Adaptive streaming for on demand wireless services

• US 9,313,245 B2
• Filed: 12/24/2007
• Issued: 04/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Mandyam, Giridhar D., Hunter, Kevin E.
• Primary Examiner(s): GOLDBERG, ANDREW C
• Application Number:
  US11/963,891
• Publication Number:
  US 20090164653A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,032 Days
• Field of Search: 709/231
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/75 Media network packet handling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/752 adapting media to network capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/762 at the source reformatting of additional data in video distribution servers H04N21/2355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416

Abstract

An adaptive media distribution system provides an on demand user experience across a limited throughput wireless network by selectively utilizing available storage on a handheld communication device, taking advantage of increased availability of extended memory solutions. Creation of an adaptable user interface (UI) widget (e.g., Trig) serves as a near real-time mechanism for delivery of media content, overcoming the over-the-air latency and difficulties with streaming interoperability. Yet, for handheld communication devices with limited storage, the adaptive media distribution system further allows legacy devices to receive on demand services via streaming, albeit with the requisite relatively long latency associated with cellular multimedia services.

Claims

1. A method for receiving media content across a limited throughput cellular network, comprising:

monitoring an amount of available local data storage on a wireless communication device to determine whether to stream a media content selection on the wireless communication device or download the media content selection to the available local data storage; and

requesting delivery of the media content selection to the wireless communication device via streaming or downloading based on the monitored amount of available local data storage, wherein requesting the delivery of the media content selection to the wireless communication device includes;

streaming, from a remotely located content distributor via the limited throughput cellular network, a streaming version of the media content selection on the wireless communication device if the monitored amount of available local data storage does not meet or exceed a threshold and the local data storage cannot be freed up to store a discretely formatted version of the media content selection, wherein the streaming version and the discretely formatted version have different file formats, the discretely formatted version of the media content selection built at the remotely located content distributor from the streaming version of the media content selection and comprising a file system that contains one or more multimedia resource files, and wherein a delay to stream the streaming version of the media content selection is affected by an over-the-air latency associated with the limited throughput cellular network;

downloading, from the remotely located content distributor via the limited throughput cellular network, and storing the discretely formatted version of the media content selection in the available local data storage if the monitored amount of available local data storage meets or exceeds the threshold or the local data storage can be freed up to store the discretely formatted version of the media content selection, wherein the remotely located content distributor pre-schedules a time at which the discretely formatted version of the media content selection is background downloaded to the wireless communication device and to one or more other communication devices that have available local data storage that meets or exceeds the threshold based on at least a predicted network throughput to the wireless communication device at the pre-scheduled time, and wherein the remotely located content distributor determines the predicted network throughput at the pre-scheduled time based on the limited throughput cellular network having excess bandwidth to handle distributing the discretely formatted version of the media content selection to the wireless communication device and the one or more other communication devices at the pre-scheduled time; and

dynamically updating the requested delivery of the media content selection in response to a current iteration of the monitoring detecting a change in state associated with the amount of available local data storage.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising playing the discretely formatted version of the media content selection stored in the available local data storage on the wireless communication device in response to a request.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the discretely formatted version of the media content selection comprises a data structure container comprising an update channel, executable user interface code, and the one or more multimedia resource files.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the discretely formatted version of the media content selection comprises a Trig user interface application.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the discretely formatted version of the media content selection further comprises a Triglet updating the Trig user interface application.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the current iteration of the monitoring detects the change in state associated with the amount of available local data storage in response to detecting an expanded memory device inserted into the wireless communication device that has sufficient available data storage to store the discretely formatted version of the media content selection.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the limited throughput cellular network has a throughput characterized by an over-the-air latency exceeding one fourth of a duration of the media content selection.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the discretely formatted version of the media content comprises incorporated advertising content.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein dynamically updating the requested delivery of the media content selection includes:

