Supporting a switch between channels for a multicast transmission

A non-transitory processor readable medium stored with code, which when executed by a processor of a mobile station, causes said processor to perform:

• determining at a link quality of a point-to-multipoint channel based on link quality related measurements on said point-to-multipoint channel, while receiving multicast data transmitted from a mobile communication network on a point-to-multipoint channel via a transceiver;
• and
• sending a request to said mobile communication network to switch and thereafter continue transmitting said multicast data via a point-to-point channel so that transmission of said multicast data is continuous through the switch, in case said determined link quality lies below a given link quality.

A method comprising:

• a mobile communication network requesting and receiving from a mobile station measurement results for link quality related measurements on a point-to-point channel, which point-to-point channel is currently used by said mobile communication network for transmitting multicast data to said mobile station,
• estimating by said mobile communication network a link quality of a point-to-multipoint channel while transmitting multicast data on said point-to-point channel to said mobile station via a transceiver, wherein said mobile communication network estimates said link quality of said point-to-multipoint channel based on said measurement results for said point-to-point channel,
• in case said estimated link quality of said point-to-multipoint channel reaches a required link quality, said mobile communication network ordering said mobile station to switch from said point-to-point channel to said point-to-multipoint channel for receiving said multicast data.

A non-transitory processor readable medium stored with code, which when executed by a processor of a mobile communication network, causes said processor to perform:

• estimating a link quality of a point-to-multipoint channel while transmitting multicast data on a point-to-point channel to a mobile station via a transceiver;
• and
• in case said estimated link quality of said point-to-multipoint channel reaches a required link quality, ordering said mobile station to switch from said point-to-point channel to said point -to-multipoint channel for receiving said multicast data, wherein said mobile communication network orders said mobile station to switch from said point-to-point channel to said point-to -multipoint channel for receiving said multicast data by a switch order, which switch order releases said point-to-point connection and provides parameter for said point-to-multipoint channel to said mobile station.

A method comprising:

• performing by a mobile station link quality related measurements on a point-to-point channel, which point-to-point channel is currently used by a mobile communication network for transmitting multicast data to said mobile station via a transceiver, and transmitting measurement results from said mobile station to said mobile communication network upon request by said mobile communication network, wherein said measurement results are suited to enable said mobile communication network to estimate a link quality of said point-to-multipoint channel while transmitting multicast data on said point-to-point channel to said mobile station;
• receiving at said mobile station an order from said mobile communication network to switch from said point-to-point channel to said point-to-multipoint channel for receiving said multicast data, in case said mobile communication network determined that said estimated link quality of said point-to-multipoint channel reaches a required link quality, and
• switching at said mobile station from said point-to-point channel to said point-to-multipoint channel for receiving said multicast data upon receipt of said order.

An apparatus for a mobile communication network comprising:

• a communication component configured to request and receive from a mobile station measurement results for link quality related measurements on a point-to-point channel while said point-to-point channel is used by said mobile communication network for transmitting multicast data to said mobile station,
• a first processing component configured to estimate a link quality of a point-to-multipoint channel while said mobile communication network is transmitting multicast data on said point-to-point channel to said mobile station, wherein said first processing component is configured to estimate said link quality of said point-to -multipoint channel based on said measurement results for said point-to-point channel, and
• a second processing component configured to order said mobile station to switch from said point-to-point channel to said point-to-multipoint channel for receiving said multicast data in case said estimated link quality of said point-to-multipoint channel reaches a required link quality.

An apparatus comprising:

• a measurement component configured to perform link quality related measurements on a point-to-point channel, which point-to-point channel is currently used by a mobile communication network for transmitting multicast data to said apparatus, and transmitting measurement results to said mobile communication network upon request by said mobile communication network, wherein said measurement results are suited to enable said mobile communication network to estimate a link quality of said point-to-multipoint channel while transmitting multicast data on said point-to-point channel to said mobile station;
• and
• a switching component configured to receive an order from said mobile communication network to switch from said point-to-point channel to said point-to-multipoint channel for receiving said multicast data, in case said mobile communication network determined that said estimated link quality of said point-to-multipoint channel reaches a required link quality, and to switch from said point-to-point channel to said point-to-multipoint channel for receiving said multicast data upon receipt of said order.