Switching between unicast streams and a multicast stream based on content demand

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions, the instructions comprising:

• one or more instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
• receive streaming information associated with a plurality of user devices, streaming content being provided to the plurality of user devices, a first cell, and a second cell,
• the streaming information including a segment identifier that identifies a segment of the streaming content and a cell identifier that identifies a first base station associated with the first cell or a second base station associated with the second cell,
• the streaming information being:
• a live feed, or
• not a live feed, and
• the segment identifier being used to group the plurality of user devices into one or more separate groups when the streaming information is not a live feed;
• determine that a user device, of the plurality of user devices, switched from receiving the streaming content from the first base station to receiving the streaming content from the second base station;
• determine, based on the user device switching to receive the streaming content from the second base station, a quantity of user devices, of the plurality of user devices, associated with the first cell and a quantity of user devices, of the plurality of user devices, associated with the second cell based on the segment identifier;
• determine that the streaming content is being provided using a multicast stream from the first base station;
• determine a bit rate at which one or more user devices, of the plurality of user devices, associated with the second base station receive the streaming content;
• determine that the streaming content is being provided using a unicast stream from the second base station;
• compare the bit rate and a bit rate threshold for switching from the unicast stream to a multicast stream;
• compare the quantity of user devices, associated with the second cell, and a quantity threshold for switching from the unicast stream to the multicast stream;
• determine that the bit rate threshold is satisfied based on comparing the bit rate and the bit rate threshold;
• determine that the quantity threshold is satisfied based on comparing the quantity of user devices, associated with the second base station, and the quantity threshold;
• switch, based on determining that the quantity threshold is satisfied and that the bit rate threshold is satisfied, from the unicast stream to the multicast stream;
• and
• receive an acknowledgement when a multicast service is established,
• the acknowledgement including a service identifier,
• the service identifier to allow the user devices to access the multicast stream associated with the multicast service.

A method, comprising:

• receiving, by a device, streaming information that identifies a plurality of user devices, streaming content being provided to the plurality of user devices, a first cell, and a second cell,
• the streaming information including a segment identifier that identifies a segment of the streaming content and a cell identifier that identifies the first cell associated with a first base station or the second cell associated with a second base station,
• the streaming information being:
• a live feed, or
• not a live feed, and to
• the segment identifier being used to group the plurality of user devices into one or more separate groups when the streaming information is not a live feed;
• determining, by the device, that a user device, of the plurality of user devices, switched from receiving the streaming content from the first base station to receiving the streaming content from the second base station;
• determining, by the device and based on the user device switching to receive the streaming content from the second base station, a quantity of user devices, of the plurality of user devices, associated with the first cell and a quantity of user devices, of the plurality of user devices, associated with the second cell;
• determining, by the device, a bit rate at which one or more user devices, of the plurality of user devices, associated with the second base station receive the streaming content;
• determining, by the device, that the streaming content is being provided using a multicast stream from the first base station based on the streaming information;
• determining, by the device, that the streaming content is being provided using a unicast stream from the second base station based on the streaming information;
• comparing, by the device and for the second base station, the bit rate and a bit rate threshold for switching from the unicast stream to a multicast stream;
• comparing, by the device, the quantity of user devices, associated with the second cell, and a quantity threshold for switching from the unicast stream to the multicast stream;
• determining, by the device, that the bit rate threshold is satisfied based on comparing the bit rate and the bit rate threshold;
• determining, by the device, that the quantity threshold is satisfied based on comparing the quantity of user devices, associated with the second cell, and the quantity threshold;
• switching, by the device, from the unicast stream to the multicast stream based on determining that the quantity threshold is satisfied and that the bit rate threshold is satisfied;
• and
• receiving, by the device, an acknowledgement when a multicast service is established,
• the acknowledgement including a service identifier,
• the service identifier to allow the user devices to access the multicast stream associated with the multicast service.