Location based multicast policies

A method, comprising:

• receiving a request to receive a multicast stream from an associated device coupled to an associated network;
• determining a point of attachment of the associated device to the associated network;
• determining a user associated with the associated device;
• determining a physical location of the user associated with the associated device;
• determining by a processor executing logic whether to provide the multicast stream to the associated device based on the point of attachment and the physical location of the associated user;
• determining by the processor executing the logic a connection type of the point of attachment of the associated device;
• dynamically selecting by the processor executing the logic one of a group consisting of a first source providing the multicast stream at a first data rate and a second source providing the multicast stream at a second data rate, wherein the second data rate is less than the first data rate, based upon a determination to provide the multicast stream to the device and based on the point of attachment of the associated device to the associated network;
• wherein the processor selects the first source responsive to determining the bandwidth at the attachment is sufficient to provide the multicast stream at the first data rate;
• and
• wherein the processor dynamically selects the second source upon determining the bandwidth at the point of attachment is no longer sufficient to provide the multicast stream at the first data rate.

Logic encoded in one or more non-transitory computer readable medium for execution and when executed operable to:

• receive a request from an associated device coupled to an associated network to receive a multicast stream;
• determining a physical location of a user associated with the associated device responsive to receiving the request to receive the multicast stream;
• dynamically determine a maximum available bandwidth at a point of connection for the associated device to receive the multicast stream;
• dynamically select between a plurality of multicast sources, each multicast source having an associated multicast server operating at a data rate to provide the multicast stream to the associated device by the associated network;
• wherein the selecting between the plurality of multicast sources comprises selecting an associated selected multicast server from the plurality of multicast servers, the selected multicast server providing the multicast stream at a highest bandwidth that does not exceed the maximum available bandwidth for the device in accordance with the determined physical location;
• wherein a first of the plurality of multicast sources having a first data rate is selected responsive to determining the first data rate is a maximum data rate supported at a first point of attachment;
• and
• wherein the source of the multicast stream is dynamically switched to a second of the plurality of multicast sources having a second data rate that is greater than the first data rate upon determining that the point of attachment has changed to a second point of attachment, and that the second point of attachment is capable of supporting the second data rate.