Multicast messaging within a wireless communication system

A method of operating an access network that is configured to send multicast messages within a wireless communication system, comprising:

• receiving, by a device, a multicast message to be transmitted to a plurality of access terminals, the received multicast message having a first format;
• determining whether to transmit the received multicast message to the plurality of access terminals using the first format or a second format;
• converting the received multicast message from the first format into the second format if the determining step determines to transmit the received multicast message using the second format;
• and
• transmitting the converted multicast message with the second format over a control channel to at least one of the plurality of access terminals,
• wherein the first format is a non-data over signaling (DOS) message format and the second format is a DOS message format.

An access network, comprising:

• means for receiving a multicast message to be transmitted to a plurality of access terminals, the received multicast message having a first format;
• means for determining whether to transmit the received multicast message to the plurality of access terminals using the first format or a second format, wherein the means for determining detects whether the received multicast message is delay-sensitive, high-priority and/or emergency-related, wherein the second format permits the received multicast message to be transmitted at an earlier transmission time as compared to the first format, wherein the means for determining determines to transmit the received multicast message using the first format if the received multicast message is not detected as being delay-sensitive, high-priority and/or emergency-related and wherein the means for determining determines to transmit the received multicast message using the second format if the received multicast message is detected as being delay-sensitive, high-priority and/or emergency-related;
• means for converting the received multicast message from the first format into the second format if the means for determining determines to transmit the received multicast message using the second format;
• and
• means for transmitting the converted multicast message with the second format over a control channel to at least one of the plurality of access terminals.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium including program code stored thereon, which, when executed by an access network, causes the access network to perform operations, the program code comprising:

• program code to receive a multicast message to be transmitted to a plurality of access terminals, the received multicast message having a first format;
• program code to determine whether to transmit the received multicast message to the plurality of access terminals using the first format or a second format, wherein the program code to determine causes to access network to detect whether the received multicast message is delay-sensitive, high-priority and/or emergency-related, wherein the second format permits the received multicast message to be transmitted at an earlier transmission time as compared to the first format, wherein the program code to determine causes to access network to determine to transmit the received multicast message using the first format if the received multicast message is not detected as being delay-sensitive, high-priority and/or emergency-related and wherein the program code to determine causes to access network to determine to transmit the received multicast message using the second format if the received multicast message is detected as being delay-sensitive, high-priority and/or emergency-related;
• program code to convert the received multicast message from the first format into the second format if the program code to determine determines to transmit the received multicast message using the second format;
• and
• program code to transmit the converted multicast message with the second format over a control channel to at least one of the plurality of access terminals.

An access network, comprising:

• a processor configured to receive a multicast message to be transmitted to a plurality of access terminals, the received multicast message having a first format;
• wherein the processor is further configured to determine whether to transmit the received multicast message to the plurality of access terminals using the first format or a second format, wherein the logic configured to determine detects whether the received multicast message is delay-sensitive, high-priority and/or emergency-related, wherein the second format permits the received multicast message to be transmitted at an earlier transmission time as compared to the first format, wherein the logic configured to determine determines to transmit the received multicast message using the first format if the received multicast message is not detected as being delay-sensitive, high-priority and/or emergency-related and wherein the logic configured to determine determines to transmit the received multicast message using the second format if the received multicast message is detected as being delay-sensitive, high-priority and/or emergency-related;
• wherein the processor is further configured to convert the received multicast message from the first format into the second format if the logic configured to determine determines to transmit the received multicast message using the second format;
• and
• wherein the processor is further configured to transmit the converted multicast message with the second format over a control channel to at least one of the plurality of access terminals.