Group-based machine to machine communication

1. A method for a machine-type communication (MTC) server to perform group-based machine-to-machine (M2M) communication, the method comprising:

determining an amount of radio resources needed for an M2M group to receive data via a radio access network, the M2M group comprising a plurality of machine-type communication (MTC) wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs);

sending a radio resource request to the radio access network on behalf of the M2M group, the radio resource request comprising an indication of the determined amount of radio resources; and

receiving an indication of radio resources allocated for the M2M group to receive data via the radio access network, wherein the radio resources allocated for the M2M group comprises a channel that is dedicated to the M2M group during a time window for receiving data directed to the M2M group.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the radio resources are shared amongst the plurality of MTC WTRUs during the time window.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sending information indicative of the time window and the radio resources allocated for the M2M group to receive data.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

periodically recalculating the amount of radio resources needed for the M2M group to receive data via the radio access network; and

sending information indicative of updated radio resources allocated for the M2M group to receive data to the M2M group.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the information indicative of the time window and the radio resources is sent to a broadcast server for broadcasting to the M2M group.

6. A machine-type communication (MTC) server for performing group-based machine-to-machine (M2M) communication, the server comprising:

a processor configured to:

determine an amount of radio resources needed for an M2M group to send data in an uplink via a radio access network, the M2M group comprising a plurality of machine-type communication (MTC) wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs);

send a radio resource request to the radio access network on behalf of the M2M group, the radio resource request comprising an indication of the determined amount of radio resources; and

receive an indication of radio resources and a time window allocated for the M2M group to send data, wherein the radio resources allocated for the M2M group comprises a channel that is dedicated to the M2M group during the time window for sending data in the uplink.

7. The MTC server of claim 6 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

allocate a first time slot within the time window for a first MTC WTRU in the M2M group; and

send information indicative of the radio resources allocated for the M2M group and the first allocated time slot to the first MTC WTRU.

8. The MTC server of claim 7 , wherein the information indicative of the radio resources allocated for the M2M group and the first allocated time slot to the first MTC WTRU is sent to a broadcast server for broadcasting to the M2M group.

9. The MTC server of claim 6 , wherein the radio resources are shared amongst the plurality of MTC WTRUs during the time window.

10. The MTC server of claim 6 , wherein the time window comprises a plurality of time slots, and the processor is further configured to:

allocate a first time slot within the time window for a first MTC WTRU in the M2M group;

allocate a second time slot within the time window for a second MTC WTRU in the M2M group; and

send information indicative of the radio resources allocated for the M2M group and the second allocated time slot to the second MTC WTRU.

11. The MTC server of claim 6 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive data from the first MTC WTRU via the radio resources; and

route the data to an associated MTC user.

12. The MTC server of claim 6 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive a page directed to the first MTC WTRU from an associated MTC user; and

send the page to the first MTC WTRU during a time slot allocated to the first MTC WTRU.

13. A method for a machine-type communication (MTC) server to perform group-based machine-to-machine (M2M) communication, the method comprising:

determining an amount of radio resources needed for an M2M group to send data in an uplink via a radio access network, the M2M group comprising a plurality of machine-type communication (MTC) wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs);

sending a radio resource request to the radio access network on behalf of the M2M group, the radio resource request comprising an indication of the determined amount of radio resources; and

receiving an indication of radio resources and a time window allocated for the M2M group to send data, wherein the radio resources allocated for the M2M group comprises a channel that is dedicated to the M2M group during the time window for sending data in the uplink.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

allocating a first time slot within the time window for a first MTC WTRU in the M2M group; and

sending information indicative of the radio resources allocated for the M2M group and the first allocated time slot to the first MTC WTRU.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the information indicative of the radio resources allocated for the M2M group and the first allocated time slot to the first MTC WTRU is sent to a broadcast server for broadcasting to the M2M group.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the radio resources are shared amongst the plurality of MTC WTRUs during the time window.

17. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

receiving data from the first MTC WTRU via the radio resources; and

routing the data to an associated MTC user.

18. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

receiving a page directed to the first MTC WTRU from an associated MTC user; and

sending the page to the first MTC WTRU during a time slot allocated to the first MTC WTRU.