Method for optimized delivery of sub-service flows using broadcast/multicast

1. 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 at least:

detect whether content is common content to be provided, via a multicast, broadcast transmission, to at least one user equipment;

forward the common content to a multicast, broadcast gateway to enable delivery to the at least one user equipment via the multicast, broadcast transmission; and

forward, as a unicast service flow, other content to the at least one user equipment to enable the at least one user equipment to selectively combine the unicast service flow with the common content carried by the multicast, broadcast transmission, wherein the at least one user equipment is enabled to switch, based on an indication, between the multicast, broadcast transmission and a unicast transmission carrying the unicast service flow, and wherein a subservice flow carries the common content via the multicast, broadcast transmission.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the common content is cached at an edge caching server in a mobile wireless network.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the common content forwarded to the multicast, broadcast gateway further includes information regarding one or more cells to which to transmit the common content via the multicast, broadcast transmission.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the forwarded common content is delivered through a dynamic network slice.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the common content comprises content common to a plurality of user equipment within an area covered by the multicast, broadcast transmission.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the common content includes content frequently downloaded by a plurality of user equipment within an area covered by the multicast, broadcast transmission.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the detection of whether content is common content is based on another indication representative of common content and/or an inspection of one or more packets.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the other indication representative of common content is applied by a content provider to indicate that the content is common content.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the detection of whether content is common content is based on how frequently content is fetched from an edge caching server by a plurality of user equipment in an area.

10. A method comprising:

detecting whether content is common content to be provided, via a multicast, broadcast transmission, to at least one user equipment;

forwarding the common content to a multicast, broadcast gateway to enable delivery to the at least one user equipment via the multicast, broadcast transmission; and

forwarding, as a unicast service flow, other content to the at least one user equipment to enable the at least one user equipment to selectively combine the unicast service flow with the common content carried by the multicast, broadcast transmission, wherein the at least one user equipment is enabled to switch, based on an indication, between the multicast, broadcast transmission and a unicast transmission carrying the unicast service flow, and wherein a subservice flow carries the common content via the multicast, broadcast transmission.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the common content forwarded to the multicast, broadcast gateway further includes information regarding one or more cells to which to transmit the common content via the multicast, broadcast transmission.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the forwarded common content delivered through a dynamic network slice.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the common content comprises content common to a plurality of user equipment within an area covered by the multicast, broadcast transmission.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the common content includes content frequently downloaded by a plurality of user equipment within an area covered by the multicast, broadcast transmission.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the detection of whether content is common content is based on another indication representative of common content and/or an inspection of one or more packets.

16. 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 at least:

receive, via a unicast transmission, content received from a content provider via a serving gateway, wherein a unicast service flow carries the content via the unicast transmission;

receive an indication regarding common content to be received via a multicast, broadcast transmission, wherein the apparatus is enabled to switch, based on the indication, between the unicast transmission and the multicast, broadcast transmission, and wherein a subservice flow carries the common content via the multicast, broadcast transmission; and

combine the content received via the unicast transmission and the common content received via the multicast, broadcast transmission.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the indication is provided as signaling from a base station and/or provided via an application at the apparatus.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to at least:

receive the common content, wherein the common content is received, via the multicast, broadcast transmission, from at least one base station, a multicast, broadcast gateway, and an edge caching server in a mobile wireless network.

19. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the common content comprises content common to a plurality of user equipment within an area covered by the multicast, broadcast transmission.