Content storage and processing in network base stations and methods for content delivery in a mesh network

A method for distributing digital content, comprising:

• storing a local copy of at least one digital content item in a local storage device of a base station, a remote copy of the at least one digital content item being stored on a remote computing device;
• delivering the local copy from the local storage device instead of the remote copy in response to a client of the base station requesting the at least one digital content item from the remote computing device;
• and
• identifying digital content items that have a lowest request rate from clients of the base station and deleting local copies of the identified lowest request rate digital content items.

A system for distributing digital content, comprising:

• a first node communicatively connected to an Internet backhaul point;
• and
• a plurality of second nodes forming a mesh network with the first node, whereby each of the plurality of second nodes is communicatively connected to the Internet backhaul point through the mesh network;
• wherein the first node comprises:
• a local storage device;
• a local processor;
• and
• a content request module configured to:
• receive from a client communicatively connected to the first node a request for a digital content item from a remote computing device, the remote computing device having a remote copy of the digital content item;
• determine if the local storage device has a local copy of the digital content item;
• determine if any of the plurality of second nodes has a secondary copy of the digital content item;
• and
• a content serving module configured to:
• determine which of the local, secondary and remote copies of the digital content item can be delivered to the client in a least amount of time;
• and
• deliver to the client the local, secondary or remote copy that requires the least amount of time to deliver to the client.