reverting to streaming, via the limited throughput cellular network, the streaming version of the media content selection on the wireless communication device if the change in state detected in the current iteration of the monitoring indicates that the amount of available local data storage no longer meets or exceeds the threshold and that the local data storage cannot be freed up to store the discretely formatted version of the media content selection; and

reloading the discretely formatted version of the media content selection for downloading via the limited throughput cellular network and storing in the available local data storage if the change in state detected in the current iteration of the monitoring indicates that the local data storage has become available such that the amount of available local data storage meets or exceeds the threshold or that the local data storage can be freed up to store the discretely formatted version of the media content selection.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the delay to stream the streaming version of the media content selection is a function of at least a transmission rate and a probable error rate over the limited throughput cellular network.

11. A method for distributing media content across a limited throughput cellular network, comprising:

determining, by a content distributor, a media content selection; and

scheduling distribution of the media content selection from the content distributor to a remotely located wireless communication device, wherein scheduling the distribution of the media content selection to the remotely located wireless communication device includes;

streaming, from the content distributor to the remotely located wireless communication device, a streaming version of the media content selection across the limited throughput cellular network in response to determining that a storage capacity of the remotely located wireless communication device is insufficient to store a discrete version of the media content selection, wherein the streaming version and the discrete version have different file formats, the discrete version of the media content selection built at the content distributor from the streaming version of the media content selection and comprising a file system that contains one or more multimedia resource files, and wherein a delay to stream the streaming version of the media content selection is affected by an over-the-air latency associated with the limited throughput cellular network;

transmitting, from the content distributor to the remotely located wireless communication device, the discrete version of the media content selection across the limited throughput cellular network in response to determining that the storage capacity of the remotely located wireless communication device is sufficient to store the discrete version of the media content selection, wherein the content distributor pre-schedules a time at which the discrete version of the media content selection is background transmitted to the remotely located wireless communication device and to one or more other remotely located communication devices that have storage capacity sufficient to store the discrete version of the media content selection based on at least a predicted network throughput to the remotely located wireless communication device at the pre-scheduled time, and wherein the content distributor determines the predicted network throughput at the pre-scheduled time based on the limited throughput cellular network having excess bandwidth to handle distributing the discrete version of the media content selection to the remotely located wireless communication device and the one or more other remotely located communication devices at the pre-scheduled time; and

dynamically updating the scheduled distribution of the media content selection in response to a change in state relating to whether the storage capacity of the remotely located wireless communication device is sufficient or insufficient to store the discrete version of the media content selection.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein scheduling the distribution of the media content selection to the remotely located wireless communication device further includes streaming the streaming version of the media content selection in response to the remotely located wireless communication device lacking sufficient capacity to store the discrete version of the media content selection.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein scheduling the distribution of the media content selection to the remotely located wireless communication device further includes transmitting the discrete version of the media content selection in response to freeing resources on the remotely located wireless communication device sufficient to store the discrete version of the media content selection.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising obtaining a Triglet to update a user interface on the remotely located wireless communication device.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising scheduling the distribution of the media content selection to the remotely located wireless communication device in accordance with a constraint determined by the content distributor.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising determining the constraint based upon network availability.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising determining the constraint based upon usage patterns of the remotely located wireless communication device.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein transmitting the discrete version of the media content selection includes commanding deletion of stored content on the remotely located wireless communication device prior to transmitting the discrete version of the media content selection.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the content distributor determines the media content selection based on a preference associated with the remotely located wireless communication device.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising incorporating advertising content into one or more of the streaming version of the media content selection or the discrete version of the media content selection.

21. The method of claim 11, wherein the content distributor utilizes a channel that has a low bandwidth relative to one or more other channels available in the limited throughput cellular network to transmit the discrete version of the media content selection to the remotely located wireless communication device over an extended period.

