Method and apparatus for content delivery over a broadcast network

An apparatus comprising:

• means for receiving, over a cable network, a broadcast transmission of unsolicited content pushed to a group of communication devices outside of a first spectrum allocated for real time programming content, said apparatus being a member of the group of communication devices, said unsolicited content including a plurality of different portions of a file;
• means for determining whether a first portion of the received unsolicited content is already stored on another communication device of the group;
• and
• means for discarding the first portion, at the apparatus, in response to determining that the first portion of the received unsolicited content is already being stored on the another communication device;
• means for storing a second portion of the unsolicited content, said second portion being distinct from said first portion;
• means for receiving a request for content from a user;
• and
• means for providing the second portion of the unsolicited content to the user, in response to the requested content matching the second portion,
• wherein said means for determining also determine whether the requested content is stored on the another communication device of the group, in response to the requested content not matching the second portion, and wherein the means for receiving the broadcast transmission further comprises means for receiving the unsolicited content outside of a second spectrum allocated for Internet communications and for receiving the unsolicited content over a third spectrum created within a usable spectrum of the cable network.

An apparatus comprising:

• at least one processor configured to:
• (a) receive, over a cable network, a broadcast transmission of unsolicited content pushed to a group of communication devices outside of a first spectrum allocated for real time programming content, said apparatus being a member of the group of communication devices, said unsolicited content including a plurality of different portions of a file;
• (b) determine whether a first portion of the received unsolicited content is already stored on another communication device of the group;
• (c) in response to determining that the first portion of the received unsolicited content is already being stored on the another communication device, discard the first portion at the apparatus;
• (d) store a second portion of the unsolicited content, said second portion being distinct from said first portion;
• (e) receive a request for content from a user;
• (f) provide the second portion of the unsolicited content to the user, in response to the requested content matching the second portion;
• and
• (g) determine whether the requested content is stored on the another communication device of the group, in response to the requested content not matching the second portion;
• and
• a memory coupled to the at least one processor for storing data,
• wherein the at least one processor is configured to receive the broadcast transmission by receiving the unsolicited content outside of a second spectrum allocated for Internet communications and receiving the unsolicited content over a third spectrum created within a usable spectrum of the cable network.

A computer program product for use in a communication device, comprising:

• a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising code for causing a computer to:
• receive, over a cable network, a broadcast transmission of unsolicited content pushed to a group of communication devices outside of a first spectrum allocated for real time programming content, said communication device being a member of the group of communication devices, said unsolicited content including a plurality of different portions of a file;
• determine whether a first portion of the received unsolicited content is already stored on another communication device of the group;
• and
• discard, in response to determining the first portion of the received unsolicited content is already being stored on the another communication device, the first portion at the communication device;
• store a second portion of the unsolicited content;
• receive a request for content from a user;
• provide the second portion of the unsolicited content to the user, in response to the requested content matching the second portion;
• and
• determine whether the requested content is stored on the another communication device of the group, in response to the requested content not matching the second portion,
• wherein the broadcast transmission is received by receiving the unsolicited content outside of a second spectrum allocated for Internet communications and receiving the unsolicited content over a third spectrum created within a usable spectrum of the cable network.