Managed wireless distribution network

A method implemented in a network management service, the method comprising:

• receiving from multiple devices in a managed wireless distribution network parameters used to join multiple wireless networks, each of the multiple wireless networks being hosted by one of the multiple devices;
• providing to each of the multiple devices parameters used to join wireless networks hosted by others of the multiple devices;
• receiving from each of the multiple devices indications of wireless networks visible to the device;
• generating routes through multiple wireless networks for ones of the multiple devices to obtain portions of protected content to others of the multiple devices;
• providing an indication of the routes to the multiple devices;
• determining which of the multiple devices are to seed which portions of particular protected content;
• and
• instructing ones of the multiple devices to obtain particular portions of the protected content in the absence of a user request to consume the particular protected content at the ones of the multiple devices.

A method implemented in a device, the method comprising:

• obtaining parameters allowing the device to join Wi-Fi networks hosted by multiple additional devices in a managed wireless distribution network, the device joining a Wi-Fi network hosted by one of the multiple additional devices in order to transfer protected content between the device and the one of the multiple additional devices;
• obtaining a first one or more portions of particular protected content from a content service via the Internet, a second one or more portions of the particular protected content from another device via a P2P network over the Internet, and a third one or more portions of the particular protected content from another device in the managed wireless distribution network chained to the device via multiple Wi-Fi networks;
• and
• maintaining portions of protected content that can be consumed by a user of the device only if the user of the device has permission to consume the protected content, and that can be transferred to ones of the multiple additional devices in the managed wireless distribution network regardless of whether the user of the device has permission to consume the protected content.

A method implemented in a device, the method comprising:

• obtaining, via a managed wireless distribution network system of the device, parameters allowing the device to join wireless networks hosted by multiple additional devices in a managed wireless distribution network;
• joining a wireless network hosted by one of the multiple additional devices in order to transfer protected content between the device and the one of the multiple additional devices;
• identifying, via the managed wireless distribution network system and during a broadcast window, one or more of the wireless networks that the device can see;
• providing, via the managed wireless distribution network system and to a network management service, an indication of the one or more wireless networks that the device can see;
• and
• maintaining, at a content store of the device, portions of protected content that can be consumed by a user of the device only if the user of the device has permission to consume the protected content, and that can be transferred to ones of the multiple additional devices in the managed wireless distribution network regardless of whether the user of the device has permission to consume the protected content.

A network management service implemented on one or more devices, the network management service comprising:

• one or more processors;
• and
• one or more computer-readable storage media having stored thereon multiple instructions that, responsive to execution by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform acts comprising:
• receiving from multiple devices in a managed wireless distribution network parameters used to join multiple wireless networks, each of the multiple wireless networks being hosted by one of the multiple devices;
• providing to each of the multiple devices parameters used to join wireless networks hosted by others of the multiple devices;
• receiving from each of the multiple devices indications of wireless networks visible to the device;
• generating routes through multiple wireless networks for ones of the multiple devices to obtain portions of protected content to others of the multiple devices;
• providing an indication of the routes to the multiple devices;
• determining which of the multiple devices are to seed which portions of particular protected content;
• and
• instructing ones of the multiple devices to obtain particular portions of the protected content in the absence of a user request to consume the particular protected content at the ones of the multiple devices.

A device comprising:

• one or more processors;
• and
• one or more computer-readable storage media having stored thereon multiple instructions that, responsive to execution by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform acts comprising:
• obtaining parameters allowing the device to join Wi-Fi networks hosted by multiple additional devices in a managed wireless distribution network the device joining a Wi-Fi network hosted by one of the multiple additional devices in order to transfer protected content between the device and the one of the multiple additional devices;
• obtaining a first one or more portions of particular protected content from a content service via the Internet, a second one or more portions of the particular protected content from another device via a P2P network over the Internet, and a third one or more portions of the particular protected content from another device in the managed wireless distribution network chained to the device via multiple Wi-Fi networks;
• and
• maintaining portions of the protected content that can be consumed by a user of the device only if the user of the device has permission to consume the protected content, and that can be transferred to ones of the multiple additional devices in the managed wireless distribution network regardless of whether the user of the device has permission to consume the protected content.