22. The method of claim 11, wherein the content distributor prioritizes transmitting the discrete version of the media content selection to the remotely located wireless communication device in response to one or more of sensing the remotely located wireless communication device within a portion of the limited throughput cellular network having excess bandwidth or sensing that the remotely located wireless communication device is currently making a high bandwidth call that allows downloading to occur in conjunction thereto.

23. At least one processor to receive media content across a limited throughput cellular network, comprising:

a first module for monitoring an amount of available local data storage on a wireless communication device to determine whether to stream a media content selection on the wireless communication device or download the media content selection to the available local data storage; and

a second module for requesting delivery of the media content selection to the wireless communication device via streaming or downloading based on the monitored amount of available local data storage, wherein the second module for requesting the delivery of the media content selection includes;

a third module for streaming, from a remotely located content distributor via the limited throughput cellular network, a streaming version of the media content selection on the wireless communication device if the monitored amount of available local data storage does not meet or exceed a threshold and the local data storage cannot be freed up to store a discretely formatted version of the media content selection, wherein the streaming version and the discretely formatted version have different file formats, the discretely formatted version of the media content selection built at the remotely located content distributor from the streaming version of the media content selection and comprising a file system that contains one or more multimedia resource files, and wherein a delay to stream the streaming version of the media content selection is affected by an over-the-air latency associated with the limited throughput cellular network;

a fourth module for downloading, from the remotely located content distributor via the limited throughput cellular network, and storing the discretely formatted version of the media content selection in the available local data storage if the monitored amount of available local data storage meets or exceeds the threshold or the local data storage can be freed up to store the discretely formatted version of the media content selection, wherein the remotely located content distributor pre-schedules a time at which the discretely formatted version of the media content selection is background downloaded to the wireless communication device and to one or more other communication devices that have available local data storage that meets or exceeds the threshold based on at least a predicted network throughput to the wireless communication device at the pre-scheduled time, and wherein the remotely located content distributor determines the predicted network throughput at the pre-scheduled time based on the limited throughput cellular network having excess bandwidth to handle distributing the discretely formatted version of the media content selection to the wireless communication device and the one or more other communication devices at the pre-scheduled time; and

a fifth module for dynamically updating the requested delivery of the media content selection in response to the first module detecting a change in state associated with the amount of available local data storage in a current iteration.

24. A computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising one or more instructions, wherein executing the one or more instructions on a processor causes the processor to;

monitor an amount of available local data storage on a wireless communication device to determine whether to stream a media content selection on the wireless communication device or download the media content selection to the available local data storage; and

request delivery of the media content selection to the wireless communication device via streaming or downloading based on the monitored amount of available local data storage, wherein the one or more instructions that cause the processor to request the delivery of the media content selection further cause the processor to;

stream, from a remotely located content distributor via a limited throughput cellular network, a streaming version of the media content selection on the wireless communication device if the monitored amount of available local data storage does not meet or exceed a threshold and the local data storage cannot be freed up to store a discretely formatted version of the media content selection, wherein the streaming version and the discretely formatted version have different file formats, the discretely formatted version of the media content selection built at the remotely located content distributor from the streaming version of the media content selection and comprising a file system that contains one or more multimedia resource files, and wherein a delay to stream the streaming version of the media content selection is affected by an over-the-air latency associated with the limited throughput cellular network;

download, from the remotely located content distributor via the limited throughput cellular network, and store the discretely formatted version of the media content selection in the available local data storage if the monitored amount of available local data storage meets or exceeds the threshold or the local data storage can be freed up to store the discretely formatted version of the media content selection, wherein the remotely located content distributor pre-schedules a time at which the discretely formatted version of the media content selection is background downloaded to the wireless communication device and to one or more other communication devices that have available local data storage that meets or exceeds the threshold based on at least a predicted network throughput to the wireless communication device at the pre-scheduled time, and wherein the remotely located content distributor determines the predicted network throughput at the pre-scheduled time based on the limited throughput cellular network having excess bandwidth to handle distributing the discretely formatted version of the media content selection to the wireless communication device and the one or more other communication devices at the pre-scheduled time; and

dynamically update the requested delivery of the media content selection in response to the one or more instructions that cause the processor to monitor the amount of available local data storage detecting a change in state associated with the amount of available local data storage in a current iteration.

