Synchronization and macro diversity for MCBCS

A method for transmitting data, the method comprising:

• receiving a packet flow by a Multicast and Broadcast Service (MBS) Distributed Data Path Function (DPF), wherein the MBS distributed DPF is positioned at an Access Service Network Gateway (ASN GW);
• assigning a generic routing encapsulation (GRE) key to the packet flow by the MBS Distributed DPF;
• determining synchronization information based on the GRE key by an MBS proxy, wherein the MBS proxy is co-positioned with the MBS distribution DPF at the ASN GW;
• constructing multiple MBS bursts for a single frame by the MBS Proxy;
• providing the synchronization information to one or more base stations by the MBS proxy;
• creating, by the MBS Distributed DPF, a GRE packet including the multiple MBS bursts, wherein the GRE packet is tagged with both the GRE key and one of a plurality of assigned sequence numbers;
• providing the GRE packet to one or more base stations;
• and
• constructing Multicast and Broadcast Service Map (MBS_MAP) and Multicast and Broadcast Service Map Information Element (MBS_MAP_IE) messages by the one or more base stations.

A method for multicast transport, the method comprising:

• receiving a packet flow by a Multicast and Broadcast Service (MBS) distribution data path function (DPF), wherein the MBS distributed DPF is located at an Access Service Network Gateway (ASN GW);
• assigning a generic routing encapsulation (GRE) key to the packet flow by the MBS distribution DPF;
• constructing a GRE packet by the MBS distribution DPF, wherein the GRE packet comprises the GRE key assigned to the packet flow and a unique one of a plurality of sequence numbers that identifies the GRE packet;
• sending, the GRE packet to one or more base stations by the MBS distribution DPF;
• determining synchronization information based on the GRE key by an MBS Proxy, wherein the MBS proxy is collocated with the MBS distribution DPF at the ASN GW;
• providing the synchronization information to one or more base stations;
• constructing one or more MBS bursts by the one or more base stations based on the GRE packet received from the MBS distribution DPF;
• constructing Multicast and Broadcast Service Map (MBS_MAP) and Multicast and Broadcast Service Map Information Element (MBS_MAP_IE) messages by the one or more base stations;
• and
• constructing a frame based on the MBS bursts and the synchronization information by the one or more base stations.