Method and apparatus for switching between shared and individual channels to provide broadcast content services in a wireless telephone network

A signal bearing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital data processor to perform operations to operate a base station in a wireless communications network, the operations comprising:

• providing broadcast content to one or more wireless subscriber-stations over one or more communication channels each having one of the following types:
• a shared channel for use by multiple subscriber-stations, an individual channel dedicated for use by an individual subscriber-station;
• in response to a first type of a network condition change, changing the type of communications channel used to provide the broadcast content to one or more subscriber-stations by:
• notifying the one or more wireless subscriber-stations of providing the broadcast content from a shared channel to an individual channel;
• analyzing responses from the one or more wireless subscriber-stations to determine interest by a wireless subscriber-station in continuing to receive the broadcast content;
• assigning an individual channel to each wireless subscriber-station that indicated an interest in continuing to receive the broadcast content;
• and
• resuming broadcast of the broadcast content to each wireless subscriber-station on each assigned individual channel;
• and
• in response to a second type of a network condition change, changing the type of communication channel used to provide the broadcast content to one or more subscriber-stations by:
• informing a first subscriber-station of the one or more subscriber-stations of the subject base station's intent to release the individual channel used to provide the broadcast content and to provide the broadcast content on a shared channel;
• releasing the individual channel of the first subscriber-station;
• determining if there are any remaining subscriber-stations of the one or more subscriber-stations to inform and release;
• if there are no remaining subscriber-stations to inform and release, transmitting the broadcast content on the shared channel to the one or more subscriber-stations.

A method of operating a base station in a wireless communications network, performed by a subject base station, comprising:

• providing broadcast content to one or more wireless subscriber-stations over one or more communication channels each communication channel having one of the following types:
• a shared channel for use by multiple subscriber-stations, an individual channel dedicated for use by an individual subscriber-station;
• in response to a first type of a network condition changes, changing the type of communications channel used to provide the broadcast content to one or more subscriber-stations by:
• notifying the one or more wireless subscriber-stations of providing the broadcast content from a shared channel to an individual channel;
• analyzing responses from the one or more wireless subscriber-stations to determine interest by a wireless subscriber-station in continuing to receive the broadcast content;
• assigning an individual channel to each wireless subscriber-station that indicated an interest in continuing to receive the broadcast content;
• and
• resuming broadcast of the broadcast content to each wireless subscriber-station on each assigned individual channel;
• and
• in response to a second type of a network condition change, changing the type of communication channel used to provide the broadcast content to one or more subscriber-stations by:
• informing a first subscriber-station of the one or more subscriber-stations of the subject base station's intent to release the individual channel used to provide the broadcast content and to provide the broadcast content on a shared channel;
• releasing the individual channel of the first subscriber-station;
• determining if there are any remaining subscriber-stations of the one or more subscriber-stations to inform and release;
• if there are no remaining subscriber-stations to inform and release, transmitting the broadcast content on the shared channel to the one or more subscriber-stations.

A base station for use in a wireless communications network, comprising:

• a transceiver;
• a digital data processor, coupled to the transceiver, programmed to perform broadcast content delivery operations comprising:
• providing broadcast content to one or more wireless subscriber-stations over one or more communication channels each having one of the following types:
• a shared channel for use by multiple subscriber-stations, an individual channel dedicated for use by an individual subscriber-station;
• in response to a first type of a network condition changes, changing the type of communications channel used to provide the broadcast content to one or more subscriber-stations by:
• notifying the one or more wireless subscriber-stations of providing the broadcast content from a shared channel to an individual channel;
• analyzing responses from the one or more wireless subscriber-stations to determine interest by a wireless subscriber-station in continuing to receive the broadcast content;
• assigning an individual channel to each wireless subscriber-station that indicated an interest in continuing to receive the broadcast content;
• and
• resuming broadcast of the broadcast content to each wireless subscriber-station on each assigned individual channel;
• and
• in response to a second type of a network condition change, changing the type of communication channel used to provide the broadcast content to one or more subscriber-stations by:
• informing a first subscriber-station of the one or more subscriber-stations of the subject base station's intent to release the individual channel used to provide the broadcast content and to provide the broadcast content on a shared channel;
• releasing the individual channel of the first subscriber-station;
• determining if there are any remaining subscriber-stations of the one or more subscriber-stations to inform and release;
• if there are no remaining subscriber-stations to inform and release, transmitting the broadcast content on the shared channel to the one or more subscriber-stations.

Logic circuitry of multiple interconnected electrically conductive elements configured to perform operations to operate a base station in a wireless communications network, the operations comprising:

• providing broadcast content to wireless subscriber-stations over providing broadcast content to one or more wireless subscriber-stations over one or more communication channels each having one of the following types:
• a shared channel for use by multiple subscriber-stations, an individual channel dedicated for use by an individual subscriber-station;
• in response to a first type of a network condition changes, changing the type of communications channel used to provide the broadcast content to one or more subscriber-stations by:
• notifying the one or more wireless subscriber-stations of providing the broadcast content from a shared channel to an individual channel;
• analyzing responses from the one or more wireless subscriber-stations to determine interest by a wireless subscriber-station in continuing to receive the broadcast content;
• assigning an individual channel to each wireless subscriber-station that indicated an interest in continuing to receive the broadcast content;
• and
• resuming broadcast of the broadcast content to each wireless subscriber-station on each assigned individual channel;
• and
• in response to a second type of a network condition change, changing the type of communication channel used to provide the broadcast content to one or more subscriber-stations by:
• informing a first subscriber-station of the one or more subscriber-stations of the subject base station's intent to release the individual channel used to provide the broadcast content and to provide the broadcast content on a shared channel;
• releasing the individual channel of the first subscriber-station;
• determining if there are any remaining subscriber-stations of the one or more subscriber-stations to inform and release;
• if there are no remaining subscriber-stations to inform and release, transmitting the broadcast content on the shared channel to the one or more subscriber-stations.