Patent ID: 9007980
Filing Date: 2015-04-14
Classification: H04H,H04L,H04W

Abstract:
1. A method, comprising: receiving, by a network device and from a first user device, a request to receive content via a first base station, where the content was previously being received by the first user device as multicast content, via a second base station; determining, by the network device and in response to the request, whether the first base station has an ability to process multicast content; transmitting a copy of the content, by the network device and to the first user device via the first base station, as multicast content, based on a determination that the first base station has the ability to process multicast content; and transmitting the content, by the network device and to the first user device via the first base station, as unicast content, based on a determination that the first base station does not have the ability to process multicast content; receiving, from a second user device, another request to receive other content via a third base station, where the other content was previously being received by the second user device, as unicast content, via a fourth base station, and where the third base station has the ability to process multicast content; identifying a quantity of plural user devices that are receiving the other content, as unicast content, via the third base station; transmitting the other content, to the second user device and via the third base station, as unicast content, when the identified quantity of the plural user devices, that are receiving the other content as unicast content, is less than a threshold quantity; and transmitting a copy of the other content, to the second user device and via the third base station, as multicast content, when the identified quantity of the plural user devices, that are receiving the other content as unicast content, is not less than the threshold quantity.