Multicast service

1. A method comprising: sending a multicast packet to a cluster of recipients; receiving information indicating receiving status relating to the multicast packet from individual members of the cluster of recipients; and initiating intra-cluster retransmission of said multicast packet by sending to the cluster of recipients collective information about the receiving statuses of the members of the cluster of recipients, the collective information being based on the received information indicating receiving status relating to the multicast packet from individual members.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the collective information about the receiving statuses is broadcasted on a control channel.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the collective information about the receiving statuses is sent in the form of a table.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sending with the collective information about the receiving statuses information about resources allocated for performing retransmissions.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising collecting information indicating receiving statuses relating to a group of multicast packets from individual members of the cluster of recipients; and initiating intra-cluster retransmission of the group of multicast packets by sending to the cluster of recipients collective information about the receiving statuses of the members of the cluster of recipients for the group of multicast packets at the same time.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sending a multicast packet to a cluster of recipients, the receiving information indicating receiving status relating to the multicast packet from individual members of the cluster of recipients, and the initiating intra-cluster retransmission of said multicast packet by sending to the cluster of recipients collective information about the receiving statuses of the members of the cluster of recipients is performed at a multicast transmitter.

7. A method comprising: participating in retransmission of a multicast transmission in a first member of a cluster of recipients of the multicast transmission by receiving a multicast packet from a source; receiving in the first member from the source collective information about the receiving statuses of second members of the cluster of recipients; determining in the first member retransmission actions at least on the basis of the collective information about the receiving statuses, and performing in the first member the determined retransmission actions.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein retransmission actions comprise at least one of: retransmitting the received multicast packet to at least one other member of the cluster of recipients of the multicast transmission, and re-receiving the received multicast packet from another member of the cluster of recipients of the multicast transmission.

9. The method of claim 7 , further comprising receiving collective information about the receiving statuses of the members of the cluster of recipients for a group of multicast packets at the same time; determining and performing the retransmission actions for the group of multicast packets.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the determining of retransmission actions is performed on the basis of link strengths of communication links between member of the cluster of recipients of the multicast transmission, a resource block allocated for retransmissions, retransmission priorities assigned for the members of the cluster of recipients, power conditions of the members of the cluster of recipients.

11. An apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code; the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to: send a multicast packet to a cluster of recipients; receive information indicating receiving status relating to the multicast packet from individual members of the cluster of recipients; and initiate intra-cluster retransmission of said multicast packet by sending to the cluster of recipients collective information about the receiving statuses of the members of the cluster of recipients, the collective information being based on the received information indicating receiving status relating to the multicast packet from individual members.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to send with the collective information about the receiving statuses information about resources allocated for performing retransmissions.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to collect information indicating receiving statuses relating to a group of multicast packets from individual members of the cluster of recipients; and initiate intra-cluster retransmission of the group of multicast packets by sending to the cluster of recipients collective information about the receiving statuses of the members of the cluster of recipients for the group of multicast packets at the same time.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to dynamically decide number of packets in the group of packets.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to initiate the intra-cluster retransmission in response to a predefined condition being satisfied.

16. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the sending a multicast packet to a cluster of recipients, the receiving information indicating receiving status relating to the multicast packet from individual members of the cluster of recipients, and the initiating intra-cluster retransmission of said multicast packet by sending to the cluster of recipients collective information about the receiving statuses of the members of the cluster of recipients is performed at a multicast transmitter.

17. An apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code; the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to: participate in retransmission of a multicast transmission in a first member of a cluster of recipients of the multicast transmission by receiving a multicast packet from a source; receiving in the first member from the source collective information about the receiving statuses of second members of the cluster of recipients; determining in the first member retransmission actions at least on the basis of the collective information about the receiving statuses, and performing in the first member the determined retransmission actions.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to receive collective information about the receiving statuses of the members of the cluster of recipients for a group of multicast packets at the same time; determine and performing the retransmission actions for the group of multicast packets.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform the determining of retransmission actions on the basis of link strengths of communication links between member of the cluster of recipients of the multicast transmission, a resource block allocated for retransmissions, retransmission priorities assigned for the members of the cluster of recipients, power conditions of the members of the cluster of recipients.

20. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to exchange information about power conditions between members of the cluster of recipients, and perform the determining of retransmission actions on the basis of power conditions of the members of the cluster of recipients.

21. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium and computer executable program code stored therein which, when executed by at least one processor of an apparatus, causes the apparatus to perform: sending a multicast packet to a cluster of recipients; receiving information indicating receiving status relating to the multicast packet from individual members of the cluster of recipients; and initiating intra-cluster retransmission of said multicast packet by sending to the cluster of recipients collective information about the receiving statuses of the members of the cluster of recipients, the collective information being based on the received information indicating receiving status relating to the multicast packet from individual members.

22. The computer program product of claim 21 , wherein the sending a multicast packet to a cluster of recipients, the receiving information indicating receiving status relating to the multicast packet from individual members of the cluster of recipients, and the initiating intra-cluster retransmission of said multicast packet by sending to the cluster of recipients collective information about the receiving statuses of the members of the cluster of recipients is performed at a multicast transmitter.

23. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium and computer executable program code stored therein which, when executed by at least one processor of an apparatus, causes the apparatus to perform: participating in retransmission of a multicast transmission in a first member of a cluster of recipients of the multicast transmission by receiving a multicast packet from a source; receiving in the first member from the source collective information about the receiving statuses of second members of the cluster of recipients; determining in the first member retransmission actions at least on the basis of the collective information about the receiving statuses, and performing in the first member the determined retransmission actions.