25. An apparatus, comprising:

means for monitoring an amount of available local data storage on a wireless communication device to determine whether to stream a media content selection on the wireless communication device or download the media content selection to the available local data storage; and

means for requesting delivery of the media content selection to the wireless communication device via streaming or downloading based on the monitored amount of available local data storage, wherein the means for requesting the delivery of the media content selection to the wireless communication device includes;

means for streaming, from a remotely located content distributor via a limited throughput cellular network, a streaming version of the media content selection on the wireless communication device if the monitored amount of available local data storage does not meet or exceed a threshold and the local data storage cannot be freed up to store a discretely formatted version of the media content selection, wherein the streaming version and the discretely formatted version have different file formats, the discretely formatted version of the media content selection built at the remotely located content distributor from the streaming version of the media content selection and comprising a file system that contains one or more multimedia resource files, and wherein a delay to stream the streaming version of the media content selection is affected by an over-the-air latency associated with the limited throughput cellular network;

means for downloading, from the remotely located content distributor via the limited throughput cellular network, and storing the discretely formatted version of the media content selection in the available local data storage if the monitored amount of available local data storage meets or exceeds the threshold or the local data storage can be freed up to store the discretely formatted version of the media content selection, wherein the remotely located content distributor pre-schedules a time at which the discretely formatted version of the media content selection is background downloaded to the wireless communication device and to one or more other communication devices that have available local data storage that meets or exceeds the threshold based on at least a predicted network throughput to the wireless communication device at the pre-scheduled time, and wherein the remotely located content distributor determines the predicted network throughput at the pre-scheduled time based on the limited throughput cellular network having excess bandwidth to handle distributing the discretely formatted version of the media content selection to the wireless communication device and the one or more other communication devices at the pre-scheduled time; and

means for dynamically updating the requested delivery of the media content selection in response to the means for monitoring detecting a change in state associated with the amount of available local data storage in a current iteration.

26. An apparatus for receiving media content across a limited throughput cellular network, comprising:

local data storage;

a wireless interface to receive a media content selection;

a media player; and

a controller responsive to an available amount of the local data storage being under a threshold and the controller being unable to free up the local data storage to store a discretely formatted version of the media content selection, to stream, from a remotely located content distributor via the limited throughput cellular network, a streaming version of the media content selection on the media player, wherein the streaming version and the discretely formatted version have different file formats, the discretely formatted version of the media content selection built at the remotely located content distributor from the streaming version of the media content selection and comprising a file system that contains one or more multimedia resource files, and wherein a delay to stream the streaming version of the media content selection is affected by an over-the-air latency associated with the limited throughput cellular network, and responsive to the available amount of the local data storage meeting or exceeding the threshold or the controller being able to free up the local data storage to store the discretely formatted version of the media content selection, to download, from the remotely located content distributor via the limited throughput cellular network, and store, in the local data storage, the discretely formatted version of the media content selection, wherein the remotely located content distributor pre-schedules a time at which the discretely formatted version of the media content selection is background downloaded to the apparatus and to one or more other communication devices that have available local data storage that meets or exceeds the threshold based on at least a predicted network throughput to the apparatus at the pre-scheduled time, and wherein the remotely located content distributor determines the predicted network throughput at the pre-scheduled time based on the limited throughput cellular network having excess bandwidth to handle distributing the discretely formatted version of the media content selection to the apparatus and the one or more other communication devices at the pre-scheduled time, and responsive to a change in state associated with the available amount of the local data storage, to dynamically request that the remotely located content distributor subsequently deliver the media content selection via streaming or downloading based on the change in state.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the local data storage comprises a removable memory device.

