Scheduling of Software Package Transmissions on a Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service Channel

Abstract

A computing device may schedule transmission of software packages on a broadcast/multicast downlink channel. The schedule may also include media transmissions on the channel, and the software package transmissions may be scheduled for times when the media transmissions are using less than or equal to a threshold capacity level of the channel. A software update request may be received from a wireless computing device. Possibly in response to receiving the software update request, a particular software package related to the wireless computing device may be determined. The particular software package may be scheduled to begin transmission on the channel at a particular time. At least an identifier of the channel and the particular time may be transmitted to the wireless computing device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 sending, from a computing device, a software update request for a particular software package; and   after sending the software update request, the computing device receiving at least an identifier of a broadcast/multicast downlink channel, and an indication of a particular time period of a plurality of time periods in which the particular software package can be completely transmitted without exceeding the capacity of the broadcast/multicast downlink channel.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 after receiving the identifier of the broadcast/multicast downlink channel and the indication of the particular time period, the computing device receiving the particular software package during the particular time period.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein receiving the particular software package during the particular time period comprises receiving the particular software package and a transport object identifier of the particular software package on the broadcast/multicast downlink channel during the particular time period. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining that the particular software package was not properly received by the computing device; and   receiving, at the computing device, an instruction to download the particular software package via a network mechanism other than the broadcast/multicast downlink channel.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein transmission of the particular software package is scheduled for one or more times when one or more media transmissions are using less than or equal to a threshold capacity level of the broadcast I multicast downlink channel. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the threshold capacity level of the broadcast/multicast downlink channel is zero. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the threshold capacity level of the broadcast/multicast downlink channel is non-zero, wherein the particular software package is related to content of a particular media transmission, and wherein the particular software package is scheduled for transmission during the particular media transmission. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the computing device uses less power to receive software packages over the broadcast/multicast downlink channel than other types of wireless channels, and wherein the particular software package is scheduled to be transmitted on the broadcast/multicast downlink channel to reduce power consumption by the computing device. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the identifier of the broadcast/multicast downlink channel comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) address of a content server device, and a transport session identifier for transmission of the particular software package. 
     
     
         10 . A computing device, comprising:
 at least one processor;   memory; and   program instructions, stored in the memory, that upon execution by the at least one processor cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:
 sending a software update request for a particular software package; and 
 after sending the software update request, receiving at least an identifier of a broadcast/multicast downlink channel, and an indication of a particular time period of a plurality of time periods in which the particular software package can be completely transmitted without exceeding the capacity of the broadcast/multicast downlink channel. 
   
     
     
         11 . The computing device of  claim 10 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 after receiving the identifier of the broadcast/multicast downlink channel and the indication of the particular time period, receiving the particular software package during the particular time period.   
     
     
         12 . The computing device of  claim 10 , wherein receiving the particular software package during the particular time period comprises receiving the particular software package and a transport object identifier of the particular software package on the broadcast/multicast downlink channel during the particular time period. 
     
     
         13 . The computing device of  claim 10 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 determining that the particular software package was not properly received by the computing device; and   receiving an instruction to download the particular software package via a network mechanism other than the broadcast/multicast downlink channel.   
     
     
         14 . The computing device of  claim 10 , wherein transmission of the particular software package is scheduled for one or more times when one or more media transmissions are using less than or equal to a threshold capacity level of the broadcast I multicast downlink channel. 
     
     
         15 . The computing device of  claim 14 , wherein the threshold capacity level of the broadcast/multicast downlink channel is zero. 
     
     
         16 . The computing device of  claim 14 , wherein the threshold capacity level of the broadcast/multicast downlink channel is non-zero, wherein the particular software package is related to content of a particular media transmission, and wherein the particular software package is scheduled for transmission during the particular media transmission. 
     
     
         17 . The computing device of  claim 10 , wherein the computing device uses less power to receive software packages over the broadcast/multicast downlink channel than other types of wireless channels, and wherein the particular software package is scheduled to be transmitted on the broadcast/multicast downlink channel to reduce power consumption by the computing device. 
     
     
         18 . The computing device of  claim 10 , wherein the identifier of the broadcast/multicast downlink channel comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) address of a content server device, and a transport session identifier for transmission of the particular software package. 
     
     
         19 . An article of manufacture including a non-transitory computer-readable medium, having stored thereon program instructions that, upon execution by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:
 sending a software update request for a particular software package; and   after sending the software update request, receiving at least an identifier of a broadcast/multicast downlink channel, and an indication of a particular time period of a plurality of time periods in which the particular software package can be completely transmitted without exceeding the capacity of the broadcast/multicast downlink channel   
     
     
         20 . The article of manufacture of  claim 19 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 after receiving the identifier of the broadcast/multicast downlink channel and the indication of the particular time period, receiving the particular software package during the particular time period.