Collaborative Networks for Parallel Downloads of Content

• US 20080104170A1
• Filed: 10/31/2006
• Published: 05/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Ananthanarayanan, Ganesh
• Application Number:
  US11/555,084
• Publication Number:
  US 20080104170A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

Systems, methods, and/or techniques (“tools”) are described herein that relate to parallel downloads of content using devices. The tools for parallel downloading may cause a first device to request that a second device collaborate in downloading the content from a server. The tools may also cause the first device to receive a response to the collaboration request from the second device.

Claims

1. A machine-readable storage medium comprising machine-readable instructions that, when executed by the machine, cause the machine to perform a method for downloading content from a server, the method comprising:

initiating, from a first one of a plurality of devices, a request that at least a second one of the devices collaborate with the first device in downloading the content from the server; and

receiving a response to the request from at least the second device.

2. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 1, further comprising instructions for causing the first device to indicate the content to be downloaded from the server.

3. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 1, further comprising instructions for causing the first device to add at least the second device to a collaborative network.

4. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 3, wherein the instructions for causing the first device to add at least the second device include instructions for adding the at least the second device to the collaborative network using only the first device and at least the second device.

5. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 1, further comprising instructions for causing the first device to partition the content, and to assign the second device to download at least a portion of the content.

6. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 5, wherein the instructions for causing the first device to partition the content include instructions for partitioning the content using only the first device and the at least second one of the devices.

7. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 5, further comprising instructions for causing the first device to download at least a further portion of the content.

8. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 5, further comprising instructions for computing a timeout period applicable to the second device in downloading the portion of the content.

9. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 1, further comprising instructions for causing the first device to receive the content from the second device.

10. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the instructions for causing the first device to receive the content from the second device include instructions for receiving content that is stored locally on the second device.

11. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the instructions for causing the first device to receive the content from the second device include instructions for receiving content that was downloaded from the server by the second device.

12. A machine-readable storage medium comprising machine-readable instructions that, when executed by the machine, cause the machine to perform a method for enabling devices to obtain content, the method comprising:

receiving, from a first one of a plurality of the devices, a request that at least a second one of the devices collaborate with the first device in downloading the content from the server; and

providing a response to the request from at least the second device.

13. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 12, further comprising instructions for sending the content to the first device, wherein the content was stored locally on the second device before receiving the request.

14. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 12, further comprising instructions for sending the content to the first device, wherein the content was downloaded to the second device after receiving the request.

15. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the instructions for providing a response include instructions for sending an affirmative response to the collaboration request.

16. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the instructions for providing a response include instructions for sending a negative response to the collaboration request.

17. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 12, further comprising instructions for receiving at least one assignment to download at least a portion of the content.

18. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 17, further comprising downloading the assigned portion of the content, and providing the content to the first device.

19. A system for downloading content using a collaborative network, the system comprising:

at least one initiating node corresponding to a first device for receiving the downloaded content; and

at least one collaborating node corresponding to at least a second device, wherein the second device is for providing at least a portion of the content in collaboration with the first device.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising at least a second collaborating node corresponding to at least a third device, wherein the third device is for providing at least a further portion of the content in collaboration with the first device.