Wideband code division multiple access user equipment for receiving multimedia broadcast/multicast service

1. A method for transferring multimedia broadcasts/multicast services (MBMS) in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

determining a number of users in a cell to receive an MBMS service;

using the determined number of users and cell condition information to determine whether a dedicated channel or a shared/common channel is to be used for the MBMS service;

receiving MBMS data; and

mapping the MBMS data to the determined dedicated or shared/common channel;

wherein the determined dedicated or shared/common channel is at least based on a threshold test, wherein on a condition that the determined number of users is below a threshold, a dedicated channel is used for the MBMS and on a condition that the determined number of users is above the threshold, a shared/common channel is used for the MBMS, and wherein the shared/common channel includes a secondary common control physical channel (S-CCPCH).

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein on a condition that the determined number of users is equal to or below the threshold, a dedicated channel is used for the MBMS.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cell condition information includes expected congestion of the cell.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dedicated channel is a dedicated shared channel and the shared/common channel is a common shared channel.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dedicated channel is a dedicated high speed shared channel and the shared/common channel is a common high speed shared channel.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the dedicated channel or shared/common channel and mapping the MBMS data onto the determined dedicated channel or shared/common channel is repeated during an MBMS service.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method is implemented in a radio network controller (RNC).

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the RNC is a controlling RNC (C-RNC).

9. A radio network controller (RNC) for transferring multimedia broadcasts/multicast services (MBMS) in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

circuitry configured to determine a number of users in a cell to receive an MBMS service;

circuitry configured to use the determined number of users and cell condition information to determine whether a dedicated channel or a shared/common channel is to be used for the MBMS service;

circuitry configured to receive MBMS data; and

circuitry configured to map the MBMS data to the determined dedicated or shared/common channel;

wherein the determined dedicated or shared/common channel is at least based on a threshold test, wherein on a condition that the determined number of users is below a threshold, a dedicated channel is used for the MBMS and on a condition that the determined number of users is above the threshold, a shared/common channel is used for the MBMS, and wherein the shared/common channel includes a secondary common control physical channel (S-CCPCH).

10. The RNC of claim 9 , wherein on a condition that the determined number of users is equal to or below the threshold, a dedicated channel is used for the MBMS.

11. The RNC of claim 9 , wherein the cell condition information includes expected congestion of the cell.

12. The RNC of claim 9 , wherein the dedicated channel is a dedicated shared channel and the shared/common channel is a common shared channel.

13. The RNC of claim 9 , wherein the dedicated channel is a dedicated high speed shared channel and the shared/common channel is a common high speed shared channel.

14. The RNC of claim 9 , wherein determining the dedicated channel or shared/common channel and mapping the MBMS data onto the determined dedicated channel or shared/common channel is repeated during an MBMS service.

15. The RNC of claim 9 , wherein the RNC is a controlling RNC (C-RNC).