28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the media player comprises a Trig player and the discretely formatted version of the media content selection comprises one or more of a Trig user interface application or a Triglet updating a Trig user interface application previously stored in the local data storage.

29. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the discretely formatted version of the media content selection comprises a data structure container comprising an update channel, executable user interface code, and the one or more multimedia resource files.

30. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the limited throughput cellular network has a throughput characterized by an over-the-air latency exceeding one fourth of a duration of the media content selection.

31. At least one processor to distribute media content across a limited throughput cellular network, comprising:

a first module for determining a media content selection; and

a second module for scheduling distribution of the media content selection to a remotely located wireless communication device, wherein the second module for scheduling the distribution of the media content selection to the remotely located wireless communication device includes;

a third module for streaming a streaming version of the media content selection across the limited throughput cellular network to the remotely located wireless communication device in response to determining that a storage capacity of the remotely located wireless communication device is insufficient to store a discrete version of the media content selection, wherein the streaming version and the discrete version have different file formats, the discrete version of the media content selection built at a content distributor from the streaming version of the media content selection and comprising a file system that contains one or more multimedia resource files, and wherein a delay to stream the streaming version of the media content selection is affected by an over-the-air latency associated with the limited throughput cellular network;

a fourth module for transmitting the discrete version of the media content selection across the limited throughput cellular network to the remotely located wireless communication device in response to determining that the storage capacity of the remotely located wireless communication device is sufficient to store the discrete version of the media content selection, wherein the content distributor pre-schedules a time at which the discrete version of the media content selection is background transmitted to the remotely located wireless communication device and to one or more other remotely located communication devices that have storage capacity sufficient to store the discrete version of the media content selection based on at least a predicted network throughput to the remotely located wireless communication device at the pre-scheduled time, and wherein the content distributor determines the predicted network throughput at the pre-scheduled time based on the limited throughput cellular network having excess bandwidth to handle distributing the discrete version of the media content selection to the remotely located wireless communication device and the one or more other remotely located communication devices at the pre-scheduled time; and

a fifth module for dynamically updating the scheduled distribution of the media content selection in response to a change in state relating to whether the storage capacity of the remotely located wireless communication device is sufficient or insufficient to store the discrete version of the media content selection.

32. A computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising one or more instructions, wherein executing the one or more instructions on a processor causes the processor to;

determine a media content selection; and

schedule distribution of the media content selection to a remotely located wireless communication device, wherein the one or more instructions that cause the processor to schedule the distribution of the media content selection further cause the processor to;

stream, to the remotely located wireless communication device, a streaming version of the media content selection across a limited throughput cellular network in response to a storage capacity of the remotely located wireless communication device being insufficient to store a discrete version of the media content selection, wherein the streaming version and the discrete version have different file formats, the discrete version of the media content selection built at a content distributor from the streaming version of the media content selection and comprising a file system that contains one or more multimedia resource files, and wherein a delay to stream the streaming version of the media content selection is affected by an over-the-air latency associated with the limited throughput cellular network;

transmit, to the remotely located wireless communication device, the discrete version of the media content selection across the limited throughput cellular network in response to the storage capacity of the remotely located wireless communication device being sufficient to store the discrete version of the media content selection, wherein the content distributor pre-schedules a time at which the discrete version of the media content selection is background transmitted to the remotely located wireless communication device and to one or more other remotely located communication devices that have storage capacity sufficient to store the discrete version of the media content selection based on at least a predicted network throughput to the remotely located wireless communication device at the pre-scheduled time, and wherein the content distributor determines the predicted network throughput at the pre-scheduled time based on the limited throughput cellular network having excess bandwidth to handle distributing the discrete version of the media content selection to the remotely located wireless communication device and the one or more other remotely located communication devices at the pre-scheduled time; and

dynamically update the scheduled distribution of the media content selection in response to a change in state relating to whether the storage capacity of the remotely located wireless communication device is sufficient or insufficient to store the discrete version of the media content selection.

