Content delivery system special network device and special local area network connection, content discovery, data transfer, and control methods

Abstract

Apparatuses, methods and infrastructures for interacting with SNDs and SLANs are described. In one embodiment, a network arrangement comprises: a plurality of access points that are part of one or more existing networks and operable to individually address and communicate with each other to form a local area network (LAN) to transfer data between two or more of the plurality of access points using point-to-point links independent of their function in the one or more existing networks, wherein each access point of the plurality of access points is associated with a cache to store content that may be forwarded, via one or more direct point-to-point transfers between access point pairs of the plurality of access points, to other access points in the plurality of access points in response to transfer request messages to transfer the content; and wherein each access point has a mapping indicative of a first set of one or more access points of the plurality of access points, if any, for which said each access point is to repeat messages and, for each access point in the first set, a first list of one or more access points in the plurality of access points from which the messages are to be forwarded once received if necessary, with no two access points in the plurality of access points that are directly connected to a third access point repeating a same message to the third access point.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A first network device to join a plurality of network devices to form a local area network (LAN) to transfer a content between two or more of the plurality of network devices using point-to-point links, comprising:
 a memory to store at least a portion of the content;   a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is configured to:
 receive connection data from a second network device of the plurality of network devices; 
 determine a mapping indicative of one or more second network devices of the plurality of network devices for which to repeat messages and one or more third network devices of the plurality of network devices from which the messages are to be forwarded to the first network device based on the connection data, wherein the one or more second network devices are directly connected to the first network device and the one or more third network devices are not directly connected to the first network device. 
   
     
     
         22 . The first network device of claim  1 , wherein the second network device is directly connected to the first network device. 
     
     
         23 . The first network device of claim  1 , wherein the processor is further configured to send a connection data request that is not repeated by any of the network devices, wherein the connection data are received from the second network device in response to the connection data request. 
     
     
         24 . The first network device of claim  1 , wherein the connection data include at least one of an identification of the second network device, a list of identifications of the network devices to which the second network device is connected, and a list of network devices for which the second network device to repeat messages. 
     
     
         25 . The first network device of claim  1 , wherein the processor is further configured to update the connection data with new connection data. 
     
     
         26 . The first network device of claim  1 , wherein the processor is further configured to add the one or more second network devices to a repeat messaging list. 
     
     
         27 . The first network device of claim  1 , wherein the processor is further configured to send a request to be included in a repeat messaging list of the one or more third network devices. 
     
     
         28 . The first network device of claim  1 , wherein the processor is further configured to send a message with a count indicating a number of times the message is to be repeated. 
     
     
         29 . The first network device of claim  1 , wherein the connection data include a timestamp. 
     
     
         30 . The first network device of claim  1 , wherein the processor is further configure to send a message with a count indicating a number of hops to transfer the at least the portion of the content. 
     
     
         31 . A method at a first network device to join a plurality of network devices to form a local area network (LAN) to transfer a content between two or more of the plurality of network devices using point-to-point links, the method comprising:
 receiving, by the first network device, connection data from a second network device of the plurality of network devices;
 determining, by the first network device a mapping indicative of one or more second network devices of the plurality of network devices for which to repeat messages and one or more third network devices of the plurality of network devices from which the messages are to be forwarded based on the connection data, wherein the one or more second network devices are directly connected to the first network device and the one or more third network devices are not directly connected to the first network device. 
   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the second network device is directly connected to the first network device. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 sending, by the first network device, a connection data request is not repeated by any of the network devices, wherein the connection data are received from the second network device in response to the connection data request.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the connection data include at least one of an identification of the second network device, a list of identifications of the network devices to which the second network device is connected, and a list of network devices for which the second network device to repeat messages. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 updating, by the first network device, the connection data with new connection data.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 adding, by the first network device, the one or more second network devices to a repeat messaging list.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 sending, by the first network device, a request to be included in a repeat messaging list of the one or more third network devices.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 sending, by the first network device, at least one of a message with a count indicating a number of times the message is to be repeated or a message with a count indicating a number of hops to transfer the at least the portion of the content.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the connection data include a timestamp. 
     
     
         40 . One or more non-transitory computer readable storage media having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a system having at least a processor and a memory, cause the system to perform a method to join a plurality of network devices to form a local area network (LAN) to transfer a content between two or more of the plurality of network devices using point-to-point links, the method comprising:
 receiving, by the first network device, connection data from a second network device of the plurality of network devices;
 determining, by the first network device a mapping indicative of one or more second network devices of the plurality of network devices for which to repeat messages and one or more third network devices of the plurality of network devices from which the messages are to be forwarded based on the connection data, wherein the one or more second network devices are directly connected to the first network device and the one or more third network devices are not directly connected to the first network device.