Abstract: A system and method for operating includes providing a content for communication through a content distribution system having a broadcast mode and a unicast mode, determining a first number of user devices for receiving a communication of the content, determining a likelihood of consumption of the content by the first number of user devices, determining an available spectrum for communicating the content, determining a spectral efficiency for the unicast mode and the broadcast mode of the communication for each of the first number of user devices, selecting the broadcast mode or the unicast mode or both based on the first number of user devices, the likelihood of consumption of the content, the available spectrum and the spectral efficiency and communicating the content to the first number of user devices using the broadcast mode, the unicast mode or both based on selecting.

Abstract: A system and method of operating a content distribution system includes determining a placement metric for a first object, communicating the first object to a local cloud associated with a user device or a network cloud based on the placement metric by control of a content distribution system, storing the first object in the local cloud or the network cloud and consuming the first object using the local cloud or the network cloud.

Abstract: A method and system for storing content includes determining candidate locations for pre-positioning a content at a content distribution system within a network. The method further includes communicating probe signals to the candidate locations, generating acknowledgement signals at candidate locations comprising storage availability data and compute data, selecting a real-time communication of the content or a pre-positioning communication of the content to form a selected communication based on dormant network capacity and at least one of a likelihood of consumption, the likelihood of consumption relative to a cost of storage, a cost of compute, and comparison of a cost of serving the content in real-time and a cost of serving the content using pre-positioning, selecting a selected content storage location for the content based on the storage availability data and compute data from the acknowledgment signals. The content is communicated to and stored at the selected content storage location.

Abstract: A method of operating a communication system includes communicating a sounding signal to a plurality of devices through a first antenna array coupled to a basestation. The method further includes, in response to the sounding signal, communicating a response signal to the basestation from each of the plurality of devices, from the response signal determining device data comprising a device location, a signal strength of the sounding signal and phase information of the sounding signal, grouping the plurality of devices into a first group based on the device data, generating first transmit beamforming weights for the first group to shape the power output of the first beamforming weight vector to communicate a data signal to the first group and broadcasting the data signal to the first group through a wireless signal from the first antenna array using the first transmit beamforming weights and nulls.

Abstract: A system and method of operating a content distribution system includes determining a placement metric for a first object, communicating the first object to a local cloud associated with a user device or a network cloud based on the placement metric by control of a content distribution system, storing the first object in the local cloud or the network cloud and consuming the first object using the local cloud or the network cloud.

Abstract: A method and system for storing content includes determining candidate locations for pre-positioning a content at a content distribution system within a network. The method further includes communicating probe signals to the candidate locations, generating acknowledgement signals at candidate locations comprising storage availability data and compute data, selecting a real-time communication of the content or a pre-positioning communication of the content to form a selected communication based on dormant network capacity and at least one of a likelihood of consumption, the likelihood of consumption relative to a cost of storage, a cost of compute, and comparison of a cost of serving the content in real-time and a cost of serving the content using pre-positioning, selecting a selected content storage location for the content based on the storage availability data and compute data from the acknowledgment signals. The content is communicated to and stored at the selected content storage location.

Abstract: A system and method of operating an over-the-air broadcast television system having spectrum capacity that has a first portion for linear broadcasting content in real time and a second portion corresponding to a dormant capacity. A content distribution network system receives digital content from a content storage system. A dormant capacity estimator estimates dormant capacity of the spectrum capacity. An intermediate storage device communicates a registration request signal to the content distribution network system using a reverse link. The content distribution network system communicates a registration acknowledgement signal to the intermediate storage device. The content distribution network system communicates the digital content to the intermediate storage device through the over-the-air broadcast television network system. The intermediate storage device stories the digital content therein.

Abstract: A system and method of operating a content distribution system includes receiving and storing a first content at a first storage device; communicating the first content from the first storage device to a second storage device through a local area network, said second storage device downstream from the first storage device. The method also includes storing the first content in the second storage device; requesting the first content at a first user device, and communicating the first content from the second storage device to a first user device when requested by the first user device. Other embodiments of this aspect include corresponding computer systems, apparatus, and computer programs recorded on one or more computer storage devices, each configured to perform the actions of the methods.

Abstract: A method and system for storing content includes determining candidate locations for pre-positioning a content at a content distribution system within a network. The method further includes communicating probe signals to the candidate locations, generating acknowledgement signals at candidate locations comprising storage availability data and compute data, selecting a real-time communication of the content or a pre-positioning communication of the content to form a selected communication based on dormant network capacity and at least one of a likelihood of consumption, the likelihood of consumption relative to a cost of storage, a cost of compute, and comparison of a cost of serving the content in real-time and a cost of serving the content using pre-positioning, selecting a selected content storage location for the content based on the storage availability data and compute data from the acknowledgment signals. The content is communicated to and stored at the selected content storage location.

Abstract: A system and method of operating a content distribution system includes generating a first request for first content by a first user device. Based on the first request for the first content, the first content is pre-positioned by communicating the first content to a downstream storage device closer to a second user device without communicating the first content to the first user device using the downstream storage device; and storing the first content in the downstream storage device as pre-positioned content. The method further includes communicating the first content to the second user device from the downstream storage device.