33. An apparatus, comprising:

means for determining a media content selection; and

means for scheduling distribution of the media content selection to a remotely located wireless communication device, wherein the means for scheduling the distribution of the media content selection includes;

means for streaming, to the remotely located wireless communication device, a streaming version of the media content selection across a limited throughput cellular network in response to a storage capacity of the remotely located wireless communication device being insufficient to store a discrete version of the media content selection, wherein the streaming version and the discrete version have different file formats, the discrete version of the media content selection built at a content distributor from the streaming version of the media content selection and comprising a file system that contains one or more multimedia resource files, and wherein a delay to stream the streaming version of the media content selection is affected by an over-the-air latency associated with the limited throughput cellular network;

means for transmitting, to the remotely located wireless communication device, the discrete version of the media content selection across the limited throughput cellular network in response to the storage capacity of the remotely located wireless communication device being sufficient to store the discrete version of the media content selection, wherein the content distributor pre-schedules a time at which the discrete version of the media content selection is background transmitted to the remotely located wireless communication device and to one or more other remotely located communication devices that have storage capacity sufficient to store the discrete version of the media content selection based on at least a predicted network throughput to the remotely located wireless communication device at the pre-scheduled time, and wherein the content distributor determines the predicted network throughput at the pre-scheduled time based on the limited throughput cellular network having excess bandwidth to handle distributing the discrete version of the media content selection to the remotely located wireless communication device and the one or more other remotely located communication devices at the pre-scheduled time; and

means for dynamically updating the scheduled distribution of the media content selection in response to a change in state relating to whether the storage capacity of the remotely located wireless communication device is sufficient or insufficient to store the discrete version of the media content selection.

34. An apparatus for distributing media content across a limited throughput cellular network, comprising:

a processor to determine a media content selection;

network storage to store a streaming version of the media content selection and a discrete version of the media content selection, wherein the streaming version and the discrete version have different file formats, the discrete version of the media content selection built at a content distributor from the streaming version of the media content selection and comprising a file system that contains one or more multimedia resource files, and wherein a delay to stream the streaming version of the media content selection is affected by an over-the-air latency associated with the limited throughput cellular network;

a scheduling dispatcher to schedule distribution of the media content selection to a remotely located wireless communication device based on a storage capacity of the remotely located wireless communication device; and

a transmitter to stream the streaming version of the media content selection to the remotely located wireless communication device across the limited throughput cellular network in response to the scheduling dispatcher determining that the storage capacity of the remotely located wireless communication device is insufficient to store the discrete version of the media content selection, wherein the content distributor pre-schedules a time at which the discrete version of the media content selection is background transmitted to the remotely located wireless communication device and to one or more other remotely located communication devices that have storage capacity sufficient to store the discrete version of the media content selection across the limited throughput cellular network based on at least a predicted network throughput to the remotely located communication device at the pre-scheduled time, and wherein the content distributor determines the pre-scheduled time and the predicted network throughput at the pre-scheduled time in response to the scheduling dispatcher determining that the storage capacity of the remotely located wireless communication device is sufficient to store the discrete version of the media content selection and based on the limited throughput cellular network having excess bandwidth to handle distributing the discrete version of the media content selection to the remotely located wireless communication device and the one or more other remotely located communication devices at the pre-scheduled time,

wherein the scheduling dispatcher is further to dynamically update the scheduled distribution of the media content selection in response to a change in state relating to whether the storage capacity of the remotely located wireless communication device is sufficient or insufficient to store the discrete version of the media content selection.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the transmitter is to stream the streaming version of the media content selection in response to the scheduling dispatcher further determining that the remotely located wireless communication device lacks sufficient capacity to store the discrete version of the media content selection.

36. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the processor is further to obtain a Triglet to update a user interface on the remotely located wireless communication device.

37. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the scheduling dispatcher is further to schedule the distribution of the media content selection to the remotely located wireless communication device in accordance with a constraint.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the scheduling dispatcher is to determine the constraint based upon network availability.

39. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the scheduling dispatcher is to determine the constraint based upon usage patterns of the remotely located wireless communication device.

40. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the transmitter is further to command deletion of stored content on the remotely located wireless communication device prior to transmitting the discrete version of the media content selection to the remotely located wireless communication device.

41. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the processor is to determine the media content selection based on a preference associated with the remotely located wireless communication device.

42. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the processor is further to incorporate advertising content into one or more of the streaming version of the media content selection or the discrete version of the media content selection.

43. A method for receiving a media content selection over a cellular network, comprising:

monitoring local data storage available on a mobile device to determine whether to stream the media content selection on the mobile device or download the media content selection to the local data storage on the mobile device;

streaming, from a remotely located content distributor via the cellular network, a streaming version of the media content selection on the mobile device in response to a first iteration of the monitoring determining that the available local data storage does not meet or exceed a threshold and that the local data storage cannot be freed up to store a discrete version of the media content selection, wherein a delay to stream the streaming version of the media content selection is affected by an over-the-air latency associated with the cellular network;

dynamically updating a schedule to download the discrete version of the media content selection to the local data storage on the mobile device in response to a second iteration of the monitoring determining that the available local data storage meets or exceeds the threshold or that the local data storage can be freed up to store the discrete version of the media content selection, wherein the streaming version and the discrete version have different file formats, the discrete version of the media content selection built at the remotely located content distributor from the streaming version of the media content selection and comprising a file system that contains one or more multimedia resource files; and

downloading, from the remotely located content distributor via the cellular network, the discrete version of the media content selection to the available local data storage on the mobile device in accordance with the schedule dynamically updated in the second iteration of the monitoring, wherein the remotely located content distributor pre-schedules a time at which the discrete version of the media content selection is background downloaded to the mobile device and to one or more other communication devices that have available local data storage that meets or exceeds the threshold based on at least a predicted network throughput to the mobile device at the pre-scheduled time, and wherein the remotely located content distributor determines the predicted network throughput at the pre-scheduled time based on the cellular network having excess bandwidth to handle distributing the discrete version of the media content selection to the mobile device and the one or more other communication devices at the pre-scheduled time.

44. A method for receiving a media content selection over a cellular network, comprising:

monitoring local data storage available on a mobile device to determine whether to stream the media content selection on the mobile device or download the media content selection to the local data storage on the mobile device;

determining a schedule to download a discrete version of the media content selection to the local data storage on the mobile device in response to a first iteration of the monitoring determining that the available local data storage meets or exceeds a threshold or that the local data storage can be freed up to store the discrete version of media content selection;

downloading, from a remotely located content distributor via the cellular network, the discrete version of the media content selection to the available local data storage on the mobile device in accordance with the schedule determined in the first iteration of the monitoring, wherein the remotely located content distributor pre-schedules a time at which the discrete version of the media content selection is background downloaded to the mobile device and to one or more other communication devices that have available local data storage that meets or exceeds the threshold based on at least a predicted network throughput to the mobile device at the pre-scheduled time, and wherein the remotely located content distributor determines the predicted network throughput at the pre-scheduled time based on the cellular network having excess bandwidth to handle distributing the discrete version of the media content selection to the mobile device and the one or more other communication devices at the pre-scheduled time; and

dynamically reverting to streaming, from the remotely located content distributor via the cellular network, a streaming version of the media content selection on the mobile device in response to a second iteration of the monitoring determining that the available local data storage no longer meets or exceeds the threshold and that the local data storage cannot be freed up to store the discrete version of the media content selection, wherein the streaming version and the discrete version have different file formats, the discrete version of the media content selection built at the remotely located content distributor from the streaming version of the media content selection and comprising a file system that contains one or more multimedia resource files, and wherein a delay to stream the streaming version of the media content selection is affected by an over-the-air latency associated with the cellular network.