Broadband extension for content delivery

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium encoded with computer-executable instructions for a wireless device to download at least one content from a storage device, the instructions comprising:

• determining that the wireless device is within a range for wireless communications;
• in response to determination that the wireless device is within the range for wireless communications, establishing a communication link to the storage device through at least a wireless communication link;
• terminating attempts to establish the communication link in response to failure to establish the communication link within a specific time interval or after a specific number of attempts;
• determining that the wireless device is available to download the at least one content based on:
• the wireless device is idle;
• the wireless device has sufficient power to download the at least one content;
• and
• the communication link is established;
• and
• initiating a download of the at least one content from the storage device in response to determination that the wireless device is available to download the at least one content.

A method for a first storage device to upload at least one content to a wireless device, the first storage device being in a local area network that has a broadband communication link to a wide area network, the method comprising:

• receiving, by the first storage device, a selection of the at least one content to periodically initiate a download of the at least one content;
• periodically initiating, by the first storage device, the download of the at least one content from the wide area network, via the broadband communication link, to the storage device in the local area network;
• determining, by the first storage device, if the wireless device has come within range for wireless communications;
• in response to determination that the wireless device is within range for wireless communications, establishing by the first storage device a communication link to the wireless device through at least a first wireless communication link;
• determining, by the first storage device, whether an idle time is occurring;
• in response to determination that the idle time is occurring, initiating by the first storage device an upload of the at least one content to the wireless device through the first wireless communication link;
• sending, by the first storage device, a first signal strength of the first wireless communication link between the first storage device and the wireless device to a second storage device;
• receiving, by the first storage device, a second signal strength of a second wireless communication link between the second storage device and the wireless device;
• determining, by the first storage device, whether the second signal strength is greater than the first signal strength;
• and
• in response to determination that the second signal strength is greater than the first signal strength:
• sending, by the first storage device, the content being uploaded to the second storage device;
• and
• handing off, by the first storage device, the upload to the second storage device, wherein the second storage device initiates the upload of the at least one content to the wireless device through the second wireless communication link.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium encoded with computer-executable instructions for a storage device to upload at least one content to a wireless device, the storage device being in a local area network with a broadband communication link to a wide area network, the instructions comprising:

• determining, by the storage device, that a selection, of the at least one content to periodically initiate a download of the at least one content, has been received;
• initiating, by the storage device, the download of the at least one content from the wide area network, via the broadband communication link, to the storage device in the local area network;
• determining, by the storage device, if the wireless device has come within range for wireless communications;
• in response to determination that the wireless device is within range for wireless communications, establishing by the storage device a communication link to the wireless device through at least a first wireless communication link;
• determining, by the storage device, whether an idle time is occurring;
• in response to determination that the idle time is occurring, initiating by the storage device an upload of the at least one content to the wireless device through the first wireless communication link;
• determining, by the storage device, a first signal strength of the first wireless communication link between the storage device and the wireless device;
• determining, by the storage device, whether a second signal strength, of a second wireless communication link between some other device and the wireless device, is greater than the first signal strength;
• in response to determination the second signal strength is greater than the first signal strength:
• sending, by the storage device, the content being uploaded to the other device;
• and
• handing off, by the storage device, the upload to the other device, wherein the other device initiates the upload of the at least one content to the wireless device through the second wireless communication link.

A method for a network device to upload a streaming content to a storage device and a wireless device using a broadband communication link, comprising:

• downloading the streaming content through the broadband communication link;
• determining whether the storage device and the wireless device are concurrently reachable, the storage device being reachable by either a wired communication link or a first wireless communication link, the wireless device being reachable by a second wireless communication link;
• in response to determination that the storage device and the wireless device are concurrently reachable, concurrently establishing the wired communication link or the first wireless communication link to the storage device and the second wireless communication link to the wireless device;
• and
• multicasting the streaming content to the storage device over the wired communication link or the first wireless communication link and to the wireless device over the second wireless communication link.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium encoded with computer-executable instructions for a network device to upload a streaming content to a storage device and a wireless device using a broadband communication link, the instructions comprising:

• downloading the streaming content through the broadband communication link;
• determining if the storage device and the wireless device are concurrently within communication range, the storage device being reachable within the communication range by either a wired communication link or a first wireless communication link, the wireless device being reachable within the communication range by a second wireless communication link;
• in response to determination that the storage device and the wireless device are concurrently within the communication range, concurrently establishing the wired communication link or the first wireless communication link to the storage device and the second wireless communication link to the wireless device;
• and
• multicasting the streaming content to the storage device over the wired communication link or the first wireless communication link and to the wireless device over the second wireless communication link.

A computing device configured to download at least one content from a storage device, comprising:

• a memory;
• and
• a processor, wherein the processor is configured to:
• determine that the computing device is within a range for wireless communications,
• when the computing device is determined to be within the range for wireless communications, establish a communication link to the storage device through at least a wireless communication link,
• determine that the computing device is available to download the at least one content based on:
• both the computing device and the storage device are idle;
• the computing device has sufficient power to download the at least one content;
• and
• the communication link is established;
• and
• initiate a download of the at least one content from the storage device in response to determination that the computing device is available to download the at least one content.