), the method comprising a UE performing:

• receiving at least two media content streams comprising the same information in an MBSFN area, a first media content stream being received on a first E-MBMS bearer and a second media content stream being received on a second E-MBMS bearer;
• time aligning the at least two media content streams;
• using header information to detect missing packets from each of the at least two media content streams;
• combining packets from each of the at least two media content streams, to construct a single media content stream with the information.

A method for a User Equipment (UE) to provide Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service (E-MBMS) service area location update information to an infrastructure device in a Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) compliant wireless communication system, the 3GPP compliant system having a radio access network comprising one or more MBSFN areas, wherein each MBSFN area provides an E-MBMS transmission and supports a plurality of E-MBMS bearers for transporting media streams to user equipments (UE), the method comprising a UE configured for multiple MBSFN reception using application layer processing to perform:

• receiving a transmission from an MBSFN area, the transmission comprising an identifier of the MBSFN area;
• transmitting information to an infrastructure device operably coupled to the 3GPP compliant system, the information comprising:
• the identifier that identifies the MBSFN area;
• and
• at least one of:
• a request for a boost to the quality of the transmissions received by the UE;
• a request for a call to be processed as an emergency call;
• receiving a call on a first E-MBMS bearer and a second E-MBMS bearer in the MBSFN area, the call being provided to a call group comprising the UE, the first E-MBMS bearer providing a first media content stream to the UE and the second E-MBMS bearer providing a second media content stream to the UE, wherein the first media content stream and the second media content stream comprise the same call information.