Wireless network using shared traffic channel mode of operation for broadcast services

1. For use in a wireless network, a base station capable of transmitting broadcast data over a shared traffic channel to a plurality of mobile stations in a coverage area of said base station,

wherein said base station is capable of transmitting a first control message over said shared traffic channel to said plurality of mobile stations, said first control message operable to assign a shared public long code mask (PLCM) to said plurality of mobile stations, transmitting a second control message to said plurality of mobile stations, said second control message operable to assign a shared Walsh Code (WC) to said plurality of mobile stations, transmitting mobile station-specific information to a first target mobile station by transmitting in said broadcast data a first packet data unit containing a first local address identifier associated with said first target mobile station, transmitting multicast information to a first group of mobile stations by transmitting in said broadcast data a second packet data unit containing a second local address identifier associated with said first group of mobile stations,

wherein said broadcast data comprises the first local address identifier and said mobile station-specific information, and wherein the first address identifier comprises fewer bits than the mobile station electronic serial number (ESN) value.

2. The base station as set forth in claim 1 wherein said base station transmits said broadcast data to said plurality of mobile stations using said shared PLCM and said shared WC.

3. The base station as set forth in claim 1 wherein said base station assigns said first local address identifier to said first target mobile station.

4. The base station as set forth in claim 1 wherein said base station assigns said second local address identifier to said first group of mobile stations.

5. A wireless network comprising a plurality of base stations, wherein a first one of said plurality of base stations is capable of transmitting broadcast data to a plurality of mobile stations over a shared traffic channel,

wherein said base station is capable of transmitting a first control message over said shared traffic channel to said plurality of mobile stations, said first control message operable to assign a shared public long code mask (PLCM) to said plurality of mobile stations, transmitting a second control message to said plurality of mobile stations, said second control message operable to assign a shared Walsh Code (WC) to said plurality of mobile stations, transmitting mobile station-specific information to a first target mobile station by transmitting in said broadcast data a first packet data unit containing a first local address identifier associated with said first target mobile station, transmitting multicast information to a first group of mobile stations by transmitting in said broadcast data a second packet data unit containing a second local address identifier associated with said first group of mobile stations,

wherein said broadcast data comprises the first local address identifier and said mobile station-specific information, and wherein the first address identifier comprises fewer bits than the mobile station electronic serial number (ESN) value.

6. The wireless network as set forth in claim 5 wherein said first base station transmits said broadcast data to said plurality of mobile stations using said shared PLCM and said shared WC.

7. The wireless network as set forth in claim 5 wherein said first base station assigns said first local address identifier to said first target mobile station.

8. The wireless network as set forth in claim 5 wherein said first base station assigns said second local address identifier to said first group of mobile stations.

9. For use in a wireless network, a method of transmitting broadcast data from a base station to a plurality of mobile stations in a coverage area of the base station using a shared traffic channel, the method comprising the steps of:

wherein said base station is capable of transmitting a first control message over said shared traffic channel to said plurality of mobile stations, said first control message operable to assign a shared public long code mask (PLCM) to said plurality of mobile stations, transmitting a second control message to said plurality of mobile stations, said second control message operable to assign a shared Walsh Code (WC) to said plurality of mobile stations, transmitting mobile station-specific information to a first target mobile station by transmitting in said broadcast data a first packet data unit containing a first local address identifier associated with said first target mobile station, transmitting multicast information to a first group of mobile stations by transmitting in said broadcast data a second packet data unit containing a second local address identifier associated with said first group of mobile stations,

wherein said broadcast data comprises the first local address identifier and said mobile station-specific information, and wherein the first address identifier comprises fewer bits than the mobile station electronic serial number (ESN) value.

10. The method as set forth in claim 9 further comprising the step of transmitting the broadcast data to the plurality of mobile stations using the shared PLCM and the shared WC.

11. The base station as set forth in claim 9 wherein said base station assigns said first local address identifier to said first target mobile station.

12. The method as set forth in claim 9 wherein the base station assigns the second local address identifier to the first group of mobile stations.

13. The base station as set forth in claim 2 wherein the WC is used for broadcast services in a shared F-PDCH traffic channel.

14. The base station as set forth in claim 2 wherein the WC is used for broadcast services in a shared F-SCH traffic channel.

15. The wireless network as set forth in claim 5 wherein the WC is used for broadcast services in a shared F-PDCH traffic channel.

16. The wireless network as set forth in claim 5 wherein the WC is used for broadcast services in a shared F-SCH traffic channel.

17. The method as set forth in claim 9 wherein the WC is used for broadcast services in a shared F-PDCH traffic channel.

18. The method as set forth in claim 9 wherein the WC is used for broadcast services in a shared F-SCH traffic channel.

19. The method as set forth in claim 9 , wherein the WC is transmitted within Extended Channel Assignment Message (ECAM).

20. The base station as set forth in claim 2 wherein the WC is transmitted within Extended Channel Assignment Message (ECAM).