Method and apparatus for wireless router multicast
AssigneeInterDigital Patent Corporation
InventorsKevin L. Farley, Leslie M. Brooks
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A technique for transmitting messages in a wireless communication network to a multicast group using a single wireless channel. A base station processor having a plurality of wireless channels is in communication with a plurality of subscriber access units in a wireless communication network. Multicast messages received by the base station processor are sent to a plurality of the subscriber access units, denoted as a multicast group, in the wireless communication network via a wireless channel dedicated to transmitting multicast messages.
Claims28
A method implemented in a subscriber unit, wherein a multicast group comprises a plurality of subscriber units, the method comprising:
- receiving a multicast group indication message, from a base station, via a first one of a plurality of wireless channels, the multicast group indication message identifying a connection identifier associated with a multicast message, wherein the connection identifier is associated with an indication of a second one of the plurality of wireless channels over which to receive the multicast message from the base station;
- receiving the multicast message via the second one of the plurality of wireless channels;
- transmitting a negative acknowledgment;
- and
- receiving a retransmission of the multicast message in response to the transmitted negative acknowledgement.
A method of transmitting multicast messages, wherein a multicast group comprises a plurality of subscriber units, the method comprising:
- transmitting a multicast group indication message, from a base station, via a first one of a plurality of wireless channels, the multicast group indication message identifying a connection identifier associated with a multicast message, wherein the connection identifier is associated with an indication of a second one of the plurality of wireless channels over which a corresponding multicast message will be transmitted from the base station;
- and
- transmitting the multicast message, from the base station, to the multicast group via the second one of the plurality of wireless channels;
- receiving a negative acknowledgment from a subscriber unit associated with the multicast group;
- and
- retransmitting the multicast message.
A subscriber unit comprising:
- a receiver configured to:
- receive a multicast group indication message, from a base station, via a first one of a plurality of wireless channels, the multicast group indication message identifying a connection identifier associated with a multicast message, therein the connection identifier is associated with an indication of a second one of the plurality of wireless channels over which to receive a corresponding multicast message;
- and
- receive the multicast message, from the base station, via the second one of the plurality of wireless channels;
- and
- a transmitter configured to transmit a negative acknowledgement;
- and
- wherein the receiver is further configured to receive a retransmission of the multicast message in response to the transmitted negative acknowledgement.
A base station for multicasting messages, the base station comprising:
- a processor configured to receive a multicast message addressed to a multicast group having two or more subscriber units;
- a transmitter configured to:
- transmit a multicast group indication message to a multicast group via a first one of a plurality of wireless channels, the multicast group indication message identifying a connection identifier associated with a multicast message, wherein the connection identifier is associated with an indication of a second one of the plurality of wireless channels over which a corresponding multicast message will be transmitted;
- and
- transmit the multicast message, to the multicast group, via the second one of the plurality of wireless channels;
- and
- a receiver configured to receive a negative acknowledgment from a subscriber unit associated with the multicast group;
- wherein the transmitter is further configured to retransmit the multicast message in response to the negative acknowledgement.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.