Scheduling transmission of messages relating to multimedia broadcast/multicast service (MBMS)

A method of receiving by a user equipment (UE) at least first and second messages regarding multimedia point-to-multipoint services in a network, the method comprising:

• receiving, by the UE, said first messages according to a first multicast control channel (MCCH) configuration for a first multimedia broadcast service single frequency network (MBSFN) area;
• and
• receiving, by the UE, said second messages according to a second MCCH configuration for a second MBSFN area,
• said first messages comprising information regarding a first set of at least one service and said second messages comprising information regarding a second set of at least one service;
• wherein the reception of said first messages is scheduled with a first periodicity according to the first MCCH configuration and the reception of said second messages is scheduled with a second periodicity according to the second MCCH configuration,
• said first periodicity being independent from said second periodicity;
• and
• wherein said first periodicity and said second periodicity are repetition periods in at least one modification period.

A Radio Access Network in a Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service (MBMS) system offering multimedia point-to-multipoint services, said Radio Access Network comprising:

• a transmitter adapted to transmit to a user equipment (UE) at least first and second messages regarding multimedia point-to-multipoint services in a network, wherein said first messages are transmitted according to a first multicast control channel (MCCH) configuration for a first multimedia broadcast service single frequency network (MBSFN) area, and wherein said second messages are transmitted according to a second MCCH configuration for a second MBSFN area, said first messages comprising information regarding a first set of at least one service and said second messages comprising information regarding a second set of at least one service;
• and
• a scheduler adapted to schedule the transmission of said first messages with a first periodicity according to the first MCCH configuration and to schedule the transmission of said second messages with a second periodicity according to the second MCCH configuration, said first periodicity being independent from said second periodicity,
• wherein said first periodicity and said second periodicity are repetition periods in at least one modification period.

A User Equipment (UE) in a Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service (MBMS) system offering multimedia point-to-multipoint services, said UE comprising:

• a receiver adapted to receive at least first and second messages regarding multimedia point-to-multipoint services in a network, wherein said first messages are received according to a first multicast control channel (MCCH) configuration for a first multimedia broadcast service single frequency network (MBSFN) area, and wherein said second messages are received according to a second MCCH configuration for a second MBSFN area, said first messages comprising information regarding a first set of at least one service and said second messages comprising information regarding a second set of at least one service;
• and
• a scheduler adapted to schedule the reception of said first messages with a first periodicity according to the first MCCH configuration and to schedule the reception of said second messages with a second periodicity according to the second MCCH configuration, said first periodicity being independent from said second periodicity,
• wherein said first periodicity and said second periodicity are repetition periods in at least one modification period.