Method and apparatus for wireless router multicast

Abstract

A subscriber unit includes a receiver configured to monitor at least one channel for a first identifier and a second identifier. The first identifier is associated with a unicast transmission and the second identifier is associated with a multicast transmission. The subscriber unit includes a transmitter configured, in response to receiving a first message including the first identifier over the monitored at least one channel, to utilize an assignment of resources within the first message for the unicast transmission. The subscriber unit further includes a processor configured, in response to receiving a second message including the second identifier over the monitored at least one channel, to process information within the second message associated with the multicast transmission.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A subscriber unit comprising:
 a receiver configured to monitor at least one channel for a first identifier and a second identifier, wherein the first identifier is associated with a unicast transmission and the second identifier is associated with a multicast transmission;   a transmitter configured, in response to receiving a first message including the first identifier over the monitored at least one channel, to utilize an assignment of resources within the first message for the unicast transmission; and   a processor configured, in response to receiving a second message including the second identifier over the monitored at least one channel, to process information within the second message associated with the multicast transmission.   
     
     
         2 . The subscriber unit of  claim 1 , wherein the second identifier conforms to a protocol, and the processor is further configured to parse the second message in accordance with the protocol. 
     
     
         3 . The subscriber unit of  claim 2 , wherein the protocol is Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP). 
     
     
         4 . The subscriber unit of  claim 1 , wherein the subscriber unit is a member of a multicast group with at least one other subscriber unit, and the multicast group is associated with the second identifier. 
     
     
         5 . The subscriber unit of  claim 1 , wherein the second message is received by the subscriber unit and at least one other subscriber unit in a multicast group via the monitored at least one channel. 
     
     
         6 . A method for use in a subscriber unit, the method comprising:
 monitoring at least one channel for a first identifier and a second identifier, wherein the first identifier is associated with a unicast transmission and the second identifier is associated with a multicast transmission;   receiving a message via the at least one channel;   on a condition that the message includes a first identifier, utilizing an assignment of resources within the first message for the unicast transmission; and   on a condition that the message includes a second identifier, processing information within the message associated with the multicast transmission.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the second identifier conforms to a protocol, the method further comprising:
 on a condition the message includes the second identifier, parsing the message in accordance with the protocol.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the protocol is Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP). 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the subscriber unit is a member of a multicast group, and the multicast group is associated with the second identifier, and wherein the receiving the message includes receiving the message at the subscriber with at least one other subscriber unit. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the second message is received by the subscriber unit and at least one other subscriber unit in a multicast group via the at least one channel.