Abstract: A method and system of broadcasting includes determining an identified content for a broadcast to a broadcast group that may include a plurality of devices in a service area. The method also includes determining a priority for the identified content for the plurality of devices, determining radio conditions for each of the plurality of devices in the service area; and determining an available network capacity of a network for broadcasting in the service area; determining a spectral efficiency for the broadcast to achieve a performance target, said. The method also includes performance target based on the priority for the identified content, the radio conditions and the available network capacity. The method also includes broadcasting the identified content to the plurality of devices in the service area based on the spectral efficiency for the broadcast.

Abstract: A method and system for operating a radio aware communication system includes receiving, by a content distribution system, a radio quality metric signal from a user device or a network; determining, by the content distribution system, a spectral efficiency for the user device based on the radio quality metric signal; receiving a capacity usage report from a first network; determining an available capacity of the first network based on the capacity usage report; determining a target available capacity utilization goal of the first network based on the available capacity; determining a target throughput based on the target available capacity utilization goal for communicating content to a user device and the spectral efficiency for the user device; and communicating the content to the user device using the target throughput through the first network.

Abstract: A system and method for operating includes providing a content for communication through a content distribution system having a broadcast mode and a unicast mode, determining a first number of user devices for receiving a communication of the content, determining a likelihood of consumption of the content by the first number of user devices, determining an available spectrum for communicating the content, determining a spectral efficiency for the unicast mode and the broadcast mode of the communication for each of the first number of user devices, selecting the broadcast mode or the unicast mode or both based on the first number of user devices, the likelihood of consumption of the content, the available spectrum and the spectral efficiency and communicating the content to the first number of user devices using the broadcast mode, the unicast mode or both based on selecting.

Abstract: A method includes initiating a session at a first device having a session identifier. The session being one-to many. The method further includes joining the session with a third device and a second device using a session identifier, generating a physical condition signal at a physical condition sensor, converting the physical condition signal to a first signal, communicating the first signal to the second device and third device through a network, and generating an indicator at the second device or the third device corresponding to the first signal.

Abstract: A method of operating a communication system includes communicating a sounding signal to a plurality of devices through a first antenna array coupled to a basestation. The method further includes, in response to the sounding signal, communicating a response signal to the basestation from each of the plurality of devices, from the response signal determining device data comprising a device location, a signal strength of the sounding signal and phase information of the sounding signal, grouping the plurality of devices into a first group based on the device data, generating first transmit beamforming weights for the first group to shape the power output of the first beamforming weight vector to communicate a data signal to the first group and broadcasting the data signal to the first group through a wireless signal from the first antenna array using the first transmit beamforming weights and nulls.

Abstract: A method and system for storing content includes determining candidate locations for pre-positioning a content at a content distribution system within a network. The method further includes communicating probe signals to the candidate locations, generating acknowledgement signals at candidate locations comprising storage availability data and compute data, selecting a real-time communication of the content or a pre-positioning communication of the content to form a selected communication based on dormant network capacity and at least one of a likelihood of consumption, the likelihood of consumption relative to a cost of storage, a cost of compute, and comparison of a cost of serving the content in real-time and a cost of serving the content using pre-positioning, selecting a selected content storage location for the content based on the storage availability data and compute data from the acknowledgment signals. The content is communicated to and stored at the selected content storage location.

Abstract: A system and method of operating an over-the-air broadcast television system having spectrum capacity that has a first portion for linear broadcasting content in real time and a second portion corresponding to a dormant capacity. A content distribution network system receives digital content from a content storage system. A dormant capacity estimator estimates dormant capacity of the spectrum capacity. An intermediate storage device communicates a registration request signal to the content distribution network system using a reverse link. The content distribution network system communicates a registration acknowledgment signal to the intermediate storage device. The content distribution network system communicates the digital content to the intermediate storage device through the over-the-air broadcast television network system. The intermediate storage device stories the digital content therein.

Abstract: A system and method of operating an over-the-air broadcast television system having spectrum capacity that has a first portion for linear broadcasting content in real time and a second portion corresponding to a dormant capacity. A content distribution network system receives digital content from a content storage system. A dormant capacity estimator estimates dormant capacity of the spectrum capacity. An intermediate storage device communicates a registration request signal to the content distribution network system using a reverse link. The content distribution network system communicates a registration acknowledgement signal to the intermediate storage device. The content distribution network system communicates the digital content to the intermediate storage device through the over-the-air broadcast television network system. The intermediate storage device stories the digital content therein.

Abstract: A method of operating a communication system includes communicating a sounding signal to a plurality of devices through a first antenna array coupled to a basestation. The method further includes, in response to the sounding signal, communicating a response signal to the basestation from each of the plurality of devices, from the response signal determining device data comprising a device location, a signal strength of the sounding signal and phase information of the sounding signal, grouping the plurality of devices into a first group based on the device data, generating first transmit beamforming weights for the first group to shape the power output of the first beamforming weight vector to communicate a data signal to the first group and broadcasting the data signal to the first group through a wireless signal from the first antenna array using the first transmit beamforming weights and nulls.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling the use of dormant capacity for distributing data includes communicating data as part of a regular traffic load through a network having an overall network capacity, determining a dormant capacity of the network based on regular network traffic load, delivering content to a plurality of devices through the network, receiving the data at the plurality of devices, based on receiving the data, measuring an efficiency metric at each of the plurality of devices, communicating the efficiency metric of the devices to a service provider, receiving the efficiency metric at the service provider from the devices, receiving a resource usage report from the network, determining a target throughput for each of the plurality of devices based on the resource usage report and communicating second data to the plurality of devices from a content delivery service based on the target throughput using the dormant capacity.